National Geographic distinguishes the Rioja Alta Wine Route as the “Best Gastronomic Route in Spain”.

The Rioja Alta Wine Route, and especially its restaurants and gastronomic venues, are in luck. The prestigious National Geographic magazine has just named it “Best Gastronomic Route in Spain” in the II National Geographic Travel Readers’ Choice Awards 2024, an award given to the best destinations, hotels, projects and airlines in the world.

The Rioja Alta Wine Route was one of the 75 finalist destinations in the 15 established categories. In the “Best Gastronomic Route in Spain” category, Rioja Alta Wine Route competed against four other outstanding proposals such as Somontano Wine, the Manchego Cheese, Dénia Red Prawn and Garrigues Olive Oil routes.

Finally, it was the readers of the magazine, the largest community of Spanish-speaking travellers on the planet, who chose the winners in each category by means of a vote that ended on 11 February. Thus, Ruta del Vino Rioja Alta has been the wine region most loved by the magazine’s readers.

“When it comes to wine, there are many Denominations of Origin in Spain and also many routes around their wines. However, one of the most complete is undoubtedly the Rioja Alta Wine Route, which some experts talk about as one of the richest wine regions in the country and even beyond these borders. It is not only this tradition around wine that has flooded a large percentage of the region’s surface area, with centuries-old vineyards, unique initiatives, wine-growing architecture and countless wineries, from the smallest cellar under a house to the largest design project of the major producers. Likewise, the small villages enjoy popular wine-related festivals and restaurants that are perfect ambassadors”, the magazine argues.

“This area of La Rioja stands out for being one of the places where the landscape, the villages and the tourist offer have everything that any wine lover could wish for”, they argue. The Vivanco Museum of Wine Culture, the Barrio de la Estación in Haro and the Wine Battle, also in Haro, are some of the experiences and places that stand out in particular.

The awards ceremony, which took place at the Club Allard in Madrid, was attended by Alfonso Maestro, manager of the Rioja Alta Wine Route, accompanied by Miguel Caño, chef at the Nublo restaurant and recently named “Ambassador of La Rioja Gastronómica”.

Winners II National Geographic Travel Readers’ Choice Awards 2024

1. Best Natural Destination in Spain: Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park.
2. Best Village in Spain: Trujillo.
3. Best Hotel in a Natural Environment in Spain: Canfranc Estación.
4. Best Beach Destination in Spain: Menorca.
5. Best Gastronomic Destination in Spain: Córdoba.
6. Best Gastronomic Route in Spain: Rioja Alta Wine Route.
7. Best European Destination: Azores Islands.
8. Best International Destination: Peru.
9. Best International Hotel: Anantara Palazzo Naiadi (Rome).
10. Best Urban Destination in Spain: Madrid.
11. Best Urban Hotel in Spain: Gran Hotel Miramar (Malaga).
12. Best Cultural Destination in Spain: Camino de Santiago Primitivo.
13. Best Sustainable Tourism Project: Be Blue.
14. Best World City: New York.
15. Best Airline: Iberia.

In addition, mentions have also been awarded to those destinations that have obtained almost as many votes as the winners. These are:

• Spanish Village: Alquézar.
• International Hotel: Grand Meliá Nha Trang.
• Tourism Sustainability Project: Combustible SAF.
• Gastronomic Destination of Spain: Rías Baixas.
• Airline: KLM.