May on the Rioja Alta Wine Route: nature in full awakening

May is one of those magical months when everything really starts to bloom on the Rioja Alta Wine Route. Spring has settled in, the days are longer, the landscape is dressed in a vibrant green and the vineyards, still discreet, begin to prepare for what will be the burst of flowering. A perfect time to plan a getaway and experience all that this land has to offer.

If you are looking for a good reason to travel in May, here it is: the May 1st long weekend is a golden opportunity to take a break, disconnect from routine and immerse yourself in the landscapes, flavours and culture of Rioja Alta. Many of our partners offer special activities for these days, from visits among vineyards to wine tastings or bike rides, kayaking or even hot air ballooning.

You can start the day by walking a path through the vineyards, then enjoy a tasting in a family-run winery and finish it off with a Rioja menu in a traditional restaurant.

May is also one of the most beautiful times in the vineyard. We invite you to follow our Wine Trails, routes designed for walking or cycling through vineyards, fields and villages full of history. There are options for all levels and tastes, and always with the spring landscape as your travelling companion.

On 17 May, a new date with Routes en la Ruta: The Retiro Route

This month of May also brings us a new proposal within our Routes on the Route initiative. On Saturday 17 May we will celebrate La Ruta del Retiro, a day to enjoy the peace and quiet, the heritage and, of course, the wine of Rioja Alta.

The plan will start in Navarrete with a visit to Bodegas Corral, where we will learn about its history linked to the Camino de Santiago and taste its wines. Afterwards, we will make an essential stop at the Monastery of Nuestra Señora de la Piedad, in Casalarreina, a monument full of history and beauty. We will finish in San Asensio, at Bodegas Perica, enjoying a traditional Riojan lunch and its exceptional hospitality.

Are you up for this getaway designed to savour life at a different pace? Tickets only cost 60 euros (plus booking fee) and can be purchased through this link.

We celebrate San Isidro Labrador Day

May also has its traditional date with the rural world: on 15 May we celebrate the Day of San Isidro Labrador, patron saint of farmers. In Rioja Alta, land of winegrowers and farmers, this date has a special significance. Although many celebrations are local and small, they reflect the soul of our people: grateful to the land and proud of their roots.

If you visit our villages on these dates, you may come across blessings of fields, processions or traditional fairs, where wine and local products are the protagonists. A nod to that deep connection between nature, work and life that defines our character.

In May, everything tastes better

Spring is also noticeable in our gastronomy. It is the season for fresh produce: garden vegetables, asparagus, artichokes, broad beans… And on the Rioja Alta Wine Route we know how to treat them: simple dishes, with authentic flavours that enhance the quality of each ingredient. Accompanied, of course, by one of our emblematic wines.

Remember that many of our restaurants and wineries offer special menus or themed tastings during these months. Don’t forget to consult our Events Calendar to discover all the proposals.

May is the month of rebirth, of promises kept, of landscapes that invite you to lose yourself and find yourself. If you are looking for nature, heritage, wine, gastronomy and authenticity, this is the time for you.

Consult our website, plan your getaway and come and discover all that the Rioja Alta Wine Route has in store for you this spring.

We look forward to seeing you.