Culture
More than just wine: Rioja Architectural Marvel
Just like our wine, Rioja leans into and is grounded by our surroundings. Rioja is a destination that differs from one to the next. Rioja is significant because of the wine, process, food, but also our architect.
“At the center of the Rioja Alavesa wine region in Álava, Spain, is this avant-garde masterpiece by Frank O. Gehry—one of the few modern architects the average person knows by name. Hotel Marqués de Riscal is just 15 years old, contrasted against surrounding structures 10 times its age (and that’s nothing compared to the 1,200-year-old La Rioja wine industry). Gehry calls the hotel “a marvelous creature, with its hair flying in all directions, launching itself over the vineyards.” He also designed the interiors of all 43 rooms and suites, made even more luxurious by the onsite Vinotherapie Caudalie spa, and a Michelin-starred fine dining.”
Also to note, this hotel has won Trip Advisor’s Travelers Choice Award 2021 Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor. Another spotlight of Rioja:
Ysios Winery, which is only 10 minutes away from Marque de Riscal. This is the first building to be created during the time of the collaborative love affair between Spanish winemakers and world-famous architects. This winery was designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. The building has an undulating pleated roof, looking like wine barrels in a long row. You must call ahead to arrange a tasting and cellar tour, and they don’t accommodate buses and large groups of tourists.
Visit: https://www.marquesderiscal.com/visitanos
Visit RIOJA: https://www.cellartours.com/destinations/rioja