Wine Country

This past Saturday me and a group of new friends took a bus trip to La Rioja which is known as wine country in Spain. Northern Spain and particularly this area is known for some of the best wine. According to Rick Steves, "Rioja wine is a D.O.C. product, meaning that by definition it can only be produced in La Rioja region. Protected from the elements by the Cantabrian Mountains to the north, vineyards have thrived in the valley of the Ebro River since Roman times."

Throughout the region there are many towns, one can stop into for wine tasting. However, we chose Haro which is the capital of La Rioja. Haro sits up on the La Mota hill and from the top one can see the whole region. We went up to an overlook and it was gorgeous, the valley and the mountains. We also were extremely lucky and had a beautiful day but the wind was wicked. 

 

La Rioja Region

  

Overlook of the Town

   

All the Bodegas in Haro 

When we first arrived by bus about an hour south of Bilbao, out the bus window on top of the bus station building were the biggest bird's nest I have ever seen! They were storks' nests actually and there was even something about them in the guide book! I just couldn't get over how big they were!

 

The Storks' Nests!

First, we went to the wine museum in Haro. We got there around noon and our wine tour wasn't til 5pm so we had some time to kill. The wine museum was more than I expected, modern, looked newly built and very informative and interactive. First you watch a movie about La Rioja region and the film footage was just gorgeous. I wanted ride around in the helicopter they shot from all day! Then you go up to the 3rd floor and work your way down. The third floor was about the plant and the growing process, second floor was the fermentation, bottling the wine, and how to examine the wine through taste, smell, and appearance. Finally the first was about La Rioja. It was a nice tour and very relaxing. However we could only all get so much out of it because we weren't all studied up on our Spanish Winery vocabulary.

 

Different Types of Wines in La Rioja

 

Part of the Museum

The attendant at the front desk spoke very good English, very friendly and helpful. He pointed out some good places to eat lunch once we were done with the museum. We found this one place that was the cheapest menu of the day but was still 14 euros, a little pricey. But we all saw these chickens roasting in the back so we elected for that platter, chicken, salad, and fries for 7 euros. It was the best chicken I've ever had! And it was also a lot, we each got a small bird. The sauce they dipped it in was like an oil but it was very flavorful. Definitely a satisfying lunch.

We decided to head up to the old part of town after that. We walked through the Plaza de Paz, Plaza of Peace, and up to St. Thomas Church which has been a national monument since 1931. Of course we walked up there during Siesta time and the church wasn't open. A little disappointing but still beautiful to look at from the outside. After some exploring we found a nice bar and tried some wine since we had some time to kill. We all had a glass of red wine for 0.70 euros! So Cheap and so Good!

Plaza de Paz

 

Iglesia de San Tomas

 

Iglesia de San Tomas

 

Bar we stopped into

 

Cheers! 

  

Glasses of Wine

Finally 5 o'clock rolled around and we headed over to the bodega, winery. There was actually a big group on this wine tour, about 20 or more which I was not expecting. Of course we were the only Americans. The guide said he try to talk a little slower for us so we could understand more, but it didn't feel like he was talking any slower! It was wicked fast and so much information! We walked around to see the plants, the fermentation vats, the barrels, where it is corked, ect. He said it would only last an hour and half but at the 2 hour mark, I was done trying to comprehend.

 

  

Fermentation Vats

 

Barrels of Wine

Finally, we got to a nice cozy room where there were two tables with wine glasses set up. We went through the process of looking at the wine color on a piece of paper, smelling it, and then we all tasted it together. Next we tried the same wine but it was 2 years older to taste the difference. I definitely liked the younger wine more. Then we were done. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting. I thought it would be more like you sit and try all different types and they tell you what the difference is, but it was still a good experience. Also, since I'm not 21 I can't actually say it was the best wine I've ever had. It was my first wine tour. I guess we'll just have to take the guide books' words for it.

 

Bodega Bilbainas

  

Wine set up for tasting

 

  

The group that went Wine Tasting!