The Best Wineries to Visit in Rioja in 2023

Bodegas Ysios Rioja
Visit Rioja wineries with the top- rated wines. You can go on a wine tasting to Rioja from San-Sebastian, Bilbao or Madrid.

Which are the top wineries in Rioja, Spain?

High-quality “artisanal” wines, interesting stories, unique production techniques and remarkable architecture are all good reasons to visit a particular winery (bodega).  However, as much as I love beautiful wineries, a nice tasting room does not always equal excellent wines.  

When planning my Rioja wine tours, I try to look for wineries producing the best classic examples of the regional style and highly rated by international critics.

Here is the map and the list of the top wineries to visit in the Rioja wine region.

Map of top Rioja wineries to visit

A typical wine tour itinerary is starting from Haro and ending in Logrono, the two main towns of La Rioja. However, you have all the flexibility to explore these wineries in any order or direction.  

Just be sure to check opening hours and to make your visit appointments in advance. Also, keep in mind that winery visits and tastings tend to take about 1.5 hours. Confirm tour durations with wineries.  

Some, but not all wineries offer lunch and picnic options.  

Viña Real is part of Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España (wine company of northern Spain) which also owns other Rioja wineries including CVNE and Contino. The winery is located half-way between Logroño and Laguardia on a hill called the Cerro de la Mesa.

The Viña Real brand was launched in the 1920s.  The proximity of the vineyards to the old Camino Real (King’s Road) inspired its name.  

The new winery was designed by French architect Philippe Mazières and inaugurated by King of Spain Juan Carlos in 2004.

The main winery building is made in the shape of a giant wine fermentation vat.  

Bodegas Vina Real Rioja
Bodegas Vina Real Rioja

At Vina Real, CVNE follows the philosophy of a balance between tradition and modernity. The winemaking process uses gravity to avoid pumping and the negative impact it has on the wine. Therefore, the cellar is located right below the fermentation room which allows for the no-impact transfer of wine from vats to barrels.

Bodegas Vina Real Rioja

 I was very impressed with the size of the aging cellars dug in the mountain. They reminded me of a huge metro tunnel filled with thousands of wine barrels.

Bodegas Vina Real Rioja

Top-rated Viña Real wines

Viña Real Crianza 2016 – 91 Parker points

Viña Real Reserva 2015 – 93 Parker points

Viña Real Gran Reserva 2013 – 92 Parker points

Pagos de Viña Real 2016 -94 Parker points

Visit bodega Viña Real

Visits are held Monday through Sunday and cost 15 euros per adult and 5 euros for kids. The winery closes Monday and Tuesday during July and August. 

Be sure to visit the cellars that are a true architectural wonder. However, if you are short on time, you can drop in for a quick 15-minute tasting which costs 6 euros. 

Management is very welcoming. There are lunch, brunch, and picnic options at the winery, and even a children’s workshop. 

How about a wedding at the avant-garde Viña Real?

The winery is fully accessible for people with disabilities. 

Book your visit online

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CVNE cellar in Haro, Rioja, designed by Gustav Eiffel.

CVNE stands for Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España (or the wine company of Northern Spain).  The winery was founded in 1879 by brothers Eusebio and Raimundo Real de Asúa from Basque country, and Isidro Corcuera from La Rioja. 

Located in the heart of the traditional Train Station District in Haro, the winery is composed of 22 buildings, which include the original 1879 premises, as well as the plant designed and built by the Gustav Eiffel architectural studio in 1909.

Today, CVNE is led by the fifth generation of the Real de Asúa family, and there have only been five chief winemakers during this time including the current Technological Director Rioja-native Maria Larrea

Top-rated CVNE wines

Cune Crianza 2016 – 90 Parker points

Cune Reserva 2015 – 90 Parker points

Cune Gran Reserva 2013 – 91 Parker points

Cune Gran Reserva 2012 – 91 Parker points

CVNE Real de Asúa 2016 – 93 Parker points

Imperial Reserva 2015 – 93 Parker points

Imperial Gran Reserva 2012 – 95 Parker points

Visit bodega CVNE

Guided tours run from Monday to Sunday, with prices starting from 6 euros per adult and 3 euros for kids. The winery closes on Tuesday during the summer months.  

There are a wine bar and a wine shop on the premises.  You can have a traditional lunch along with the visit and tasting. If you are with kids, CVNE offers a children’s workshop.

Book your visit online on the CVNE website.

3. Contino

Contino was created as the first one using the “château” concept in Rioja, meaning that Contino wines are made exclusively from the grapes grown on its 62 hectares (153 acres) of vines surrounding the winery. 

Located in an almost 200-years old manor house in Alava, Contino was built on top of the 16th-century caves.  The “contino” means an officer who protected the royal family “de contino” (continuously) from the times of the Catholic Kings.

The estate is small and cozy with wonderful views.  Contino is only a few minutes’ ride from Viña Real.

Top-rated Contino wines

Contino Viña del Olivo 2017 – 94 Parker points

Contino Reserva 2015 – 94 Parker points

Contino Gran Reserva 2012 – 93 Parker points

Contino Garnacha 2017 – 93 Parker points

Contino Blanco 2017 – 91 Parker points

Visit Contino

The guided visit of Contino winery visit includes a tour through the winery and vineyards, followed by a wine tasting with local appetizers. The price is 25 euros per person.

Tours run Monday through Saturday. The winery closes on Mondays and Tuesdays during the summer months.

Book your visit online.

The bodega is located in Haro.  Rafael López de Heredia y Landeta, who returned to his homeland from France, started building the bodega that became a “cathedral to wine” with vaulted underground corridors, staircases, and long underground cellars descending to a depth of 15 meters. 

72 oak vats are used for vinification and 12,900 Bordeaux oak barrels are used for aging.

The estate owns 170 hectares (420 acres) of vineyards.  Viña Tondonia which occupies 100 hectares (247 acres) of them along the Ebro river has to be is the most spectacular in Haro and produces the most famous wines. 

Other vineyards are Viña Cubillo, Viña Bosconia and Viña Laconia.

The wines produced here are unique even to Rioja.  They are the most classic among the classics as everything is produced in a very traditional way. 

If you admire the modern architecture, you will be drawn here to see the work of Zaha Hadid, who created an external pavilion for the winery.

Top-rated Lopez de Heredia wines

Viña Tondonia Reserva 2007 – 96 Parker points
Viña Tondonia Blanco Reserva 2007 – 96 Parker points
Viña Tondonia Reserva 2004 – 94 Parker points
Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva 1994 – 96 Parker points

Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva 1995 – 97 Parker points

Visit Lopez de Heredia

Visits are organized on request. Contact the winery by filling out the form on the winery’s website.

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Bodegas Muga Rioja Spain

Bodegas Muga was founded by Isaac Muga and Aurora Caño in 1932. Located in the  historic Barrio de La Estación (Station Quarter) of Haro, it is home to both the most traditional winemaking methods and the latest cutting-edge techniques.

 
Bodegas Muga Rioja Spain

Top-rated Bodegas Muga wines

Aro 2016 – 96 Parker points
Torre Muga 2016 – 96 Parker points
Prado Enea Gran Reserva 2011 – 96 Parker points
Muga Seleccion Especial 2015 – 94 Parker points
Muga Reserva 2016 – 93 Parker points
 

Visit Bodegas Muga

Visits require an appointment.  The winery offers regular visits with a tasting of 2 wines from 15 euros per person, as well as the tour of a vineyard on segways and hot-air balloon experience. Please note that there are age limits for these activities.

To book contact Bodegas Muga at +34 941 306 060 or by emailing them at visitas@bodegasmuga.com.

At La Rioja Alta, the wines are made for 125 years.

The two flagship gran reserva wines have been named 890 and 904 to commemorate 1890, the year the winery was founded by five local growers, and 1904 when one of the founders Daniel-Alfredo Ardanza y Sanchez merged the group with his own winery Ardanza.

La Rioja Alta still maintains traditional Rioja winemaking practices and continues to be one of the benchmarks for traditionally produced Rioja wine. 

It is unusual for a great bodega of Rioja to own vineyards, but La Rioja Alta owns 360 hectares from which they can source top-quality grapes. The aging barrels are made from American oak by their in-house barrel-makers.

 

 

Top-rated wines of La Rioja Alta

Rioja Alta 890 Gran Reserva 2005 – 95 Parker points

Viña Ardanza Selección Especial 2010 – 95 Parker points
La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904 2010 – 96 Parker points

La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904 2007 – 95 Parker points

Visit La Rioja Alta

La Rioja Alta was my favourite bodega to visit in Haro.  Here, you see history and modern facilities.  The cellars are renovated and their immense size impresses you.

It is easy to book visits to La Rioja Alta online.  There are guided visits at 10 am in English for 30 euros per adult and 10 per child.

There is a wine bar open from Monday to Friday where you can taste various vintages by the glass.

This Haro winery takes its name from its founder and wine aging pioneer Ramón Bilbao.

Zamora Company took over in 1999 and launched a new range of modern red wines made using strict selection methods, high-quality vineyards, fermentation in oak vats, and a larger presence of French oak. 

As a result, the premium wine, Mirto, has appeared as well as Ramón Bilbao Edición Limitada Crianza, an affordable high-quality label.

Top-rated wines of Bodegas Ramon Bilbao

Mirto 2012 – 91 Parker points

Visit Ramon Bilbao

On a guided tour experience barrel tasting in the cellars, tasting of three Ramón Bilbao wines and special virtual experience.

 The starting price is 14 euros per person for the tour, while the wine-tasting lesson is 20 euros.

Please book  in advance by calling +34 941 310 316 or e-mailing visitanos@zamoracompany.com.

Bodegas Roda is located in Haro Barrio de la Estación.

It was founded in 1987 by Mario Rotllant and Carmen Daurella, who used their surnames to create the winery’s name.

Their modern 21st-century building constructed above an old 19th-century calado (a traditional cellar), sits alongside the more classical style of neighbouring wineries.

 

Bodegas Roda works with old bush vines. Grapes from 17 different plots are vinified separately in French oak vats. Their wines include Roda and Roda I; Sela, created from younger vines; and Cirsion, the top wine of Roda.

 

Top-rated wines of Bodegas Roda

Cirsion 2016 – 95 Parker points

Roda Reserva 2012 – 92 Parker points

 

Visit Bodegas Roda

Bodegas Roda offers the widest variety of experiences from a simple guided tour to a comparison of Rioja to Ribera del Duero, to a tasting of old vintages.

Find the full selection on their website.

Tours run from Monday through Saturday and start at 10 am or at noon.

Explore their picnic and lunch options on a terrace by the Ebro River.

Book your visit by calling +34 669 776 564 or +34 941 312 187, or emailing visitas@roda.es.

If you are looking for more tips on wine tasting in Rioja, review my Rioja wine tour guide.  

If you want to taste the top Rioja wines available in the US, check out the selection brought by Millesima wine merchant.

Subscribe to my blog updates below to get more wine and travel tips.

Polina

Polina

I am a sommelier and a wine tour guide.

I travel for wine in Europe, collecting the best wineries to visit, best places to stay and eat.

Contact me

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