Best wineries: Bodega Ysios, Rioja, Spain

Spain is a vibrant, enchanting destination that casts a spell over visitors not just with her historical sites, lively cities and authentic small towns, but also with her food and wine. For a Spaniard, eating and drinking are an important part of their culture, and since Spain is one of the world’s top wine producing countries, this is not a surprise. One of – if not THE -most famous wine regions in Spain is La Rioja, famous for its tempranillo grape and home to a multitude of wineries that you can visit as you sip your way through the region.

It’s hard to pick a favorite, but Ysios winery (Bodega Ysios) is an architecturally stunning, breathtaking stop with a picturesque mountain backdrop as well as some amazing wines. Designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, it is considered a masterpiece to see. It’s avant-garde roof seems to shimmer and undulate in the sun, fitting perfectly into the surroundings while at the same time completely standing out- it’s considered one of them most spectacular winery buildings in the world.

Located a short distance from the town of Laguardia, a 10th century walled hilltop village is worth a stop as well. Overlooking the vineyards of the area, Ysios is at the foothills before heading further up to the town. Booking a tour and tasting at least a few days in advance is essential, as the winery is famous just for the view alone and does not take walk-ins. At the end of the tour, you can taste some of their wines along with some small snacks, and if you like the wines remember to buy them there, as they do not ship wines. Though Ysios is a bigger production owned by a larger corporation, what’s interesting is their commitment to quality and excellent wines – if one year they feel the grapes are not good, they simply will not produce wine that year.

Spain is full of wineries worth visiting, and we’d love to add some more of them into your next Spanish travel plans – but dramatic, beautiful Ysios is a great place to start as you taste your way through the Rioja region!