We revisited Rioja Alavesa last weekend, taking one of our custom packages and have come back buzzing. We love visiting Riojan wineries which are now very well set-up for visitors. Many bodegas are stunningly beautiful, their wines are exciting and varied, and the backdrop of the mountains and valleys is beyond words.
Of course, the Riojan cuisine, as always, is amazing. Soul food with wine. We had a wonderful lunch on the first day and really tasty food at our 4 star Hotel Villa de Laguardia for dinner and buffet breakfast. And even our roadside snack in a little bar in a village was delicious.
One of the stunning squares in Laguardia where we had a lovely lazy lunch after visiting a winery. Tight on time we still managed to tour 3 wineries, laze over lunch in a cosy mediaeval plaza in Laguardia, people-watch aplenty while sipping delicious coffees, had a spa treatment and, to cap it all, ate our evening meal by the outdoor hotel pool while watching the sun set over the vineyards. One of the many local wineries worth visiting is the Ysios winery, designed by Santiago de Calatrava.
Laguardia is the quintessential Riojan hamlet. It is a beautifully kept 13th century fortified town. As with all walled cities such as Carcassonne or Lucca, it has a magical mediaeval atmosphere. What makes Laguardia extra special is what lies below the cobbled streets. We even met a great friend β Maria β owner of the wonderful Erletxe casa rural β and purveyor of delicious honey.
The wine included in our set-course-menu was called Ayesa made in Laguardia. We had coffees at Hospederia Los Pasajes on the Plaza Mayor from where we saw the cutest chime at 5pm. Another of the more popular bodegas is the Marques de Riscal winery which has a titanium hotel, spa and restaurant designed by Frank Gehry.
