Katie S.’s Field Notes from Rioja, Spain
Courtesy of Katie
Field Notes are firsthand travel recommendations for and by our ECT Clubhouse members. Get the lowdown on destinations across the globe from travelers and locals alike. This week, Katie S. shares her notes from Spain.
I recently returned from a 5-day trip to the Rioja region of Spain with a friend I met on an El Camino Morocco trip. Our shared love of wine inspired us to visit Rioja, Spain's premier winemaking region known for producing Tempranillo. We thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful mountain scenery, incredible food, and of course, the wine!
Eat
Logroño is an ideal base to explore the region from, so we began our trip with two nights there. The highlight of the city is Calle Laurel, a street brimming with lively tapas bars. Most bars have one or two specialties that they are known for, so look around and see what the locals are ordering. A favorite was the grilled mushroom and shrimp tapas at Bar Soriano.
Do
Laguardia, a charming medieval village, is an easy day trip from Logroño. The walled city is perched on a hilltop with sweeping views of the surrounding vineyards and mountains. Just outside of Laguardia is Bodega Ysios, which is worth a visit just to marvel at its unique architecture (pictured above).
Eat
A culinary highlight of the trip was the tasting menu at Nublo, a Michelin-starred restaurant specializing in wood-fired cooking. I was very impressed by the delicious and beautifully presented food, wine pairings and excellent service.
Courtesy of Katie
Also included in her notes:
A bar with over 1600 types of gin. “The bartender asked me a series of questions about flavor profiles I liked and then proceeded to make me the best gin and tonic I've ever had.”
A highly recommended tour which “takes you on a mellow hike through the vineyards and ends in a wine cave.”
The patio where she had some of her favorite wines of the entire trip
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