The Best Rioja Wine Hotels for an Unforgettable Stay

Wine has always been a deeply personal passion for me. As an avid collector with over 1,500 bottles in my cellar, I take pride in the fact that none of them were bought from stores—each one was acquired directly from the vineyard.

Rioja, with its rich history and dynamic flavors, holds a special place in my heart. Interestingly, although I generally favor red wines, especially Pinot Noir, which thrives in Burgundy and Sonoma, I have a surprising preference for white Rioja wines. There’s just something about their crisp acidity and complexity… 

My wine collection isn’t just about the bottles, though; each one comes with a unique story or a funny anecdote from my travels. Sharing these journeys, experiences, and the wines involved in them with friends upon my return is one of my greatest joys, and I also love creating fun, fabulous food spreads featuring dishes that I discovered on my journeys, including cheeses, charcuterie, and snacks that I bring back to pair perfectly with the wines!

Through Elevate Global Luxury Travel, I specialize in curating bespoke wine tours to top destinations across the globe. Whether you’re interested in the rolling vineyards of Rioja, the charming wineries of Burgundy, or the sun-drenched estates of Sonoma, I can tailor an itinerary that perfectly matches your preferences and interests.

But now, one of my favorite regions – Rioja! If you’re looking to immerse yourself in the heart of Rioja, these exceptional wine hotels provide the perfect base for exploring the region’s world-class vineyards, savoring delicious cuisine, and soaking in the rich culture.

1. Hotel Marqués de Riscal

Marqués de Riscal changed the tourism game in Rioja when it opened its glinting wonder of a wine hotel designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry in 2006, whose wave-like design was inspired by the folds in a flamenco skirt. Behind the cascading sheets of purple, gold and silver titanium lie 61 guest rooms and suites offering panoramic views over the medieval town of Elciego. Given the contours of the building, each of the rooms is unique in shape and character, with high ceilings and huge windows looking out through a web of steel supports.

Keen to cater to every whim, the hotel is home to four restaurants: an al fresco asador (grill); casual wine bar and bistro; Restaurant 1860 Tradición, which celebrates the best of Basque cuisine; and the Michelin-starred Restaurante Gastronómico, headed up by chef Francis Paniego, where you’ll find many a back vintage of Riscal on pour alongside 200 other top names. Don’t miss sundowners at the rooftop lounge bar.

2. Eguren Ugarte

There’s the chance to wake up to views of vines as far as the eye can see at Eguren Ugarte in Laguardia. Spread across its spacious grounds, the hotel includes a golf course, miniature lake and restaurant. Unmistakable from the outside thanks to its castle-like turret that juts out of its roof like a medieval watchtower, the interiors offer the perfect combination of traditional flourishes, via decorative tiles and wall murals, and modern twists, from its plush beds and spacious showers (boasting jets at different heights) to a complimentary mini bar stocked with beer, water and soft drinks.

The hotel pays homage to the winery’s founder Vitorino Eguren, and each room is furnished with his 200-page memoir, which guests can fan through on a private balcony overlooking the Toloña Mountains. At on-site restaurant Martín Cendoya, chefs cook lamb chops roasted over vine shoots in open fires, which are served with a simple lettuce, tomato and onion salad and Riojan string beans. Among its more modern dishes are Idiazábal cheese croquettes; grilled octopus with white truffle and paprika; and clams with salsa verde, which can be paired with wines from the bodega’s vast back catalogue.

Named after Rioja’s flagship white grape, Viura’s 35 spacious rooms are minimalist in style and boast behemoth beds. Everything is studiedly cool, from the red Nespresso machines to the chic bath products. Its rooftop lounge bar has an outdoor cinema and offers 360-degree views. The hotel’s cellar, meanwhile, includes a sizeable offering of barrel-fermented Viuras and a number of old vintages of Rioja big guns, including CVNE, Marqués de Riscal, López de Heredia and Roda. In the restaurant, gold barrels hover from the ceiling and dishes, such as cod croquettes, crab ravioli, and green pea and black truffle pintxos, are Basque-inspired with a modern twist.

4. Finca de los Arandinos

Rioja does modernism well, and the wine hotel at Bodega Finca de los Arandinos is no exception. Perched on a hilltop in Entrena, near Rioja’s capital of Logroño, the glass-fronted Cubist structure feels like something you might see on the Cornish coast. The winery and airy rooms above it were designed by architect-turned-winemaker Javier Arizcuren, who embraces an industrial chic aesthetic through a mix of concrete and blonde wood. Across the lobby you’ll find 10 smaller rooms with modular furniture and daring décor by Spanish fashion designer David Delfín. All rooms offer tranquil views of the vine-studded landscape.

The tasting-menu-driven in-house restaurant Tierra (meaning ‘earth’ or ‘land’) champions hyper-local ingredients and offers scenic views over the vines at the foot of the Moncalvillo Mountains. Spanish ingredients are given a contemporary twist in dishes like turbot in a green Thai sauce, and steak tartare with foie gras shavings. The cherry on the cake is the hotel spa, where guests can detox in its sauna and steam room, lather up in a Turkish bath, top up tans on sun loungers made from barrel staves, then cool off in the pool.

Boasting six double rooms with private bathrooms and balconies, and a spa with a heated pool, sauna, jacuzzi and sun terrace, it’s ideal for those seeking a self-contained stay. All guests get a guided tour of the winery and grounds, which includes a tasting of five wines, including the bodega’s 100% Viura, Crianza and Reserva.

Open from March until October, the pet-friendly guesthouse has a fully equipped kitchen and a dining room seating up to 20. The rooms are bright and cosy, with a pared-back aesthetic alongside modern touches such as a smart TV and minibar. Best of all, they have floor-to-ceiling windows that swing open to reveal views across the vineyards. Look out for the 17th century mill during the vineyard tour.

Designed to feel like a home from home, the guesthouse is modern in feel but retains the building’s original features. Service is next level, with guests privy to their own round-the-clock chef and butler and free to roam the 4,000sqm space. While there, guests can ride an e-bike through Tempranillo vineyards, indulge in beauty treatments, work up an appetite at the fitness centre, take a dip in the outdoor pool, and enjoy a private tour of the winery, followed by a wine-pairing dinner whipped up by an in-house chef.

The brainchild of Entrecanales Domecq e Hijos, the guesthouse majors in privacy and comfort. Designed by architect Gregorio Marañón, landscape gardener María Medina and interior designer Cristina Arechabala, the stylish, Scandi-inspired space is rooted in creating a sense of calm in harmony with its surroundings. Able to sleep 26, it boasts nine bedrooms and four suites decked out in elegant, neutral tones, with open brickwork and wooden furniture adding to the sense of a home-from-home.

Whether you’re an avid wine collector like me or simply a wine enthusiast looking for an extraordinary experience, these Rioja wine hotels offer an unparalleled escape into the world of fine wine and exceptional hospitality.

Ready to embark on your own Rioja wine adventure? Contact Elevate Global Luxury Travel to plan a bespoke wine tasting journey tailored just for you. From exclusive vineyard visits to culinary pairings that will tantalize your taste buds, I’ll ensure your trip is nothing short of spectacular.