Sweet villages to base in La Rioja
 

Hi all. My husband, sister and BIL and I are all heading to La Rioja for two nights before moving along to Madrid.

As I'm looking for lodging, and where the bodegas are located (mostly up near Haro), where would be a good place to base ourselves for two nights?

We will have their rental car so would it make more sense to stay in a country house or perhaps one of these adorable small villages and then we can drive to other villages for food and obviously will have to drive to visit the wineries.

Here's what we want:
-Mellow, relaxing charming and quaint B&b but with maybe some spots nearby for great food.
-Plan to visit Bodegas one day
-Plan to go into Logrono for the wine harvest festival on 9/21 (will there be anywhere to park??)
-plan to eat at Venta Moncalvillo (which looks to be southwest of Logrono)


Would we be better off staying in Logrono at a place that includes parking and then we can venture out for tasting and seeing the villages? We will have just come from San Sebastián so a quite smallish village sounds more appealing. I'd really wanted to stay in Laguardia but the two cute b&bs are booked.

Is ezcaray a good base? Looks kinda far from the wineries but looks like a super cute town with LOTS of great lodging options. Another village that looks cute is San Vicente de la sonsierra. So many adorable villages in the area and so many amazing b&bs!
TIA!

Lauren

If you want to go out in the evening, then Logroño would fit the bill. For a little peace and quiet, then try Ábalos or Samaniego.

Yes, Ezcaray is a bit out of the wine touring area, but great during the winter.

If you haven't already booked your accommodations and made lunch reservations for September, then you will have to go with what's available. It's very busy during the wine harvest.

I recommend you read Maribel's Guide to the Rioja for her insight.

I enjoyed Laguardia, and I was very pleased with Erletxe -- I have no idea whether thats one of the two places you considered, and I would note that there are more than 2 places to stay there.

Remember to plan in advance for a way to safely drive after visiting wineries.

Enjoy!

Yea I wanted to stay at Erletxe which is the #1 B&b in LaGuardia and that's booked. Also the other B&b there is booked. Yea I know there are other hotels and such in Laguardia but they are either way expensive or just not places I'd stay.

Thanks for all the info!! I'll keep looking.:)

Still no reservations? Have you decided which bodegas you want to visit? If you haven't already made your reservations, there are some that now have wine tasting rooms, but you'll need to know which ones and when that are open. Some will be closed to visits during the wine harvest festival, others will be open, but it sounds like you're not worried. You must be thinking Napa Valley.

Actually, I wasn't aware the Rioja had that many B&Bs. Good to know.

Oh Robert....please....... Should do some research
http://bfy.tw/DDRE

Was just there a couple weeks ago, stayed at Hotel Marixa which I found nothing wrong with and was only 65€ (plus 5 per person for breakfast, optional). Not sure what you are looking for in a lodging but I look for location (it was right across the street from the walls of the old town - our terrace had a drop dead gorgeous view, and the opposite side of the hotel looks out over the valley), parking (non that was hotel only, but lots available free near by) and cleanliness (it was perfectly fine). It was not luxury. Laguardia itself was great.

Properties listed with Ascarioja Casas Rurales are all located in the Alta, most not situated for wine touring in the Alavesa unless one wants to spend a lot of time on the road. Not great when wine tasting. Casa Chicote in Ábalos is okay, but a bit basic.

Thanks for the info re ezcaray. Maybe we will go back one day during winter.
The marixa in Laguardia looks ok. I agree it looks basic but the view and location look spectacular!!

There are a TON of b&bs that are not yet booked for the wine harvest dates. I don't know about bodegas and would appreciate any names of great ones to visit. We don't like huge ones, so something with good wines and a lovely location/grounds would be nice. I've been looking on TripAdvisor and there are sooo many and almost all get great reviews.

Will look at Samaniego.
Here are some other b&bs or lodgings we are considering not sure if anyone's stayed in any of these towns?
The Carpe Diem (in Navaridas which seems central)
La capellania in San Asensio (this looks like a direct route to Logrono and also not far from the bodega area)
http://www.hotelcapellania.com/en/we...ellania-hotel/

Finca de los Arandinos in Entrena (this one is farther south from Logrono so would not be central for bodegas but would be super close to the restaurant we want to try and close to Logrono for the harvest fest) Its also a winery itself.
http://www.fincadelosarandinos.com/e...dinos-english/

Carpe Diem is fine if they have availability for your dates. La Capellanía could also work out, its close enough to the N-232. Finca de los Arandinos in very nice and close enough to Logroño for doing tapas/pintxos in the evening.

Take a look at Maribel's Guide to the Rioja for more information on wine touring. All of the bodegas require reservations and visits in English are limited. Some of the wineries now have tasting rooms for walk-ins, when open. Most close for lunch, but there are some exceptions.

Robert:
My sister likes the older buildings and we both loved la capellania. The rooms look so sweet. Only concern is that we would have to drive home after eating dinner in Laguardia or Logrono. Each are about 30 mins driving. One of us will stay sober and be able to drive, the concern is whether the roads are safe at night for driving home?
We know that we will be doing a lot of driving regardless of our location, for the purposes of visiting the wineries and monasteries, etc. but the night driving is what I'm wondering....

I just read Mirabels guide as suggested and LOVE the look of her hotel in abalos, but it's booked the 2 nights we will be there. It's available the day after, when we are headed to fly home from Madrid.

Maybe the Carpe Diem is best due to its proximity to Laguardia for dinners.

Depending on the time of year you'll be in the Rioja, unless it's the dead of winter, you shouldn't have a problem. The main highways, most of which you'll be traveling on, are in excellent condition, although signage can be a challenge. Keep your smartphone handy.

Driving late a night, outside of Logroño, can also be a challenge. It's a rural countryside and there are no street lights to guide you, so you have to keep a look out for the lights of the villages. This is where the smartphone (or GPS) comes in handy.

One of my favorite wineries and B&Bs in Rioja Alavesa (Basque Rioja, where the best wineries are located, as well as Rioja Alta), http://alutizvinos.com/2017/01/09/do...go-casa-rural/

Laguardia and Labastida are a must while there. I´d skip Logroño and south of this city and stay north (near Haro, Labastida, Ábalos, Laguardia, Elciego, Briones,...).

Mikelg-
Having just booked la Casona de Alutiz I just realized there is not breakfast served, where do you have your morning coffee and breakfast? We also booked Carpe Diem in Navradas which does serve breakfast and I must cancel one of these reservations asap but wanted to know before I cancel.

Thank you!!

Breakfast is included, don´t worry!