I've been on many wine tours in my time - Napa, Tuscany, Bordeaux, etc. - and I must say, this tour…read morewas truly something special. Inma, our guide for the day, was the best tour guide I've ever had; yes, THE BEST. She's truly an expert when it comes to Rioja - we found she often knew more than the wineries' own tour guides! And, importantly, she caters the experience to each client (and I should mention she speaks absolutely perfect English). Sure, she'll take you to the bigger, more commercial wineries like Marques de Riscal & Bodegas Ysios, which are both visually stunning and worth going to - but, because she takes the time to learn your tastes she'll introduce you to wineries right up your alley that you'd never otherwise know about, many of which aren't open to the public. And thanks to her local roots & connections, the vintners quite literally give her the keys to their private operations (Gontes comes to mind). Inma caps the day with a delicious late lunch in a private wine cave at Castillo de San Vicente - again, not something you can just go and do; only the locals have access. The cherry on top: her tortilla de patatas is absolutely delicious. All in all, one of the best single days I've had on vacation my entire life. A fantastic experience that I'd recommend to absolutely anyone.

Incredible Rioja Wine Experience with Inma-…read more My boyfriend and I did the Unusual Suspects private tour with Inma. This experience was the highlight of our trip to Spain and a huge part of that was Inma. She taught us about Rioja wine and the region without overloading us with information, made us feel so comfortable, and the experiences at the incredible wineries were due to her relationships with each of the owners, which is a testament to her as a person. We visited three different wineries and had the best lunch that Inma prepared herself with fresh ingredients from our own garden. My boyfriend still talks about her Tortilla de Patatas. We had an additional day in Logrono before heading to San Sebastian and Inma sent us a detailed list of recommendations and even helped us book a bus to San Sebastian, which was a much better option than the train we had booked. I cannot praise Inma and this experience enough.

Small operation with no tasting fee. No tour fee. Really helpful people who worked with us on our…read moreschedule. Idoia was our tour guide and tasting manager. One of the best tours in three weeks of touring la Rioja. Spectacular wines. Nearly the best we tasted among the 30 wineries we visited. They age their wines longer than the required for the la Rioja DOC designation. It results in very special wines at a great price point. Examine the photos for the story of this 90 minute visit. Included is a way you can acquire these wines in the USA.

This winery was one of the best and definitely in the top 3 vineyards that I visited in the area…read more Tasting room nicely decorated with great selection of wines to take home with you. The hosts there were knowledgeable in their wines and professional. Highly recommend a visit here.

Visited Bodegas Muga with some friends from Barcelona, and had a great tour…read more Our tour guide, Sasha was very good, and for an English tour, she did amazing. During the tour, we got to see an active, working winery... From the fermentation to aging to bottling, which they were doing as we visited. We also got to see the wine cemetery and the barrel cooperage areas. The end of tasting was well balanced with a white, young red and a Crianza. We also, tried a Grand Reserva Vino Tinto afterwards in the tasting room. Well worth the $ for the tour, plan on 2-2 1/2 hours.

In April of 2018 a friend recommended to contact Celia. We visited wiith a couple of friends and…read morewe loved her! All the plans that she suggested were incredible, including unique wineries that we would have never visited otherwise. We had an amazing experience, thanks to her. Highly recommendable!

From the owner: First we were globe trotters, now we are hosts. And we feel lucky showing you our homeland, Rioja…read more Over 15 years of experience on the tourism and wine industry to understand that the perfect tour it is the one made right for you. We know the history, the wine producers, the secrets, only as locals can do. Let us become, not your guide, but better your host, taking you to YOUR Rioja experience.

Just got back from a trip to Spain and no doubt our day of wine tasting with Jenny / Taste Rioja…read morewas a highlight. This is NOT a tour bus experience. Jenny keeps groups small so you can get the most out of your day. Our first of three wineries on the Architecture & Wine tour was Campo Viejo, a large producer who ships worldwide (found them in my local supermarket once home). The tour was very educational, in a beautiful location, and a great start to the day. Next was Bai Gorri, the place of the "glass cube." Because Jenny worked there before starting her business, we met the winemaker and she was able to give us the full tour, which concluded with a fantastic 5 course lunch, and of course 5 wines. Shared liberally. Our last stop was Marques de Riscal which boasts a recently added Gehry-designed hotel along with wine caves a few hundred years old. This was the only "big tour" on the list but Jenny was able to add valuable information along the way. Now for Jenny - what a fun, vibrant, and knowledgeable guide. Felt like we were with an old friend from the start of the day. And before we left her, Jenny shared more on other wineries to visit throughout La Rioja area and even a few tasting rooms in Haro, which is something you often hear you can't find in this region of Spain. Booking was a breeze, her team is quick to respond to all questions by email or phone. Really enjoyable and highly recommend for your trip to the region!

Enjoyable tour of a large production winery. The barrel room and bottle room are absolutely huge…read more The winery sits in middle of the grape vines and they offer a great place to sit outside to enjoy a small bite and a glass of wine. I took the English tour. The tour guide was super friendly and very knowledgeable. The winery is one of the most sustainable wineries in Spain, possibly at top the the list. I highly recommend a visit when in the Logroño area.

What a place and what an experience at Campo Viejo. The number one thing was service service…read moreservice. We basically closed down the winery that afternoon and we left because we wanted to, because they would have continued to serve us, that's how great the staff was. Now let's talk wine, I love wine but don't knwo much about specific wines, however I didn't need to know the staff was knowledgeable for both of us. The tour was great and the tasting even better. They were not shy with the portions. The tasting also includes some snacks, they do not serve food so make sure you are not expecting to eat there. The views were phenomenal. We didn't get to do a walk of the vines because of the heat. Would have been added bonus to so that, nonetheless they allowed us to get near and see them and take photos which was perfect for us. Overall a great experience!!! Would go back when visiting that area or Spain. Will be buying the one state side as well!!!

This winery has a really nice setting. A very stylish, modern tasting room and a very nice area to…read moresit outside, with a very relaxing feel to it. Since we were travelling with our Bulldog we took a seat outside and got some wine (with free nibbles). The wine was fine, got the typical Rioja flavour. But - compared to some other Bodegas we've visited - lacked a special something. Did not wow us enough. Prise-wise their wines are a good deal, but then there's so much competition around here. And considering that we just found the wine too average and quite light on the palate without any long-lasting flavours. But the setting is really nice, staff helpful and friendly. Still a fine Bodega to take a seat outside and enjoy a glass or two.

OK folks, this is simply the best wine made in Haro. Why? They have been doing it longer than…read moremost, doing it as a family, doing it with much longer aging in the oak barrels than any other winery in Haro and it results in fabulous wines. This family-owned winery makes highly individual wines in a style essentially unchanged since its inception in 1877. They grow all their grapes using organic methods, ferment using only natural yeasts and do not filter their wines. They employ four full-time coopers to make their barrels. Gravonia, Tondonia, Bosconia and Cubillo are all individual vineyards which have been in the family for generations. Patience is a family watchword, as this bodega thinks nothing of waiting twenty years before releasing a wine. Their "Crianzas" are aged like others' "Reservas"; the "Reservas" as long as others' "Gran Reservas"...and the ultimate accolade of "Gran Reserva" is accorded to only the very greatest vintages. Rarely are there more than three of these in a decade We did not tour here because we were blitzing through all the Haro wineries in one day. Take the tour because they have their own barrel-making operation. The only winery in La Rioja who does that. We spent 3 weeks in La Rioja tasting at 30 wineries and this is either #2 or #3 out of all of them. The price point in country is higher than most and for a damn good reason. They make spectacular wine. Do not waste your palate or your time/money with other wineries in Haro that cater to the blue-haired bus tour groups. This is wine heaven. It can be found in the US at specialty shops at a price level above $40 for the Crianza and above $50 for the reservas.

We came here on a Rioja wine tour in October. Of the three wineries we visited this was our overall…read morefavorite. While it isn't a vineyard setting, the tasting room was still beautiful. It was modern and upscale, but still felt comfortable and casual enough. We thoroughly enjoyed the wine, charcuterie, and education from our tasting room associate. We learned a lot about the Rioja wine region including the varietals and the labels on the bottle. Our associate spoke pretty good English and was happy to answer questions and explain things further. Of the 3 wines we tasted we ended up going home with bottles of two of them.

I call myself a wine enthusiast and don't shy from visiting wineries of all levels from older to…read moremodern, for me its the actual wine that matters. The reds here are very well balanced full bodied and just amazing. Worth the visit. We were lucky to have a flight tasting between a winery tour by an employee who was sooo kind to sneak us in. We tried the 3 reds that were recommended by her, which her name is Carmen (as well). ha-ha. Anyhow, so book a tour to see the entire winery and to get to try the reds. By luck we got to do the tasting w/o a tour booked. Maybe since we share the same name and we speak Spanish. :-) You will not regret visiting this bodega, as they call it in Spain.

Berarte Viñedos y Bodegas is a family owned winery located in Villabuena de Álava, Rioja Alavesa,…read morein the heart of the D.O.C. They are the third generation operating the family vineyards and winery. They own 14 hectares of vineyards and make HIGH quality wines. José Antonio Berrueco, handed over the management responsibility of the vineyards and winery to his three children in 2012. Inmaculada (inma) Berrueco, the oldest daughter is the one responsible for the day-to-day activities while being supported by her family. Inma was our host for a tasting and a delightful tour. Outside on the veranda, we enjoyed a beautiful day overlooking their vineyards. Our tasting began with White Wine Semi-Sweet. It is 100% Viura which is the La Rioja white wine grape. The bottle was from the 2013 harvest and at 12% alcohol it was a delightful wine. On the nose, lightly floral, with definite ripen fruit aromas On the palate, smooth and silky, with VERY DISTINCTIVE flavors of peach, mango and pineapple. Because of the semi sweet approach taken, this example of Viura grape did not suffer from the bitter and dry mouth found with virtually all other Viuras we tasted at 24 other wineries. Outstanding wine at an outstanding price. Moving to the reds, we tasted the Joven (young) and the Crianza. Later during the tour, we sampled the Reserva from the storage tank. Each of the reds were fruit forward and totally in a "ready-to-drink" condition with the Crianza and Reserva having more ageing potential. We loved these wines and they were definitely in the top 3 of wines we drank during our travels. Inma showed us all the production capacity improvements that are a result of their expansion plans. The wines are available in Europe and can be shipped directly from the winery to the US. We wish the Berrueco family success in the future as they are the example to follow in the world of La Rioja where unfortunately the MEGABUSINESS and ENOTOURISM of the big guys seeking only sales has started to adversely affect the local industry and degrade the quality of the wines. The winery building is a typical and traditional construction of the region, built in the 80s. The winery is located in the centre of the village, between two streets at different elevation and has 5 floor levels which allow use of gravity for the entire vinification process. 5th level is for the reception of the harvested grapes (main street) 4th level is where the open concrete fermentation vats are located. Here the alcoholic fermentation takes place. 3rd level is separated in two areas: one below are the fermentation vats where the must settles and is removed. Second area is used for bottling, packaging and shipping. 2nd level (underground) is where the closed concrete vats are located and where the malolactic fermentation takes place. 1st level (underground) is where the oak barrels and the area for bottle ageing are located. There are American and French oak barrels in the winery.