Rioja Alavesa Wine Route

Highlights

  • • Gehry, Calatrava and avant-garde winery design
  • • Laguardia: medieval village with underground cellars
  • • DOCa Rioja: some of Spain's best wines
  • • Michelin-starred restaurants
  • • October harvest and wine festival

Description

Rioja Alavesa is the Álava section of the DOCa Rioja, a vineyard strip south of the Sierra de Cantabria where architecturally avant-garde wineries produce some of Spain's best wines. Marqués de Riscal (Frank Gehry), Ysios (Santiago Calatrava) and Baigorri (underground design) are wine cathedrals combining tasting and architecture. Laguardia, a walled medieval village, hides centuries-old cellars beneath its cobbled streets.

Guide

Essential information for visiting Rioja Alavesa Wine Route

Location

How to get there

By carBy public transport
Planning Information

Visitor Tips

Book wineries in advance (Marqués de Riscal, Ysios, Baigorri require appointment). Laguardia: park outside walls and walk the underground cellars (free entry). Harvest (October): grape-treading experiences. Star restaurants: Marqués de Riscal and Remelluri. A-124 road connects all villages.

Historical Facts

Rioja Alavesa has produced wine since Roman times. Laguardia was founded by Sancho Abarca of Navarre in the 10th century as a border stronghold. The underground cellars of the medieval quarter date from the 13th century. In 2006, Marqués de Riscal winery opened its Frank Gehry-designed hotel, turning the area into a contemporary architecture destination.