Top Things to do in La Rioja
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Things to do in La Rioja, Spain: The Best Tours
Don't let its size fool you; Spain's smallest province makes a big name for itself with enticing wines and spectacular scenery. From its healing thermal baths to its rugged mountain trails, La Rioja provides the perfect getaway to any traveler. Action junkies can find adventures skiing, biking or white-water rafting, while the more sedate will find a peaceful respite sipping wine in the region's lush vineyards, or walking the famous pilgrims' trail to Santiago.
Restaurants in La Rioja
1. Discover Rioja paddling in the Ebro River and visiting family-run wineries.
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Enjoy canoeing along Ebro river, through spectacular vineyards and visiting family-run wineries of Rioja wine region. Aboard single, double canoes and kayaks, paddle along a gentle and scenic course of river, as long as you want (up to 9 km / 5 milles) in 2 hours activity, and 1 hour and half more for the wine tour. Discover the most renowned wine region of Spain from an unique point of view, canoeing along meanders, crossing medieval bridges, surrounded by outstanding scenery, both rich in natural and historical values. Starting point from medieval village of Briñas, between renowned wine-making towns of Haro and Labastida, the route covers a long stretch of river, full of resources to visit by yourselves or accompained by a professional guide with an entertaining description of winemaking culture, historical events, nature and wildlife watching. This activity could be completed visitng a Rioja winery, with a guided tour and tasting of 4 superb Rioja wines (+ 1.5 hour).
Inclusions: Full canoeing equipment rental (2-3 hours), Paddling techniques and safety introduction briefing., Changing rooms and showers facilities available in the dock., Local canoeist guide and interpretative route included in second option: guided-route, Rioja winery guided tour and 4 wine tasting included in third option: guided-route + winery visit and tasting
Exclusions: Everything not included in the list above
2. Half day with lunch - Rioja Wine Tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 24 reviews
In this half day wine tour with lunch, you will visit 2 different wineries and you will learn about the winemaking process for the different classifications of Rioja Red wines, the different kinds of oak barrels used to age these wines, and finally you will enjoy a local lunch in a charming walled medieval village from the 10th century.
Inclusions: Private transportation, English guide, 2 winery visits + wine tastings and lunch in Laguardia
Exclusions: Tips (optional)
Reviewed By IsobelValencia
This was absolutely the best wine tour we have ever taken! The selection of wineries (family, estate, and 15th century) was perfect, and we learned so much about the winemaking process in the region. Our guide, Jose Maria, was very knowledgeable and took the time to answer all our questions. He even made a picnic lunch for us in his home. Rebeca, of Rioja Like a Native Wine tour, was extremely helpful and customized the trip just for us. A remarkable experience, and one we highly recommend!
3. Rioja Wine and Food Experience
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Discover one of the most important wine regions in the world by the hand of local expert guides, born and raised in the area, that will take you to really off-the-beaten-track wineries and restaurants, so that you can enjoy the region as a local.
Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Lunch, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast, Local wine expert guide during the whole tour, Visits to 5 different wineries, with wine tasting in each one of them, Introducing pairing dinner with wine educator, Rioja Traditional lunch in Logroño, Lunch in a 17th century cellar, Picnic lunch in a winery, Private transportation
Exclusions:
4. Visit a winery of the 19th century and its draft
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 11 reviews
His secrets remained hidden during the 30 years in which he remained closed, with the legacy built since its opening in 1881 hidden in everyone's eyes. A thorough restoration has made it possible that this nineteenth-century winery, in which wine was traditionally made through carbonic maceration, resurfaces in the present.
Inclusions: Tasting of 2 wines and olive oils is included. Some snacks are also included.
Exclusions: Tips or everything not included in "Included"
Reviewed By pj54
Jose is the perfect host and his wine tour of the Rioja Valley was exceptional. His knowledge of the wine industry in Northern Spain was extensive and very interesting to learn about, particularly the very small family plots that are dotted throughout the region. The highlight of the tour without doubt however was the visit to his own wine cave, La Bodega del Tesoro. Here we tasted his wines in conjunction with a truly special local lunch prepared by Jose, including jamon, home grown tomatoes and potato and chorizo soup made by his wife that morning. Little lamb cutlets and fresh chorizo grilled over the open fire (lit with vine cuttings) topped of a truly perfect day . The vision Jose has realised by restoring this original old barrel room and wine cave across the road is indeed momentous. Gracias Jose. We wish you well for all your future ventures. Penny and Roger.
5. Live an experience with a wine flavor
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Enjoy an adventure through the exciting world of wine. Share with us the commitment to the land and things well done. Travel through our history and we will taste our most emblematic wines. We put the spectacular environment. Are you coming?
Inclusions: Guided tour of the cellar facilities, Tasting of two wines Rioja Vega Crianza and Rioja Vega Reserva
Exclusions: Private transportation
6. Rioja with the owner of a winery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
A winetour with the owner of a winery in Rioja. Landscapes will be visited to understand Rioja wine. Wines will be tasted in 3 different wineries in Rioja selected. It will end by teaching our project, our winery La Bodega del Tesoro, tasting our wines and a traditional lunch in a unique place, inside a barrel where the wine was made.
Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, The tour includes a traditional lunch ¡¡¡¡en a casrica¡¡¡, 3 wine tastings in different wineries, Small groups, you can share up to 8 people
Exclusions: Gratuities, Wines not selected / included in the tastings will be paid by the customer, Everything not included in the "services included" section
Reviewed By monkeymist
We loved our time with Jose. There would have been room for others on our tour, but it ended up being just me, my husband, and my parents. Jose took into account our preferences for wineries, but was knowledgable about what was open when so we never ran into issues with something being closed. We hit Luis Canas, a wine bar, various picture opp stops, a castle, and ended at Luis's winery for lunch in as advertised a barrel. It was an amazing day filled with fantastic wine and food.
7. Private Visit to a Winery in La Rioja with Wine Tasting
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
If you want to discover the true flavor of Rioja, located in the heart of the Doca Rioja, you will discover how we make wine, we will show you our sustainable practices and respect for the environment. Visit this impressive project, a unique architectural work with more than 45,000 square meters of underground construction. Taking the grape tour in the winery, you will be surprised by our barrel room, one of the most spectacular in the world ... 70,000 oak barrels resting in the same space. Enjoy this exclusive visit in which you will visit every corner of our winery: production room, barrels and bottle rack, among others. * The activity includes a visit to the winery for groups of maximum 4 people, a tasting of 3 wines and an aperitif of Riojan sausages (chorizo and salchichón).
Inclusions: All Fees and Taxes, Riojan sausage appetizer (chorizo and salchichón). Local produce., The tasting includes 3 wines from the Rioja Qualified Designation of Origin, one of the most prestigious in the world
Exclusions: Available extensive menu of extra snacks available to the consumer., Private transportation approximately 10 USD
Reviewed By MexicoTraveler67
Campo Viejo is a first-class operation! The bodega is gigantic and the setting could not be more impressive, being situated on a mountain top high above Logroño. We chose the €12.00 tour which included 3 tastings and snacks. Since the bodega is outside the city, we took a taxi for €15.00 and it took about 10 minutes to get there. When the tour was over, the staff called a taxi for us and the price was the same to return to our hotel. An amazing experience!
8. Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa Wine Tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 51 reviews
In this tour we will go to the principal wine areas in Rioja, Rioja Alta & Rioja Alavesa, where you will enjoy the experience of learning about 6 centuries of winemaking tradition, in 3 different style wineries from the best professionals in Rioja. For lunch we will go to a medieval village founded in the 10th century and you will eat local food paired with the traditional wine that locals drink in the ara; an amazing experience that you can't miss!
Inclusions: Private Transport from your hotel in the Rioja Area, Private English Guide, Traditional winery visit + Wine Tasting, Professional Wine Tasting, Lunch in a medieval village, Modern winery visit + Wine Tasting
Exclusions: Gratuities
Reviewed By IsobelValencia
This was absolutely the best wine tour we have ever taken! The selection of wineries (family, estate, and 15th century) was perfect, and we learned so much about the winemaking process in the region. Our guide, Jose Maria, was very knowledgeable and took the time to answer all our questions. He even made a picnic lunch for us in his home. Rebeca, of Rioja Like a Native Wine tour, was extremely helpful and customized the trip just for us. A remarkable experience, and one we highly recommend!
9. Full day - Best of Rioja wine tour
Overall Ratings
4.8 based on 5 reviews
This is a perfect tour to get to know Rioja and its wines in 1 day. With this private tour you will be accompanied by a local expert and stop at 4 different wineries. We have selected 4 excellent wineries to ensure you get to know how diversed Rioja is: a small family owned winery, one of the most traditional wineries in Rioja, a high level modern producer and a dynamic winery at an amazing landscape. The tour includes lunch, normally at a winery and with breath-taking views. Last but not least, there will be a short stop at the beautiful village of Laguardia. This private experience begins with on-site pick up (if you are staying in Logroño, Elciego, Laguardia or Haro) You will have 8 hours to get to know La Rioja and stop at 4 cellars
Inclusions: Expert local guide, Air-conditioned vehicle, Wine will be tasted at each of the 3 wineries visited, Bottled water, High quality lunch included, normally at one of the wineries in Rioja. 3 course meal with wine included, Private transportation
Exclusions: Any item not shown in included section
Reviewed By hamzehpour2017
My husband and I had a wonderful time on the Rioja wine tour. We did the Classics tour. There was a minor scheduling error but Inma went out of her way to make up for their error and gave us an amazing private tour. I would highly recommend them. Inma was very knowledgeable and provided us a lot of education about Rioja wines and we learned a lot about our individual taste in wine as well. Inma was able to cater our private tour to our preferred tastes.
10. Rioja Alavesa: Cycling experience with wineries
Amazing Cycling tour around the wineries of one of the most important wine regions in Spain. During the 8 hours, you will visit 2 wineries around La Rioja Alavesa wine region. Lunch in a traditional restaurant is also included.
Inclusions: 2 visits to wineries, All the material for the Cycling experience, Lunch in a traditional restaurant
Exclusions: Transport to the meeting point or pick up
Reviewed By JFaasse
We worked with Nerea to organize 2 days of private guides for our overnight in Bilbao on our cruise. Nerea was great to work with, and the two historical walking and Pinxtos tours were amazing. We have done a lot of private tours in our travels in Europe and our two private guides, 1 in San Sebastian and 1 in Bilbao were 2 of the best we ever had. I wish I could remember the ladies names that took us around, but they were FANTASTIC! The food they shared with us was amazing. They took us to very different places in each city, but places that they liked to visit is locals. The Pinxtos were amazing, the wine was amazing, the history tours were great. The guides were so knowledgable, personable, flexible, and they made us fall in love with the region of Spain. You cannot go wrong with the service and the guides provided by Basque Destinations. Our guide in Bilbao even walked around the Guggenheim with us and explained things (even though techinically it is not legal to do so), and for people who are not versed in Modern Art, it was very impactful, educational, and made the experience so much more enjoyable. I wish I could remember the women's names, but I waited too long to write the review...but you will not be disappointed with the private tours created by Nerea and her team.
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