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Bilbao to Rioja: 3 Wineries, Laguardia & Gehry Hotel Tour

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Free cancellationTravelers' pickLikely to sell out

1/11

Duration8h–9h

GroupUp to 7

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Rioja wine tastings from Bilbao with Laguardia walk and Gehry’s bold architecture

You’ll start in Bilbao with a drive into Rioja wine country, tasting premium reds in a centuries-old underground cellar before moving on to family-run wineries for more pours (and snacks). Lunch is in medieval Laguardia followed by a slow stroll through its winding streets, then a photo stop at Gehry’s wild hotel among the vines. Expect good wine, real stories, and maybe a few surprises along the way.

8h–9h

Step-by-step itinerary

Tour subterranean winery in Ebro Valley
Taste premium wines at boutique wineries
Sample olive oil with bread, cheese, chorizo
Lunch in Laguardia village
Stroll through Laguardia town
Photo stop at Hotel Marques de Riscal
Walk through vineyards near hotel

The Experience

“You ever tried wine straight from a cave?” That’s how our guide, Iker, kicked things off as we rolled into La Rioja from Bilbao — and honestly, I didn’t know what to expect. The air outside was cool but smelled faintly sweet, like earth after rain. We ducked under stone arches into a winery hidden beneath an old village. It was dim and echoey down there; you could hear every footstep on the old floorboards. The first tasting was poured into my glass — deep red, almost purple. I swirled it (trying to look like I knew what I was doing), and the taste was… different. Richer? Maybe just fresher because of where we were. Hard to say, but I still think about that first sip.

The next stop was at a family-run place — smaller, warmer somehow. Their dog greeted us before anyone else did (tail wagging like mad). We sat at a long wooden table while their daughter brought out olive oil so green it looked fake, plus bread that crackled when you tore it open. The chorizo had this smoky bite that made me wish I’d skipped breakfast. Our local guide explained how some of these vines were older than her grandfather — which made me laugh because she couldn’t have been more than twenty-five herself. Tasting the wines here felt less formal; someone kept topping up my glass before I finished.

Lunch in Laguardia was noisy in the best way — locals shouting greetings across the bar, forks clinking on plates. We picked pintxos almost at random (I still can’t pronounce half of them), then wandered through narrow streets while the sun bounced off ancient stone walls. There’s this spot overlooking the Ebro Valley where everything goes quiet for a second except for birds and distant voices — kind of peaceful but also makes you realize how much history is packed into these hills.

We finished near the Frank Gehry-designed hotel — all swooping metal ribbons against blue sky and vineyards stretching forever. It looked almost out of place until you saw how everyone stopped to stare or snap a photo anyway. On the drive back to Bilbao I realized my hands still smelled faintly like grapes and olive oil. Not sure if that’s normal or if I just got too enthusiastic with the tastings.

What’s included

Your day includes round-trip transport from Bilbao by luxury vehicle with a licensed local guide, three winery visits with 9–10 tastings (including exclusive cellar access), olive oil tasting paired with fresh bread, cheese and chorizo snacks, lunch in Laguardia at your choice of restaurant or pintxo bar, plus time for photos at Gehry’s striking hotel before heading back in the afternoon.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by The Best of Basque - Basque Country & La Rioja Tours