If you still think that you need good weather to travel, it is because you have not yet come to the Rioja Alta Wine Route in winter. This time of year is perfect for fun and surprising activities and, of course, for tasting the typical dishes of our land that will warm you up.
In this article, we are going to show you some examples of what you can do. But you will find many more in the ‘Experiences’ section of our website and always close to you.
We start with the Wine Trails, a total of 16 routes that allow you to get to know the vineyards and the landscape, the views to the north and south of La Rioja, with the Sierra de la Demanda, as well as the towns and villages with history that you will find along the way. There are routes of varying difficulty to suit people of all ages and can be done on foot or by bicycle. If you opt for the latter option and are looking for an excuse to make one of the first outings of the year, we recommend you take a look at the post on our blog: Discover the Route and its Wine Trails by bike.
If you have not brought your bike with you, no problem, among our partners you will find several companies that can provide you with this rental service and, in addition, guide you on more and less demanding routes for all audiences.
Those who are sure to bring one or more bicycles in their luggage are those who come in a motorhome. The possibilities of this type of tourism are endless and at La Ruta del Vino Rioja Alta we have all the ingredients to exceed expectations by far. We have several safe areas for parking motorhomes in: San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Casalarreina, Hormilla, Sajazarra, Logroño, Cihuri and Baños de Río Tobía (you can read more about them here). As well as having parking areas, it is important to highlight that our experience with this type of tourist has always been exceptional, being more than welcome in our villages, wineries, restaurants and establishments in general.
We leave the bike parked and we go into the territory aboard a 4×4, driven by an experienced driver and guide, who will get our adrenaline pumping. This is an activity with which you will enjoy the view of the vineyards and their surroundings, and you will be able to climb the mountain to admire our incredible landscape from the heights.
Winter is also an exceptional time to visit some of our museums, such as the recently inaugurated Museum of Ceramics of Bodegas FyA by Carlos Bujanda, in Navarrete, with a permanent collection of 850 pieces of ceramics, or the world-famous Museum of Wine Culture of the Vivanco Foundation, which is one of the most important private initiatives on the world of wine and its economic, social and cultural dimensions. The Vivanco Museum occupies an area of four thousand square metres, with five permanent exhibition rooms that house the collections that the Vivanco family has acquired over the years: from vessels dating back centuries, presses, great works of art (Picasso, Sorolla, Juan Gris, Chillida, Barceló, Genovés, etc.) or audiovisuals where you can discover everything about the history and future of wine. A visit not to be missed. You can find more information about all our museums here.
We put the activity to one side and go on to regain our strength. If you are a lover of good food, spoon dishes and the flavours of the land, you are in the right place at the right time: potatoes with chorizo, caparrones -a variety of bean typical of La Rioja-, stewed meats, roasts… that will warm you up quickly. Here you can consult our associated restaurants with sublime gastronomic proposals. In addition, many of them are located in places with centuries of history: cellars, cloisters, palaces and, of course, wineries.
It goes without saying that our excellent network of accommodation will give you the warmth you are looking for at the end of an intense day on the Rioja Alta Wine Route. Sharing a glass of wine in the warmth of a fireplace or soaking in the hotel’s relaxing jacuzzi while contemplating the winter landscape from a window will put the finishing touch to your day.
These are just a few examples of what you can do on your winter visit to the Rioja Alta Wine Route. There are many more depending on the time of year you come: horse-drawn carriage rides, sunset terraces, grape harvests… Take a look at our agenda and live your greatest adventure on the Rioja Alta Wine Route.