If you’re a wine lover, exploring Spain’s top wine regions has never been easier. Wine routes, organized by the Spanish Association of Wine Cities (ACEVIN), guide visitors through the country’s finest wineries and vineyards, offering curious travelers far more than just tastings. ACEVIN’s designated paths take you across diverse regions, from Rioja and Ribera del Duero to Madrid, blending visits to historic wineries with local gastronomy, traditions and the stunning landscapes that define each area.
Along the way, visitors can immerse themselves in the vintner experience. During the day, discover how each wine is crafted from vine to bottle, and at night, settle down in one of the region’s charming vineyard-side accommodations. Beyond the glass, a multitude of activities await, from cycling through scenic vineyards and joining blind tasting challenges to soaring above the fields in a hot air balloon.
Here are three of our favourite wine routes, ideal for oenophiles craving a taste of Spain’s world-class wines.
Rioja Alavesa
Nestled between the Ebro River and the Sierra de Cantabria, Rioja Alavesa is famed for its Tempranillo red wines, celebrated for their bright color, fruity notes and velvety warmth. The route includes towns such as Samaniego, Laguardia, Elciego and Labastida, medieval wine villages that retain their historic charm.
Beyond wine tastings and vineyard tours, the region offers plenty to explore. The Wine Museum in Laguardia delves into the history and rituals of winemaking, while architecture enthusiasts can admire avant-garde wineries such as Ysios by Santiago Calatrava, Marqués de Riscal’s Ciudad del Vino by Frank Gehry and Bodegas Baigorri by Iñaki Aspiazu Iza. For nature lovers, the Pinar de Dueñas pine forest in Labraza, crisscrossed with hiking trails, and the Urbasa Nature Reserve near Kripan, with its beech forests and panoramic viewpoints, offer peaceful natural landscapes.
In Elciego, the Vinothérapie Caudalie Marqués de Riscal Spa offers a luxurious fusion of winemaking tradition and wellness. Situated within the Marqués de Riscal City of Wine, this spa is the only one in Spain operated by the renowned French brand Caudalie. Treatments harness the rejuvenating properties of grape and vine extracts and signature offerings include the Crush Cabernet Scrub and the Caudalie Grand Facial, designed to cleanse and soothe the skin.
Ribera del Duero
Stretching 71 miles along the Duero River through Burgos, Segovia, Soria and Valladolid across Castile and León, Ribera del Duero encompasses 55,340 acres of vineyards, producing nearly 50 million liters of wine annually. Visitors can sample the region’s young reds, oak-aged wines, rosés and whites made primarily from Albillo grapes, alongside other authorized varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Garnacha Tinta. Traditional wine presses and century-old cellars offer a glimpse into the region’s heritage, while modern bodegas host guided tastings and vineyard tours.
Cultural highlights include historic monuments such as Santa María la Real, a Gothic-style church dating back to the 15th century, and monasteries like Nuestra Señora de la Vid, which still produces its own wine.
Make sure to time your visit to coincide with local festivals. Highlights include the Fiesta de Nuestra Señora de las Viñas in Aranda de Duero, taking place in mid-September and honoring the town’s patron saint with religious ceremonies, cultural events and wine-related activities. Visitors can experience grape treading and enjoy music, parades and traditional performances that showcase the region’s rich cultural heritage.
El Bierzo
El Bierzo is celebrated for its Mencía grapes, producing vibrant reds, lively rosés and bright, soft-toned whites, and offers diverse wine-focused experiences. Visitors can join tastings of local wines, explore centuries-old cellars, take part in wine festivals and enjoy vinotherapy treatments at select wineries. The region also showcases locally grown produce, including Reineta apples, conference pears and El Bierzo peppers.
The route is dotted with UNESCO World Heritage sites and striking landscapes. Las Médulas, an ancient Roman gold-mining site, features reddish terrain set against green chestnut forests, with walking paths and viewpoints such as the Mirador de Orellán, which offers panoramic vistas of the jagged hills. Another stunning spot is the Sil Valley, which winds through terraced Mencía vineyards, Romanesque churches and scenic river gorges, ideal for hiking or leisurely drives.
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