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Nice! What are the old(?) dusty ones?
We will be there on a Sunday in two weeks any tips for a bodegavidit or long lunch?
Never knew Marques de Riscal was designed by Frank Gehry… would visit just for that… let alone the wines
Just realised I posted the pictures without any text. How remiss of me.
Managed three days in Rioja with friends. The highlight was the tasting with food at Marques de Murrieta closely followed by the pilgrimage to La Rioja Alta. I’m fortunate to have bought their reserva EP from TWS which was delivered last week. It was wonderful to visit the place this fabulous wine is made.
If you haven’t been to the region. Treat yourself…
Yes. Marques de Murrieta was a really good tour. Lots info about the viticulture as well as the usual ‘bottles and barrels in a dark cellar’ routine. It’s a classy place and the wines are top notch. Not just the Castillo Ygay either.
We had lunch in the restaurant 1860 in the Hotel Marques de Riscal. It was excellent. Local dishes cooked to a high standard. Didn’t cost an arm and a leg either. €20 odd for perfect beef cheeks… € 34 for a bottle of Riscal Reserva. Not bad for a restaurant in a 5 star hotel.
I loved visiting la Rioja Alta. They are making a superb modern style Rioja under there Torre de Ona label. It’s called Martelo. More fruit forward, less oak influenced than their traditional style that we all know and love. . Brimming with plummy, cherry fruit and extremely well balanced. A steal at €18 per bottle in the shop. €3 for a glass on the spot.
While you are in Haro, Cune, Muga and Lopez de Heredia are all within walking distance. Take a spare liver…
A slightly different one from the same stable available right here:
Sounds like my sort of holiday! 
Sounds wonderful. Definitely a trip that I will make in the not too distant future-Rioja Heaven.
We stayed in Laguardia. Half way between Haro and Logroño. the Sercotel was very good. excellent staff and great food. Laguardia is a village on a hill with lots of narrow lanes to explore and fantastic views of the region.
From the hotel, i could see the Palacio Bodega. They make TWS Society Rioja and Glorioso.
I will be going back there because I heard a rumour that there are a few barrels still to be tasted…
All very timely.Just booked up today for 4 days in Rioja and 4 in SAN Sebastian in October.
Staying near Haro in a new 4star on the river. Too tempting as it looks lovely and is 20 mins walk to Rioja Alta.
We looked at the Sercotel as well,Norman, there’s an offer on Voyage Prive. Close to booking instead.
Any tips for either end of the trip welcome.
Don’t forget if you want to buy to check the Simply supermarket and others on the outskirts of Haro, they had a very large and good cross section of all the Riojas and good vintages, at prices below any of the Bodegas sometimes well below, we found out to late last year after having purchased at one winery the same wine was 25% less at the supermarket.
Im no help with San Sebastián I’m afraid. We did Bilbao which was great…
Lots of stuff above re Rioja but I’m sure we only touched the surface. I would spend time at Marques de Riscal hotel and Laguardia. Both great to walk around.
Logroño has an area of tapas bars and restaurants said to be one of the best pub crawls in Europe. If you are heading that way, book a tour of Marques de Murrieta. It’s so classy. We did a €57 tour. Vineyard and cellar then three high end local dishes cooked by their private chef to match 3 wines. Worth every penny. The guide Natalia was extremely well informed and her English was colloquially good.
I hope you enjoy yourself as much as we did. I hope I don’t appear too evengelical, but it’s such a lovely place.
Any restaurant / tapas recommendations for Haro much appreciated?
@oy-oy
Thank you for sharing the photos. We have just booked our ferry for next May and will shortly be planning our San Sabastian - Logrono/Haro - Bilboa leg of our road trip. These pics certainly whet the appetite.
Hope you don’t mind me asking but did you stay in Bilbao at all and if so, any recommendations for accommodation/bars/food etc.
Thank you.
We went to Bilboa for the day and had lunch in the most fantastic restaurant. it’s called Casa Leotta. it’s number one on trip advisor and deserves the rating. the only thing is…it’s an Italian and as i recall, Bilbao is in Spain. i would certainly go again though. it’s small, quirky with unusual choices of food at good prices. book in advance because it’s popular.
We also went to the Guggenheim museum which is well worth it for the spectacular building alone… I want to spend more time in Bilbao. it’s got a lovely vibe about it and everything is walkable.
have a fab time.
hi adb,
Only went to wineries in Haro i’m afraid… well, got to leave something for the next trip.
Perhaps you can let me know if you find anything good. I would appreciate it…
Yes, if you like suckling pig: http://terete.es/
Tapas in Haro are more hit-and-miss (best do the Calle Laurel run in Logroño - that is FANTASTIC)
, CVNE & Gomez Cruzado the best , small and personal 
