Architectural Rioja Wine Tour: Marqués de Riscal & Ysios (Bilbao)
Description
Discover the perfect introduction to Rioja by exploring both its legendary wineries and its exciting new generation of winemakers. Visit three contrasting wineries, including the architectural icons Marqués de Riscal and Ysios, plus a family-run boutique winery where you'll experience Rioja's modern wine movement. Taste at least 8 exceptional wines, from world-famous labels to small-production gems, while learning about the region's history, terroir, and winemaking traditions. Complete your day in the medieval village of Laguardia, where you'll enjoy a light tapas lunch, stroll its charming cobbled streets, and capture unforgettable photos of vineyards, spectacular architecture, and breathtaking landscapes. A perfect blend of iconic wineries, authentic culture, and unforgettable scenery.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The tour starts from Bilbao and includes a scenic drive along the dramatic ridge of the Sierra de Cantabria mountains on our way to the Rioja wine region — a beautiful journey of approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Marqués de Riscal is one of Rioja’s most historic and influential wineries, founded in 1858 and known for combining tradition with bold innovation. Taste 4 wines Its wines helped put Rioja on the world map, and today the estate is instantly recognisable thanks to the spectacular titanium-and-steel hotel designed by Frank Gehry. During your complete guided visit, you’ll explore one of the region’s pioneering wineries, learn about its winemaking legacy and enjoy a tasting of some of their emblematic wines.
Our next stop is Ysios Winery, one of Rioja's most iconic architectural landmarks. Designed by the renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, its striking wave-shaped roof mirrors the Sierra de Cantabria mountains, making it one of the most photographed wineries in the world. We will step inside the winery to discover the story behind its remarkable design, learn about its architecture, and enjoy a tasting of one of Ysios' most iconic wines.
The last winery takes us to Javier San Pedro Ortega, a family-run boutique winery representing the new wave of Rioja winemakers. Here, you'll discover how a new generation is redefining the region by combining tradition with innovation and a strong focus on terroir. The experience concludes with a guided tasting of four wines, perfectly paired with a selection of local Rioja appetizers, offering an authentic taste of the region's modern winemaking scene.
Our tour concludes with a light tapas lunch in Laguardia, one of Spain's most beautiful medieval villages. Stroll through its charming cobbled streets and soak up the atmosphere as you enjoy a selection of traditional local tapas, the perfect ending to a day discovering the very best of Rioja.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(162)
The group was very friendly, and Arrate our guide was also very good. We visited a popular place and two lesser known places, topped off by a tapas-style lunch. It was excellent; we could not have found our way to the smaller wineries. The lunch and good wine put everyone to sleep for a nice return to Bilbao.
Highly recommend! One of the best days of our vacation. Arrate is a pleasure to be around and has a wealth of knowledge regarding Rijoa and the Basque way of life. The tour sets a nice pace of wine and architecture and history and food. Having a guide to drive is an added bonus so we all could imbibe.
Great day with a very good guide/driver Arrate. We had a LOT of different wines both white, red and sparkling. Tasting in three different spots with snacks. Lovely pinxtos lunch in a beauiful mountain village. A LOT of interesting information on wine.Possibility to order wine shipped home. Guided tour at Marqués de Riscal.Great day, picked up 0830 and dropped of 1700.
The route is well designed, the itinerary is moderately paced and each of the three wineries visited has its own characteristics. Of particular note is the friendly, professional, attentive and courteous guide Arrate, whose excellent personal qualities and service add to her itinerary.
Lovely introduction to wine country. Friendly, knowledgeable and patient (we were taking too long everywhere, and she gave us lots of flexibility) guide, and drove very smoothly. Really enjoyed her company.
This was a great tour. We visited some beautiful wineries, had great wine and enjoyed a tour. Arreta was a wonderful guide!
I had an amazing experience and our guide was Arrate, she was so knowledgeable and extremely fun to enjoy this trip with! We went to 3 wineries and then stopped for lunch before going back. AMAZING tour, do not waste time not booking it
This Rijoa wine tasting tour was fabulous! Our guide was so friendly, personable, and accomodating! She made the day perfect! The wineries were amazing and lunch in Laguardia was fabulous! A great day!!
My daughter and I enjoyed the day trip from Bilbao! The landscape was beautiful and the architecture of the Marqués de Riscal hotel and Ysios winery were incredible. Great wine from all three vineyards! Our guide was fantastic and very knowledgeable about wine and the area. Highly recommend!
An excellent day in beautiful Rioja seeing the old and the new wineries, and the truly amazing buildings. A friendly guide who looked after us well all day. The trip looks expensive, and it is, but we really thought that it was a high point of our time visiting this part of Spain.
