Logroño ' s La Redonda Cathedral
Spend a few days in La Rioja ’ s capital Logroño , to discover a region rich in wine culture , local cuisine and golf among the grapes ...
Located in the north of the Iberian Peninsula and well away from the main Spanish tourist trail is La Rioja , which just happens to be one of the biggest and best wine-producing regions in the country . Logroño , the provincial capital , is an attractive and prosperous city of around 150,000 , and with an old quarter of tree-studded plazas , elegant streets and hidden corners , all presided over by the distinctive twin spires of the magnificent 16th century Santa María de la Redonda cathedral , its a pleasant place to spend a few days while exploring the region .
One of Logroño ’ s big drawcards is it ’ s inherent wine culture that ’ s around every corner . There are literally hundreds of wineries or bodegas to visit ( close to the city and further afield ), ranging from cutting-edge architectural designs to more traditional ones , where you can learn everything and more about Rioja wine production . There is even the Battala del Vino ( a wine battle ) in the wine town of Haro , and held in Logroño every September , is the Fiesta de San Mateo which coincides with the annual vendimia ( grape harvest ), which features traditional grape-treading methods , floats and wine tasting .
The region ’ s varied local cuisine pairs beautifully with La Rioja ’ s world-class wines , and Logroño in particular is rapidly gaining a culinary reputation to rival anywhere in Spain , only enhanced by its ‘ Gastronomic Capital of Spain ’ award in 2012 . But it ’ s not just gastronomy and grapes that reign supreme in La Rioja province . There is also golf among the grapes , with a fine quartet of challenging courses all situated within an hour ’ s drive of Logroño .
Our base in Logroño is the excellent boutique hotel Marqués de Vallejo , housed within an historic building dating from the 19th century . This member of the Great Small Hotels group enjoys a fine location right in the heart of Logroño , and is just a few steps from the the city ’ s lively medieval old quarter offering countless restaurants , taverns and pinchos ( tapas ) bars ( more about these later ). After checking in , we head to the hotel ’ s lounge bar to enjoy a welcoming glass of Rioja . We take a sip , grin at each other and raise our glasses – it ’ s a great start to our wine , golf and gastronomy trip .
Rioja Alta Golf Club Our first eighteen holes is at Rioja Alta Golf Club
44 Destination Golf . TRAVEL