Destination of the Week

Spain

If you've taken our little "pop quiz" on wine production, you know that Spain has more acres of vineyards than any other country in Europe.   Not only that, but it's spread out geographically.   That's OK, though.   When it comes to travel you can either make a grand tour or decide to visit one or two regions each trip . . . of course giving a great reason to return.

For some time, Spain was known for its sherry (from Jerez) but in the last few years, the Rioja region has blown past all of the others.  Rioja really has become the leading export of Spanish wines.   It's become a classic red, a "drink now" wine that is popular both in restaurants and in the stores.  

The north area that produces Rioja is a great region to visit.   Recorded history goes back to the 900's and includes the Suso monastery which started as caves and was finished in the 10th century.   Studying the area is particularly interesting given that the architecture, while Christian, was created in a Moslem area.   What you'll find, though, is that winemaking in the region can be traced back to before 3000 B.C.

Rioja is actually a small area, with part of it (Rioja Alta) being very hilly and humid and Rioja Baja being flatter, near the banks of the Ebro.   You can easily spend a few days touring and tasting many of the wines and sampling tapas at the multitude of bodegas open for you.

If you want to stay up north, go to Navarra, to the northeast.   It's called the Basque region and while the political boundary is between Spain and France, the people really are neither.   Rather, their heritage long predates any of today's politics.    The Basques have their own customs and styles and even their own language.   The wines you'll find there may be Spanish - along the lines of Rioja, or French - with a Bordeaux style.   Beyond the wines, here you'll find stone carvings from beyond 10,000 B.C.   You'll also find a combination of mountains, hillsides and the seashores that are unrivaled in their contrast.

If you're heading east, Penedes, outside Barcelona can give you a taste of yet a different culture and different wines . . . primarily cava.    The region once again has its own language, Catalan.

With its multitude of museums including the Picasso Museum, you'll find plenty to visit during the day.   Night life is full, with dancing and theater in full swing.   Plenty of tapas, too . . . but if you're planning on dinner reservations for 7PM, you'll probably be dining alone.   10 might be more sociable - or even 11.   You can't help but love the nightlife.   It's all smiles and fun well into the night.   We will give you a little advice, though.   Like all big cities, exercise some common sense.   If you have a car (though there's no reason to, taxis and trains are plentiful) lock it and don't leave items on the seat or within view.

Enough warnings - back to celebration.  If you like Barcelona, you'll love Madrid.   Beyond   the nightlife and food and natural sights, The Reina Sofia, Prado, and other museums provide a depth and beauty that's hard to match.  

The Botticellis and El Grecos, alone, will take all day to examine at The Prado.   Watch closing time - get in then out then catch some rest in the afternoon 'cause you'll be partying well into the night.

Ribera del Duero is located in Castile-León . . . in north central Spain. The valley is way above sea level but because it is a river valley, its temperature is moderated and, in addition, the thinner air means cool nights.   That helps grow Tinto Fino grapes that are intense and have wonderfully strong flavor.   It also means a much longer growing season than would otherwise be possible.

The resulting wines are powerful and currently are giving Rioja a run for its money.  

Make sure to spend time in Valladolid, the capital of Castile-León and, in the 1400's and 1500's, the capital of Spain.   You will find castles and forts and towers at every turn, in every village and small town throughout the province.   When passing through Penafiel, be sure to visit the wine museum there.

If there's still time, head south.  You'll find that the wines become more "sherry-like" as you go. In addition, the climate changes, too, with warmer, more moderate weather than on the Atlantic side.   In fact, on the Canary Islands, the days are hot though the nights are cold.

If you can make the grand tour, circling around from Rioja through Barcelona, south then up to Madrid, do it. If not, pick a region and enjoy it, knowing that you'll want to come back to sample the rest.

Check out the Rioja travel destination here.

Want to book a trip? Start here.

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