The 5 best wineries in Rioja Alavesa.

Enjoy the best wineries in Rioja Alavesa, get to know the wine culture that surrounds the south of Araba.

Visiting the best wineries in Rioja Alavesa is not an easy task. Especially if we take into account all the aspects that influence when choosing among the more than 100 wineries that we find in this region located south of Araba. The different types of wineries, the different types of wines, the different types of grapes, the amount of wines to be tasted or the price of the guided tours, are usually essential when choosing one or another winery in Rioja Alavesa. In short, it is a very subjective decision. As you can see, searching and rummaging among the 106 wineries that we currently find between the Ebro River and the Sierra de Cantabria, requires a few hours of research. That is why we have decided to help you enjoy a beautiful wine experience in Rioja Alavesa. In our humble opinion, the variety of wineries to visit is a very important factor. According to several studies, most people staying in this area of Euskadi decide to visit more than one winery per day. A fact that pushes us to recommend you to visit wineries of all kinds. Discovering this way, the different peculiarities of each one of them. Quality and variety, a formula that never fails. And the fact is that this rural area of Euskadi, allows us to enjoy from wineries in medieval caves, to avant-garde wineries. There is a wide range of colors to choose from.

Currently, we have more than 12,000 hectares of vineyards in Rioja Alavesa, an extension that brings more than 40 million liters of Rioja Designation of Origin wine to the market. Practically 80% of the wineries in this area are under the control of the Control Board of the Rioja Qualified Designation of Origin. According to experts, when planting vines, we must take into account 3 essential characteristics: the type of soil, the location of the vineyards and the climate. In the case of Rioja Alavesa, we find a calcareous clay soil, a perfect location sheltered by the Sierra de Cantabria (the natural barrier that stops the cold winds coming from the Alavesa plain) and a perfect microclimate.

When we indicate the 5 best wineries in Rioja Alavesa, we do not do it in individual terms, but in collective terms. And the fact is that the joint visit to these 5 wineries seems particularly interesting to us. They are very different wineries, which allow visitors to Rioja Alavesa to get a very accurate idea of the quality of wine in the south of the Basque Country. In addition, the location of each of them leads us to visit the most beautiful villages of Rioja Alavesa and some of the most beautiful villages in the Basque Country. A beautiful route, which delights wine lovers, those who now call themselves “winelovers”, an Anglo-Saxon term, which, although we do not like it, has tended to spread around the world. We have planned a weekend to visit these 5 wineries, a nice getaway to Rioja Alavesa to enjoy all kinds of wineries.

Wineries in Rioja Alavesa.

As everywhere, in Rioja Alavesa we find wineries of all kinds. From huge wineries with cold speeches and without much juice, to family wineries that offer us 100% of their possibilities. The 5 wineries that we show you below, offer us a quality experience based on the different ways of winemaking. All of them provide something different, small details that make us leave this region of Alava with a nice notion of what grapes and wine mean to the people who work this land.

Alutiz WineryThis family winery, helps us to get the vision of sacrifice and work that comes with having a wine exploitation. In this winery it is possible to see the different spaces where the wine was elaborated, from the old Samaniego caves of the XVII century, to the modern stainless steel tanks of nowadays. Between these two spaces, we find the old concrete presses, where today, the young wines of this brand are still made by carbonic maceration. Currently, Alutiz has about 70 hectares of vineyards, from which it extracts more than 250,000 liters of wine. In addition, Alutiz has been able to see the needs of its customers, to whom in addition to offering guided tours of the winery, it also offers the possibility of staying in the Alutiz manor house, a rural house located in Samaniego, which is perfect for enjoying everything that surrounds us.

Edu, a young man who represents the last generation of this family winery, is the perfect host to show us the culture and history of wine in Samaniego. A nice starting point from which to begin to live the wine dream of Euskadi.

El Fabulista WineryThis winery in Rioja Alavesa is one of the last of its kind. Formerly, there were more than 300 subway cellars under the ground of the historic center of Laguardia, today, only 3 remain. The wines produced in this farm, only sold in the winery itself, as in the past, a fact that makes it even more special if possible. A beautiful winery in which to discover the subway tunnels and all the unique structures that are scattered throughout the subsoil of Laguardia.

To the peculiar charm of the subway tunnels that compose it, we must add the dramatized presentations that are made during one of their visits. A small show, represented by the character of the Fabulist invites us to know the details of the elaboration of their wines.

Lozano WineryThis winery located in Leza, offers several guided tours, among which the guided tour during the grape harvest stands out. Some options that we recommend you to eyes closed. By the way, if you travel with children, we are sure you will love this winery.

This winery and its guided tours are undoubtedly one of the best options to learn about and enjoy the winemaking tradition in Rioja Alavesa. The guided tours of this winery have been designed for all types of audiences, but in recent times it has specialized in guided tours for families. It is also one of the few wineries in Rioja Alavesa that offers guided tours for people traveling with dogs.

Gontes WineryA very peculiar winery. A different winery where Jesús González Teso gives us his particular point of view of his wines. Located in the upper part of Labastida, in its historic center, Jesus, guides us through his small winery while we enjoy a fun guided tour.

We emphasize the close treatment of this visit, while highlighting the importance of visiting wineries like this one, with small production, located in the center of small towns and with a great winemaking history behind them. Forget the glamour, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get to know the wineries of Rioja Alavesa, where they do not have a big budget.

Bodega Marqués de Riscal: This winery is known worldwide for its architecture. But what many people do not know is that it hides a great history under the feet of this impressive structure of titanium and steel plates. A wine complex, which keeps inside a luxurious hotel and some other jewel in the form of a bottle.

This is undoubtedly the largest winery of all those we present to you, a small giant in the wine industry, which surprises us with its culinary creations and guided tours.

Although they do not appear on this list, wineries such as Baigorri or Ysios are very attractive proposals to visit in Rioja Alavesa. Although we have prepared a short list so that visitors can get a good idea of the different types of wineries we find in this land, it does not mean that we do not recommend many others. We promise to keep updating this article as we get to know wineries that offer us something different from those already mentioned.

Book a visit to a winery in Rioja Alavesa.

Booking a visit to the wineries of Rioja Alavesa has never been so easy. In our case, we have a reservation center that allows us to book our visit to the winery in just a couple of minutes. Easy, intuitive and most importantly, at the best price. You can check prices and availability hereIn case you find availability, we recommend you to book as soon as possible, the visits to the wineries of Rioja Alavesa are one of the most demanded activities in the region. The most popular grape variety in Rioja Alavesa is Tempranillo, a variety known for its rapid ripening, hence its name. But it is not the only type of vine found in the south of Euskadi, varieties such as viura, garnacha, mazuelo, graciano or malvasía also form part of the impressive landscape of the vineyards of Rioja Alavesa. As many of you already know, the most elaborated wine in Rioja Alavesa is the red wine, a wine for which different elaboration methods are used depending on each winery. The best known are the carbonic maceration method and the Bordeaux method. Here is a brief explanation of the characteristics of each of them:

According to current regulations, the difference between the types of wine (crianza, reserva or gran reserva) is in the aging time. A crianza wine must be aged for 2 years in oak barrels, a reserva must be aged for 3 years in oak barrels and a gran reserva must be aged for at least 2 years in oak barrels and the rest of the years in bottles.

What to see and do in Rioja Alavesa.

Rioja Alavesa is the center of a great deal of tourist activity. Many people travel annually to this land attracted by its pleasant climate and beautiful landscapes. But above all, one of the factors that most attract the attention of these travelers are the experiences that await them in the wineries of Rioja Alavesa. Wine is the main source of the region’s economy. A sector that is very well prepared to show all visitors how some of the best wines in the world are made. In addition to the wineries, we recommend you to visit some other places of interest in the south of Araba such as the village of La Hoya, we hope you like our recommendations.

Route of the dolmens: Rioja Alavesa, has a great historical heritage in the form of dolmens, in fact, there is a route to know all these funerary structures. Among all of them, the Chabola de la Hechicera, a dolmen located among the vineyards surrounding the town of Elvillar, is of vital importance.

Villa LuciaVilla Lucia: This gastronomic complex surprises locals and visitors alike with its museum and 4D cinema on the lower floor, while its restaurant and terrace attract the attention of the most exquisite palates.

Village of La HoyaThis archaeological site shows us the way of life of our ancestors through the ruins that we find about 5 minutes from Laguardia. A 100% recommended museum. By the way, it is free.

The lagoons of Laguardia: About 5 minutes walk from the walls of Laguardia, we find a natural space unprecedented in all Rioja Alavesa. A protected area, which has become home to hundreds of species.

The balcony of Rioja Alavesa: In the port of Herrera, we find one of the most outstanding viewpoints of Euskadi. A stop, from where we invite all the people who visit us to enjoy the beautiful rural landscape of Rioja Alavesa.

The balcony of the Ebro: In Lapuebla de Labarca, welcomes us with another of these natural viewpoints. This time, the Ebro, draws the territorial limits of the south of Euskadi offering us a nice perspective from the heights.

The most beautiful villages of Rioja AlavesaThis southern area of Araba is not only known for its impressive wineries, its villages, rural and full of charm, are another of the many attractions of Euskadi.

Alai Restaurant: Alai Restaurant in Labastida is one of the best restaurants in Rioja Alavesa. A gastronomic space, which, fusing the traditional recipes of Euskadi and modern cuisine, has managed to be a success.

Trujal de Moreda: Oil, olive trees and trujales have been part of Rioja Alavesa for many years. In fact, today they are still active in several villages of our geography. An example of this is the trujal de Moreda, a space where visits are offered completely free of charge.

Trujal de Lanciego: Lanciego is one of those villages where, in addition to the active culture of wine and oil, we find a beautiful historical and architectural heritage. An urban center that we recommend to visit next to its old olive press. A 100% recommended visit.

Rural houses in Rioja Alavesa.

If you are looking for accommodation in Rioja Alavesa, you should know that the most demanded establishments are the rural houses. The shortage of hotels and the charm of the rural houses that we find in Rioja Alavesa have catapulted this type of accommodation in this rural environment in the south of Araba. If you are looking for a place to stay during your visit to these wineries, we recommend that you consider the possibility of staying at the Casona de Alutiz, a rural house located in the center of Samaniego that allows you to visit the wineries mentioned above without wasting a lot of time in traveling. If you want to check prices and availability, you can do it here.

Videos of wineries in Rioja Alavesa.

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The different types of grapes, together with the typical characteristics of the soil of Rioja Alavesa and its climate, give us some of the best wines of the peninsula. We hope that this small selection of the best wineries in Rioja Alavesa will help you decide between them all. The important thing is not to visit the wineries with the biggest names, but to visit different types of wineries in order to assimilate the reality of this sector. What do you think of our article? We look forward to hearing your opinions.