Yesterday's San Francisco Chronicle Travel section featured an article on some of the wineries in this area, and the architects who are designing for them. I'm ready to get packing!
Judy
Posts: 1863 | Location: Berkeley, CA | Registered: 22 March 2005
You absolutely have to go - both Gehry and Calatrava's contributions are absolutely unbelievable - Gehry's especially as it is based on the colours used on the Marques de Riscal wine bottle!
i have follow Marqués de Riscal for many years, it was founded with an oenologue from France way back. Like most in the area came from there after phyloxera hit the French vinyards.
The whole area of El Ciego is wonderful, if you are into wines ,like me: When you are ready to pack i can introduce you to some of them including Marques de Riscal.
the wines are a bit south of where you at Maria;if you have a car you can make in a day.You really need a car to go there. Take the A68 south to Logroño from Bilbao. YOu will be passing Haro, Labastida,Cenicero, fuenmayor before reaching Logroño, many wineries along the way. this will tell you about Marques de Riscal http://www.marquesderiscal.com/index.php?idmenu=34&mn1=0&mn2=1
I won't have a car. But I did find on the Euskatren website that had a schedule for a bus from Bilbao to Haro. Isn't Haro a big wine town? It gave only the times it left Bilbao, but didn't say how long it took.
La Union Alavesa bus company makes the run staring from 7h30 am at the Bilbao bus terminal to Haro bus terminal, takes about an hour . here is the timetable you can change it as per your dates http://www.autobuseslaunion.com/caste/dinamica/resultad_recorridos.asp Haro is a nice small town all around the vinyards.
As I recall, unlike some wine areas, in Spain, most vinyards are not open to the public on a walk-in basis. That is, there aren't tasting rooms like you find in California or Oregon, where you can just drop in. Instead, they open by appointment, and many aren't open to the public at all. Towns like Haro and Logronos certainly have excellent shops specializing in local vinyards, and you'll travel through thousands of hectares of vines, but be prepared for a slightly different experience regarding accessibility. (Re the new Gehry hotel, when I last checked the least expensive rooms were 500E a night...)
Posts: 47 | Location: Nashville | Registered: 23 May 2005
no no, that was years ago, nowdays if you are a visitor from abroad you will be shown immediately. Especially at Marques de Riscal. and you can find a ton of excellent properties of much less than 500€;like the hotels already chosen by MariaV
With all due respect Pedmar, Maria V is not staying in a 5 star luxury ("gran lujo") hotel - the Gehry Hotel is a little different and you pay for what you get (the spa is absolutely incredible!!)
I looked at the Marquis site thing and saw that I couldn't get anywhere near that place.
All I'd like to be able to do is taste -- I know I can't do like I used to in Oregon (get out my trust winery map, choose four and get in the car and go from one to the other), but I'd love to be able to go in one or two. Judging from what you all are saying, I don't think I'll be able to.
Looks like I'll just have to get regular-sized glasses of lots of different wines when I'm getting tapas
Michael, have you heard of Aisia Balea spa hotel? I'm SO looking forward to that day and night there. Big spa thalasso-whatever place. Big thermal pool, jacuzzis, all sorts of spa stuff (can you tell I need a holiday? I can't speak!). The prices aren't too bad on their own, but I was lucky as heck to get a special or else wouldn't have been able to do it.
Here is the town website - it lists many wineries but no opening hours that I can see. Maybe when you get there you can find the tourist office and find out who is open to visitors. There is also some good info here about eating in the city.
Shannon, you've been? Did you go to any of them? Yes, I thought about taking the bus from Bilbao to Haro because it's known as the wine city or something. I had considered staying in Haro for two of the days, but couldn't make it work in the planning, etc. Hmm, looking at the site, it says a train station was inaugurated, linking Haro to Bilbao. Doing a search now for schedules, how long it takes, etc. (having problems with the Renfe site).
MariaV the train has limited service between bilbao and Haro, it is best the bus, as you wont have a car.It has been rumored by RENFE to cut service completely and the Mayor of Haro is furious. Its only 112 km from Bilbao to Haro, a bus ride wont be bad.Its a easier town to get around for wines
yeah but being a wine collector/drinker for all my life, I rather go to the producer and drink/buy there than to a Spa? you can have the best at Caudalie in Pauillac; Medoc France,if you like; all from the grape. But not for me. Thanks.
Maria, I have been to Haro but did not visit any of the wineries. You might check out Bodegas Muga - they are pretty well known and it appears they have a tasting room.
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