Marqués de Riscal

Marqués de Riscal is one of Rioja's historic wineries, founded in 1858 in Elciego, in the Rioja Alavesa, by Guillermo Hurtado de Amézaga. Its Ciudad del Vino brings together the winery, the hotel designed by Frank O. Gehry, restaurants, the Caudalie wine therapy spa and a shop with café.

Its history

It bottled its first wines in 1862 and boasts of keeping the oldest bottled wine in Rioja. In 1883 it built the El Palomar building, and in 1895 it was the first non-French wine awarded the Diploma of Honour at the Bordeaux Exhibition, which still appears on the label. The golden mesh on its bottles dates from the early 20th century, as a defence against counterfeits. In 1972 it began making whites in Rueda and in 1980 helped found the D.O. Rueda. In 1986 it launched Barón de Chirel, and in 2006 it opened the Ciudad del Vino with Gehry's hotel. In 2024 the World's Best Vineyards ranking chose it as the best vineyard in the world. Today it makes wines in the D.O.Ca. Rioja, the D.O. Rueda and the V.T. Castilla y León.

The visits

The winery is open every day, including public holidays, from 10:00 to 19:00, with visits in Spanish, English, French, German, Chinese and Romanian. The basic visit, of 90 minutes, tours the winery and vineyard and ends with three wines and Riojan cured meats: €30 per adult, €14 for ages 11 to 17, €4 for ages 3 to 10 and free up to 2. The variant with Sublimme, its sparkling wine, costs €31. The 1 h 45 ones, at €45 and €60, taste estate or top-range wines with cheese and cured meats, and are for over-18s only. There is a combined one with the Valle Salado de Añana, about 75 km away, for €40, which is booked separately with the valley.

How to book

Visits are booked on their website or on +34 945 180 888, or by email at [email protected]; the switchboard answers Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 19:00 and Saturdays from 9:00 to 17:00. If you are staying at the hotel or are a member of its club, book through the switchboard rather than the website. Gift vouchers are valid for one year from purchase. Under food industry rules animals are not allowed, except guide dogs. The website does not publish cancellation conditions.