Visit to La Rioja Alta, S.A.

La Rioja Alta, S.A. is one of the founding wineries of Haro's Barrio de la Estación, at Avenida de Vizcaya, 8. It is a century-old winery known for its long-aged wines, such as Viña Ardanza and the grandes reservas 904 and 890, and one of the classic visits of the district. Unlike other wineries, it admits children on its basic visit, with its own rate, which makes it practical if you are travelling as a family.

The "Discovering La Rioja Alta, S.A." visit

It tours the century-old winery with a guide and ends with a guided tasting of three wines: the Lagar de Cervera albariño, Viña Ardanza and Viña Arana Gran Reserva. It lasts an hour and a half and is held in Spanish.

There is a session Monday to Friday at 11:30 and, on Saturdays and public holidays, at 10:45, 11:30 and 12:15. On Sundays that are not public holidays no sessions appear on its website. It costs €35 per adult and €10 per child, and the visit is open from age 9. Book at reservas.riojalta.com; for questions, the telephone is +34 941 310 346 and the email [email protected].

Special visits

On some Saturdays at 12:15 the winery organises longer visits, of about two hours, only for over-18s and with groups of between 8 and 15 people:

• Gran Reserva 904, the essence of Rioja: visit and historic tasting of three vintages of 904. It costs €75.
• Grandes Reservas Universe: visit and guided tasting of Gran Reserva 890, Gran Reserva 904 and Viña Arana Gran Reserva. It costs €65.

For visitors who do not speak Spanish there is also a tasting in English, without a tour of the winery, of one hour and €95, on spring and summer dates. The dates of all the special visits are announced on the website months ahead and fill up; it is best to book early. Groups of 8 or more can request these visits on weekdays by writing to the winery.

Wine bar, shop and dining rooms

El Garaje del Club de Cosecheros is the winery's wine bar and shop. It serves its wines by the glass, from current and old vintages, with tapas if you like, and sells wines, gift boxes and gourmet products. It opens Monday to Friday from 11:00 to 17:30 and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 11:00 to 15:00, so it is an option on Sunday too, when there is no visit.

For groups, the winery has private dining rooms Monday to Friday at midday: a single menu at €70 per person with appetisers, first course, main, home-made dessert, several wines and a private winery visit included. There are rooms for 10, 18 and 30 people.

How to combine it

La Rioja Alta is a few steps from Muga, CVNE and López de Heredia, in the same district. The sensible thing is one visit in the morning and another at midday, with lunch in the old town of Haro in between: crossing the Ebro on foot, Plaza de la Paz is about ten minutes away.