La Dolce Vita Wine Tours

Rioja Roundup

The Past and Future of Spanish Wine

Itinerary:

DAY 1 – RIBERA DEL DUERO

Named Wine Enthusiast’s 2010 Wine Region of the Year, Ribera del Duero is hot, hot, hot! Not like southern Spain with 90+ temperatures, but like a wine region that gets 90+ ratings. Granted DO status in 1982 when only 8 wineries existed, there are now 220 in this quality-minded region where tinto fino (tempranillo) reins. From Valladolid, we head to our first winery, Abadia Retuerta. Being a stone’s throw beyond the DO border, these mavericks grow nontraditional varietals like syrah and petit verdot and emphasize single-vineyard cru in diverse microclimates. In contrast, our second winery, Emilio Moro, works only with tinto fino, yet manages to craft five diverse styles from this indigenous grape. After lunch, our third winery is Hacienda Monasterio, a 19th century estate now oenologically managed by Peter Sisseck, a Bordeaux and Simi alum and now star winemaker in Ribera. If time allows, we’ll visit the imposing castle of Peñafiel to take in the panoramic view of banks (ribera) of the Duero River. Dinner in Valladolid introduces upscale versions of classic Spanish dishes, such as pimientos relleno (stuffed red peppers), white asparagus tips, artichokes with jamon (a special Iberian ham), and paella.
L, D • Hotel Meliá Recoletos

DAY 2 – RIBERA DEL DUERO TO RIOJA

This morning we leave our Valladolid hotel and head to Rioja. But first we enjoy one final Ribera tasting: Contado de Haza. The owner, Alejandro Fernández, was one of the DO’s pioneers following a career in agricultural machines. After being lauded by Robert Parker, his Pesquera was the first Ribera sold in the U.S. Then it’s on to Rioja, stopping en route in Burgos, a city with a beautiful historic center and one of Spain’s largest Gothic cathedrals, a UNESCO World Heritage site. We continue to drive to Rioja and head straight to Miguel Merino. This boutique winery—the smallest in Rioja, by Miguel’s account—is in Briones, a charming village overlooking the Ebro River, whose past wealth is evident in the ornate sandstone cathedral. We’ll see Miguel’s retro tools for handcrafting modern wines, including vine canes for filtering and wet towels for temperature control, then taste his sensational Riojas. We then settle into our second hotel, a beautifully renovated convent in the town of Haro. Dinner is at the hotel’s excellent bistro.
B, D • Hotel Los Agostinos

DAY 3 – GUGGENHEIM BILBAO AND HISTORIC RIOJA

Morning takes us to the city of Bilbao, about an hour north of Rioja on the Gulf of Biscay. Long a sleepy port town, it underwent a wholesale revitalization after the construction of the Frank Gehry–designed Guggenhem Museum. Here there’s time on your own for lunch, sightseeing, and museum-going. (Bilbao also has an excellent Fine Arts Museum with pieces by Goya, El Greco, Murillo, and other Spanish masters.) Mid-afternoon, we return to Haro to visit the Last of the Mohicans in Riojan winemaking, Lopez di Heredia. Prepare for a fascinating visit! Proponents of long-aged Riojas, this winery—the third oldest in Haro—doesn’t release its Gran Reserves until 20 years after harvest. We’ll patrol their 1890 cellar lined with 13,000 barrels, then sample this “historic” style of Rioja, which offers sherry-like oxidative notes and still has many fans. Dinner in Haro features classic pairing with Rioja, such as roast suckling pig or lamb.
B, L • Hotel Los Agostinos

DAY 4 – CLASSIC VS MODERN RIOJA

Another historic name in Rioja is Faustino, which also follows a traditional, long-aged approach to Rioja, while actively courting the younger generation. Despite its mega size (15 million bottles), it nonetheless makes delicious fresh white Viura and venerable Rioja blends that show hallmark notes of leather, vanilla, and balsam. This behemoth contrasts sharply with our afternoon visit to Contino, a boutique winery that established the “chateaux” concept in Rioja in the 1970s—that is, a winery that grows all its own grapes on its adjoining property. Our host will be the winemaker and manager, Jesus de Madrazo Mater. Situated in a unique microclimate on a bend in the Ebro River, Contino is one of the few wineries that also makes a pure Graciano, normally a blending grape. After a stroll through the vineyards to see a Roman bridge on the Ebro river, we’ll taste their mouth-watering, modern wines. Tonight we transfer to our third hotel, housed in a renovated monastery in the pilgrimage town of Santo Domingo de la Calzada, where bronze scallops in the sidewalks mark the way for the long-distance hikers and religious pilgrims on the Camino del Santiago. Dinner on your own.
B, D • Parador de Santo Domingo

DAY 5 – RIOJA’S ARCHITECTURAL FLOURISH

There’s time in the morning to stroll in town and visit the Cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada—the only one (surely!) to have a live chicken and rooster permanently on display. Here you’ll learn the legend behind this living relic. We’ll also stop by the Rio Oja, from which Rioja got its name. After lunch, we visit the Marques de Riscal. Founded in 1862, the winery is key in the history of Rioja and was the first to bottle it for commercial sale. Today it’s just as famous for its modern architecture and luxury spa/hotel/winery complex designed by Frank Gehry. After a tour and tasting, we head to the tiny town of Samaniego (pop. 400) to visit a member of the Spanish New Wave: Remirez de Ganuza. One of Rioja’s first grape grower–winemaker hyphenates, Ganuza continually experiments in the vineyard and cellar, blazing techniques for a new generation. Our day winds up with a farewell dinner at the hotel’s top-notch restaurant, where we’ll say salud to our new friends.
B, L, D • Parador de Santo Domingo

DAY 6 – HASTA LUEGO!

We depart immediately after breakfast to drive back to Madrid. Drop-off is at the Madrid airport by 1 P.M., which is connected to the city by subway. B

Please bear in mind that this itinerary is made one year in advance, so details may change due to the winemakers' schedule (especially during harvest), hotel availability, weather, and other unforeseen circumstances. Any substitutions will be with a property of equivalent interest and value.

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