Wine Tasting in La Rioja

 

La Rioja is one of the most famous wine regions in Spain. The area produces Tempranillo grapes for classic Spanish red wines.

 

Marqués de Riscal

Marques de Riscal is the oldest, most traditional, and most iconic winery in the region.

The winery dates back to 1860 and still carries its traditions while representing the future.

Together with the vineyard, winery, and hotel, Marques de Riscal created a City of Wine. The aim is to promote wine, its history, culture, and philosophy.

Following the success of the Guggenheim in Bilbao, the winery sought out Frank Gehry, the famed architect, to design their hotel.

Gehry initially declined. While on vacation, he visited the toured winery and tasted the signature wines. The winery and wines did its magic, and he agreed to the project. The hotel’s outer design is Gehry’s interpretation of a red wine bottle.

In order to visit the hotel, you must be a guest or dine in one of the restaurants.

 

Marqués de Riscal Winery Tour and Tasting

To tour the winery, reservations are required (which can be booked via their website). For 12 euros, guests learn about the vineyard and the winery. The 90-minute tour concludes with a tasting of two signature wines. Tours are offered in Spanish, English, French, Italian, and German. Private tours and tasting can also be arranged.

TripAdvisor reviews and photos of Bodegas Marques de Riscal

 

Marques de Riscal in La Rioja
View of the vineyard, the winery, and the hotel designed by Frank Gehry, with the inspiration of a red wine bottle
IMG_5103
Grapes almost ready for harvest. Full, lush, and hopeful for a good year
IMG_5085
The visitors center. Reservations are required to tour the winery which includes a tasting of two wines
IMG_5106
Warehouse. The equipment for the grapes ready for the harvest. After the grapes are cleaned and sorted, they enter the warehouse
IMG_5114
Where the magic happens. Beautiful and massive wooden barrels fermenting the wines
IMG_5118
Barrels aging before the bottling process. Rooms after rooms of barrels of wine aging
IMG_5122
The VIP bottles aging for years. Every bodega and wine cellar around the world has a special vault to age extra special bottles
IMG_5125
The best part of the tour – the tasting! Glasses are ready for the tours which run all day
IMG_5129
Our tour guide pouring the tastes of a white wine and of a red wine
IMG_5126
2012 Rueda Verdejo. Starting with the crisp white wine grown in another wine region in Spain and produced under the Marques de Riscal label
IMG_5131
2008 Reserva Rioja. Followed by their known red label. During the tasting you learn about the Spanish system of labeling wine bottles
IMG_5132
The tastes to enjoy at our leisure. After the pours and discussion of the aromas and tastes, you can leisurely sip the rest of the wine while enjoying the tasting room
IMG_5086
The wine shop. Following the tasting, you are encouraged to browse around the shop for bottles and souvenirs

 

Marques de Riscal | Website | TripAdvisor
Torrea, 1
El Ciego, Alava, Araba, Spain
+34-945-180-888
Book your stay via Agoda
Book your stay via Hotels.com
Book your stay via TripAdvisor

 

 
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links to hotel booking sites. With no additional cost to you, your bookings earn me a commission if you click on the links via my website – Thank you!

Sign up for my newsletter on the sidebar for blog updates and my travel insider tips! And, check out my vlogs on YouTube!