Spain is a wine-lover’s paradise, with hundreds of vineyards to visit and thousands of varieties to try. Whether your preference is for full-bodied reds, fruity whites or crisp, dry rosados, you will discover lots to delight your taste buds.
You may have heard it is easy to find cheap wine in Spain, and it is true that you won’t have to break the bank to get good local produce in traditional restaurants and bars. However, your trip could also be a luxury experience, as there is a selection of upmarket wine estates to visit in the country.
Some of them are housed in spectacular modern buildings and have high-class hotels attached, while others are in the grounds of ageing manor houses. All have one thing in common – their reputation was built on the exceptional quality of their wine.
Marqués de Riscal, Elciego
The Marqués de Riscal winery in the Rioja Alavesa region is the most famous of Spain’s luxury wine estates, thanks to the presence of a stunning Frank Gehry-designed hotel, which features extravagant pink, silver and gold titanium panels on its exterior. The complex, which contains a spa and a Michelin-starred restaurant, is surrounded by beautiful countryside that is perfect for cultivating grapes.
You can also look forward to tasting some sumptuous wines during your visit, as the estate has been producing award-winning drinks since 1858. Its Baron de Chirel Reserva 2005 is the perfect accompaniment to red meat and game, while the Marqués de Riscal Rosé 2011 is a real treat if you enjoy crisp Rioja rosados.
AbadÃa Retuerta, Valladolid
Set on the banks of the River Duero in Castilla y León, the AbadÃa Retuerta estate is home to a five-star hotel housed inside a 12th-century cloistered Romanesque-Baroque abbey. It provides guests with the perfect combination of a historic setting and modern facilities.
The abbey is surrounded by acres of vines, which are used to produce some high-quality wine. Visit the winery’s tasting room and you can try the famous AbadÃa Retuerta Selección Especial (the 2001 vintage was named the world’s best red wine), together with the AbadÃa Retuerta PV, which is made from Petit Verdot grapes.
R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia, Haro
Among the best-known estates in La Rioja, R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia has used traditional methods to produce wine since 1877. Today, you can sample a range of reds, whites and rosés, including the beautifully-rich Viña Tondonia Red Gran Reserva 1994.
One thing you will notice as you tour the estate is that it remains resolutely old-fashioned, apart from one eye-catching building. Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid was commissioned to add a luxurious feel to the winery as part of its 125th anniversary celebrations and responded by creating a futuristic tasting room that has the feel of an upmarket cocktail bar.
Steven Jones has personally visited these regions and would love it if you did the same. Bizzarly enough Steven actually work in the Blended Malt Scotch Whisky business but his first love is wine