Embarking on a day journey to Rioja from Bilbao is an expertise that can linger in your reminiscences just like the most interesting wine. With an ideal mix of scenic drives, charming villages, and beautiful wine tastings, this tour by Native Consultants Excursions is a perfect technique to immerse your self within the wealthy tradition and flavors of Spain’s most celebrated wine area.
Discover Rioja in a Day with Native Consultants Excursions
Our journey started at simply previous 9 AM when Victoria, our pleasant information and driver picked us up from a central level in Bilbao simply steps away from our lodging. As we left the bustling metropolis behind, the landscapes step by step remodeled into the rolling vineyards of La Rioja, portray a picturesque scene that hinted on the delights to come back. Alongside the best way, Victoria supplied fascinating insights into the historical past of Rioja, highlighting its significance as certainly one of Spain’s premier wine areas.
Discovering Rioja Wine Area
Rioja, Spain’s premier wine area, is famend for its high-quality pink wines, predominantly created from Tempranillo grapes. The area is split into three sub-regions: Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa, and Rioja Oriental, every providing distinct traits influenced by their distinctive climates and terrains. This variety is mirrored within the wines, making Rioja a paradise for wine fans.
First Cease: Bodega Hermanos Peciña, a Medium-Sized Vineyard
After a two-hour drive we arrived at our first vacation spot, the Bodega Hermanos Peciña is an enthralling medium-sized vineyard nestled amidst lush vineyards. Right here we have been greeted by Idoia who took us on an informative tour of the premises, studying in regards to the wine-making course of from vine to bottle. The spotlight, in fact, was the wine tasting session on the finish of our guided-tour the place we sampled 5 beautiful wines.
Bodega Hermanos Peciña is a distinguished family-owned vineyard situated within the coronary heart of Rioja Alta, a sub-region recognized for its high-quality wines and favorable rising situations. Based in 1992 by Pedro Peciña Crespo and his three youngsters, the vineyard has grown from a small operation to a notable producer of a wide range of distinctive wines, producing roughly 300,000 bottles per 12 months.
What Makes Bodega Hermanos Peciña Particular
Conventional Racking Technique: One of many distinctive facets of Bodega Hermanos Peciña is its dedication to conventional winemaking strategies. They make the most of a technique often called “trasiego,” or racking, which includes manually transferring the wine from barrel to barrel utilizing gravity. This methodology, which is labor-intensive and time-consuming, helps preserve the wine’s purity and enhances its growing older potential by naturally clarifying the wine and permitting light oxygenation.
Various Wine Choices: The vineyard produces a spread of wines, together with Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva. Every wine undergoes a meticulous growing older course of. For example:
- Crianza wines are aged for no less than two years in American oak barrels, with a minimal of 1 12 months within the bottle, leading to vibrant and fruit-forward wines. The wines endure 4 transfers, from barrel to barrel.
- Reserva wines age for at least three years in American oak barrels, with no less than one and a half years in a bottle, providing a steadiness of fruit and oak with deeper, extra complicated flavors. These wines are transferred six occasions.
- Gran Reserva wines, aged for no less than 4 years in American oak barrels, with three years in bottles, are wealthy, clean, and full-bodied, showcasing the vineyard’s dedication to high quality and custom. These wines are transferred a complete of eight occasions.
Sustainability and High quality: The vineyard owns 50 hectares of vineyards, permitting for cautious choice and management over the grape high quality. This dedication to high quality is clear of their wines, that are recognized for his or her lengthy growing older occasions and distinctive flavors, far exceeding the minimal necessities set by the Rioja DOCa Wine Board.
En Path to Abalos
As we made our technique to the second vineyard, we stopped on the quaint village of Abalos. This charming locale is famend for its beautiful medieval structure and serene ambiance. Strolling by its slim streets felt like stepping again in time, providing a peaceable respite amidst our wine-filled journey.
Second Cease: Bodegas Ostatu A Fashionable Small Vineyard
Our subsequent cease was a contemporary small vineyard that contrasted superbly with the standard first one. At Bodegas Ostatu, we loved a tasting session of three modern wines paired with idiazabal cheese created from unpasteurized sheep milk, every reflecting a recent method to winemaking. Moreover, we had the pleasure of sampling their regionally produced olive oil, a pleasant complement to the wines.
What Makes Bodegas Ostatu Particular
Historic Roots and Household Custom: Bodegas Ostatu is a family-owned vineyard situated within the Rioja Alavesa area, within the village of Samaniego. The vineyard operates in an 18th-century constructing that was initially a rustic inn. The Sáenz de Samaniego household has been cultivating vineyards on this space for the reason that sixteenth century, emphasizing a deep connection to the land and custom.
Progressive Practices and Sustainability: Ostatu combines conventional winemaking strategies with fashionable improvements. They observe natural farming and intention for carbon-neutral operations. Their vineyards, managed by the household, are divided into micro plots that profit from the distinctive microclimate of the Sierra de Cantabria foothills, excellent for rising high-quality grape.
Distinctive Winery Administration:
The vineyard owns 36 hectares of vineyards, primarily planted with Tempranillo but additionally that includes different varieties like Graciano, Mazuelo, Garnacha, Viura, and Malvasia. The vineyards are situated at elevations between 450-650 meters, benefiting from the convergence of Atlantic and Mediterranean climatic influences. This distinctive location and soil composition contribute to the complicated aromas and flavors of their wines.
Exploring Laguardia
Earlier than heading again to Bilbao, we visited the enchanting city of Laguardia. This medieval gem, established within the tenth century, sits proudly within the Rioja Alavesa area. Laguardia’s well-preserved stone partitions and slim cobblestone streets exude historic appeal.
The city is legendary for its underground wine cellars, or “calados,” nonetheless in use at this time. Highlights embody the Church of Santa María de los Reyes with its beautiful Gothic portal and the Church of San Juan Bautista. Perched atop a hill, Laguardia presents breathtaking views of surrounding vineyards and the Sierra de Cantabria mountains. The city’s medieval streets are lined with charming outlets, historic church buildings, and alluring cafes, making it a pleasant place to discover.
Among the many numerous points of interest in Laguardia, the bronze statues of sneakers and luggage, often called “Escultura Viajeros,” are notably intriguing. These sculptures are situated in the principle sq. close to the Church of Santa María de los Reyes. The art work represents the vacationers who’ve handed by Laguardia over the centuries, symbolizing the city’s lengthy historical past as a stopover for these journeying throughout the Basque Nation. The statues are designed to evoke a way of journey and exploration, connecting guests to the city’s wealthy heritage and the numerous journeys which have woven by its streets.
For lunch, we indulged in a hearty meal at a neighborhood restaurant, savoring conventional Riojan dishes paired with extra native wines. The mix of fine meals, glorious wine, and the city’s enchanting environment made for an ideal ending to our day journey.
Conclusion
As we headed again to Bilbao, we mirrored on a day properly spent, full of new data, pleasant tastes, and unforgettable experiences. Today journey to Rioja isn’t just about wine tasting; it’s an excellent introduction to historical past, tradition, and the beautiful landscapes of certainly one of Spain’s most beloved areas. Whether or not you’re a wine connoisseur or just searching for a memorable time out, Rioja from Bilbao guarantees an journey that can captivate your senses.
Suggestions for Your Journey:
- Guide in Advance: Make sure you reserve your spots for vineyard excursions and tastings. You’ll be able to e-book the identical tour right here. These are small group excursions as much as 8 individuals, and solo vacationers are additionally welcome. The period of the tour is 8 hours.
- Snug Clothes: Put on snug sneakers and clothes, because the tour includes strolling and standing.
- Keep Hydrated: Drink loads of water all through the day to remain hydrated, particularly throughout wine tastings.
