{"id":5318,"date":"2026-02-01T19:56:12","date_gmt":"2026-02-01T22:56:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dechilealpaladar.cl\/?p=5318"},"modified":"2026-05-07T00:19:55","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T04:19:55","slug":"la-rioja-on-the-palate-territory-and-wine-in-the-first-person","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dechilealpaladar.cl\/en\/la-rioja-en-el-paladar-territorio-y-vino-en-primera-persona\/","title":{"rendered":"La Rioja on the palate: a first-hand account of the region and its wine"},"content":{"rendered":"

This trip to La Rioja was part of a larger tour. Almost a month away from home, starting in England, with a brief 24-hour escapade to France, and also an unforgettable week in Spain. An experience as intense as it was deeply anticipated, a lifelong dream.<\/p>\n

After three days in Heytesbury UK, I arrived in Madrid for the first time.<\/a> We slept there, walked the city taking in its most important landmarks on a bright morning, and, almost without realising it, we were already heading north.<\/p>\n

The train took us to Bilbao, where we stayed and We spent a morning<\/a> before renting a car that would take us to the renowned wine region in the Basque Country. From there, the most anticipated part of the trip began: Five days touring La Rioja <\/strong>At our own pace.<\/p>\n

This was the longed-for destination. The place where time stood still and took us back to the most memorable moments of this adventure. In La Rioja, everything seems to have a different scale: the days stretch out between vineyards, conversations are held with calm, and each glass becomes an excuse to better understand the territory.<\/p>\n

It wasn't just about visiting wineries; we also wanted to experience their way of life where wine is memory, identity, and the present all at the same time.<\/p>\n

In this first part, I revisit those places that marked the beginning of an experience that, more than a journey, was a deep immersion into wine culture.<\/p>\n

La Rioja: a territory that elevates the senses<\/strong><\/h4>\n

A place that welcomed us with an indescribable quiet strength. It is not strident or grandiloquent, it is profound. Here the landscape speaks softly, but with authority.<\/p>\n

Vineyards stretching as far as the eye can see, ancient stone villages with narrow streets that were certainly laid out long before cars existed, more suited to walkers.<\/p>\n

\"The
The Sierra de Cantabria, an impressive limestone mountain range acting as a natural shield, protecting the vineyards of Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Alta from the cold northern winds, creating a climate conducive to wine. Photo Nick Charlesworth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Camino de Santiago crosses this region like a luminous trail. Ancient pilgrim paths intertwine with vineyards that now cover more than 66,000 hectares. To travel through \u2013 or simply gaze upon from any vantage point \u2013 these landscapes is to understand that wine here is not an isolated industry, but a historical, cultural and human continuation.<\/p>\n

In 2025, La Rioja celebrated the 100th anniversary of its Qualified Designation of Origin (DOCa), a story that truly feels alive in every corner: in the wineries, in the squares, ancient buildings, in conversations\u2026 at the table!<\/p>\n

The Ebro: where wine finds its course<\/strong><\/h4>\n

And it is precisely on this journey that the Ebro River appears, crossing La Rioja from west to east, marking subtle but decisive differences. On one side, calcareous soils, high-altitude vineyards and an Atlantic influence that brings freshness. On the other, gentler slopes and warmer climates.<\/p>\n

That geography is precisely what translates into different wines, even within the same grape variety. Tempranillo \u2013 the soul of La Rioja \u2013 finds multiple expressions here, depending on its origin, altitude, and soil. Understanding this, by travelling through the territory, is something that I believe no book can fully explain.<\/p>\n

Ram\u00f3n Bilbao: innovation that reinterprets history<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\"Ram\u00f3n
Ram\u00f3n Bilbao: Understanding wine without leaving the winery, when the experience manages to transport you to the vineyard without moving from the spot. Photo: Nick Charlesworth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On our walk, we arrived at Ram\u00f3n Bilbao Winery<\/strong><\/a> in Haro. It was a real honour for us, and the first wine tourism experience in Spain for both of us. Getting to know this project from the inside allowed us to understand how a century-old winery can look to the future without losing its identity, transforming each visit into an immersive experience for wine lovers and lovers of the good life.<\/p>\n

Hand in hand with our friend Zaida de Sempr\u00fan<\/strong>, We toured his vineyards, but without leaving the winery.<\/a>, because its proposal aims to transport the wine tourist through innovative experiences that awaken the senses (sight, smell and taste). We are talking about climate change, adaptation, freshness and precision. Ram\u00f3n Bilbao does not forget tradition; rather, it reinterprets it.<\/p>\n

Your D.O.Ca. Rioja and D.O. Rueda wines reflect a contemporary, vibrant Rioja, mindful of its history and, at the same time, decidedly modern. Thanks, dear Zaida!<\/p>\n