Top 5 La Rioja Car Tours: Wine Country Drives

Okay, so, when someone thinks of Spain, very often images of beaches or busy cities might pop to mind. However, there exists this amazing, somewhat secret place called La Rioja, and this region? It is almost ridiculously famous for its wines! Going on car tours there is a stupendous way to soak up all those vineyards, the small, charming villages, and that incredible culture of winemaking. It’s like, each turn on the road just opens up a new, postcard-worthy view! Instead of those crowded tourist traps, how about trading those in for winding roads that smell of grapes and history? Sounds pretty appealing, right?

1. The Classic Rioja Alta Route

Rioja Alta, that is where many of those most renowned wineries are, yet this area tends to represent so much history! We start our engine in Haro. Haro? Basically, it is the wine capital, you know? Think about starting at the Station District. Here, you might discover bodegas that feel like they are from another time completely, places that hold so much tradition. As you meander from one winery to another, trying out some wine blends, just try to keep an eye out, too! And remember this driving? Arguably, it’s as pleasurable as sipping those fine wines, right? Driving up toward places such as Briones, that overlooks the landscape from atop a hill? Like, the views? They’re worth taking a moment, just to slow down and savor them a bit! This route gives you an ideal look into traditional Rioja. The area feels very classic, very rooted.

2. Rioja Alavesa: A Blend of Wine and Art

Moving into Rioja Alavesa gives this very cool shift, in that it mixes vineyards, with a dose of modern art, very cool, in my view! That small town of Laguardia, it’s something else because the village sits atop this hill with the panoramic views! Oh and these streets, though! It feels, like they are something out of a storybook or something! Then, there is the Ysios winery designed by Santiago Calatrava; just go! You might like it because the building itself? It just almost appears to rise up right out of the earth. It tends to be such a sight! Nearby Elciego offers Marqués de Riscal. That has, basically, this hotel conceived by Frank Gehry. They are striking with the avant-garde design. It’s very striking against the backdrop of ancient vines. Exploring Rioja Alavesa? It gives you a real, fresh feel. It gives this fresh perspective toward the area.

3. The Hidden Gems of the Najerilla Valley

Ready to ditch those, like, busy roads a bit? So, this Najerilla Valley, very many visitors tend to miss it; still, those views? They’re beautiful, pretty outstanding. And then you get into these old monasteries too, it’s unreal. Let’s assume, very, very hypothetically, you were to start from Nájera, know that, this town had this major moment back during medieval times; because? Basically, it served as a capital! Its Santa María la Real monastery comes across very wow. I do want you to know that exploring the route lets someone discover smaller, family-run bodegas. Oh, and guess what! You get to discover those little villages as well! What you want is a very real experience and a view on how locals truly create wines. Then? This is it! The route almost seems quaint. It seems relaxed and authentic. It’s one that may bring relaxation. Consider going a little beyond the main attractions!

4. Wine and History Around San Millán de la Cogolla

Speaking of places packed with big moments, what is better than a mix of learning and those awesome wines. Start off around San Millán de la Cogolla. Why? See, here they have these Yuso and Suso monasteries, these big deal UNESCO spots! So, they are more than, you know, stone and walls! What those are, in fact? Birthplaces for Spanish! Oh yeah, imagine soaking in, not just the views. Think, just for a sec, about soaking in that heritage from long ago! Think how different things might be, now, without those monasteries! Next, let us imagine someone touring through these nearby vineyards around Berceo or Cárdenas. Doing that lets someone connect the story with, guess what! Wine! These vineyards might not seem big. Yet these are very real and super picturesque! When traveling along these, one feels, what might be this closeness for stories past, and wine history, a total win! It tends to represent blending traditions; not a bad one!

5. Discovering the Sierra de la Demanda

Ok, but, say that somebody might crave the open air more, a whole load more, anyway. They could zoom, towards those trails and such. Just thinking, they could take a detour. To a locale not only a total stunner, a natural gem! The Sierra de la Demanda region has some of La Rioja’s more unknown vistas. They’re gorgeous. From Ezcaray which they boast happens to be Rioja’s very first tourism village they may like. That’s where roads weave towards forests. Then mountain air can simply lift the mood up. After that scenery, you will often wind back down around the valleys. This is a big moment for exploring what would be some very charming small spots. Places to discover those super familial wineries, so neat! Sierra de la Demanda provides that escape someone might treasure if wanting adventure from the Rioja terrain. That, I reckon is nice if touring around. All that exploring leads somewhere, namely great relaxation. That sounds lovely!