Vineyard paradise of Rioja Alavesa. Wine tasting tour

Rioja is a fascinating blend of hilly landscapes covered with vineyards, ancient villages seemingly frozen in time, and modern 21st-century architecture. A region where traditions and cutting-edge technologies create some of the most famous wines in the world. The cultural-historical landscape of Rioja and the Way of St. James, passing through the Rioja valley, have been nominated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Program

• Konchas de Aro We will cross the Cantabrian Mountains, separating the Basque Country from Rioja Alavesa through the gates to Rioja - the famous Konchas de Aro, a rocky gorge where the Ebro River has carved its way. At the very top of one of the rocks forming the gorge, the ancient chapel of San Felices adorns the landscape - this place was chosen by the Spaniards themselves as the 'best corner of Spain 2014' according to the Repsol rating.
• Rioja Valley During your journey, you will learn about the unique features of the Rioja valley, which allow for growing excellent grapes and the secrets of winemaking that have brought Rioja wines worldwide success. You will touch the living history and culture of this region, see beautiful monuments of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, enjoy delightful natural landscapes of vineyards, the Ebro River, and salt lagoons against the backdrop of the majestic mountain ranges of the Cantabrian Mountains and Sierra de la Demanda, and discover the exquisite Riojan cuisine accompanied by DOC Rioja wines.
• Rioja Festivals And if you are lucky to visit during one of Rioja's numerous festivals - you will be enchanted by the original local traditions and colorful folklore, bright colors, fun, and the atmosphere of a true Spanish fiesta.
• Architectural masterpieces It is in this region that the best architects of Spain and the world have created their magnificent masterpieces of modern wineries, such as Marques de Riscal, Ysios, Baigorri, which will leave you in awe.
• In the village of Elciego, we will visit one of the best wineries in Rioja - Bodega Valdelana. This winery, the winner of the Best of Tourism award, holds a true treasure. Being one of the oldest wineries in Rioja, it was built in the 15th-16th centuries and consists of 6 underground galleries built with stone masonry. In this underground realm, there is a unique museum dedicated to the history of Rioja and winemaking in this region, gathered from private finds during the cultivation of the vineyards of this winery and the family collection of its owner. In the unusual tasting room of the winery, located at a depth of 10m, you can contemplate an endless panorama of the underground vineyard. In the 'Labyrinth of Sensations' arranged in ancient tanks for wine fermentation and storage, you will discover the secrets of wine, learn to recognize the color and aroma of wine, grape varieties, ideal conditions for wine consumption, and more. After visiting the winery-museum, you will enjoy a tasting of 4 wine brands of this winery and its own olive oil, as well as a visit to the 'Bacchus Garden' - an experimental vineyard where more than 130 grape varieties from around the world are planted, some of which you can try on the spot. From the observation platform in the 'Bacchus Garden', you will have stunning views of the meandering Ebro River and the vineyards of Rioja. In 2015, at the international Mundus Vini competition in Germany, the wines of this Valdelana winery, Reserva and Ladrón de Guevara Crianza, received gold medals, and the Ladrón de Guevara Crianza brand was also selected as the 'Best Rioja Wine'. In the same village, you will see one of the most famous wineries in Rioja - Marquesde Riscal, which radically updated its image in 2006 by building the so-called 'City of Wine' on its territory. Its fantastically shaped construction was designed by the renowned architect Frank Gehry, the author of the famous Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. To wrap up the tour, we offer a visit to the winery's wine bar, where you can taste various wine labels.
• Riojan Cuisine After the tour - optionally, have lunch at one of the restaurants in Rioja Alavesa with a traditional Riojan menu and DOC Rioja wines.