The Marqués de Riscal City of Wine, opened September 1 in the village of Elciego in the Rioja Alavesa, is the highly anticipated complex designed by Frank Gehry of Bilbao's Guggenheim, consisting of hotel, restaurant, wine spa and social pavilion. The 5-star hotel managed by the Sheraton Luxury Collection is the second most expensive hotel in the Basque Country and the most expensive in La Rioja.
Rooms vary in size from 35 to 90 square meters, cost from 400€ to 1,350€ per night and have LCD TVs, high-speed internet access, CD players, coffee makers, Jacuzzi baths and furniture designed by Gehry himself.
The City of Wine offers wine therapy spa treatments, Vinotherapie by Les Source de Caudalie of Bordeaux. This is the second wine therapy spa to open in Spain, and the hotel's gastronomic restaurant is supervised by Francis Paniego of the Michelin starred Echaurren in Ezcaray (Rioja Alta). Two golf courses are within a 35 km distance of the hotel.
Contact us to arrange a custom tour of the Marques de Riscal and other bodegas in the Rioja Alta or Alavesa, or arrange to join one of our scheduled tours to this region, "Bilbao and Beyond" and "Wine and Gastronomy".
For three days of total relaxation and spectacular mountain scenery pre-fiesta, we inspected the new, state-of-the-art, five-star Panticosa Resort in the stunning Tena Valley of the Aragon Pyrenees. This remarkable resort and spa complex, currently the largest, most expensive privately funded construction project in Europe, has just been chosen as a Leading Hotel of the World. In addition to the boutique Gran Hotel, the luxurious spa and adjacent Casino, next summer the complex will open three new 4-star hotels and a Thermal Place plus shopping gallery. Michelin starred chef, Pedro Subijana of Akelare in San Sebastian, supervises the hotel's restaurants, and the cuisine is exceptional. Our extremely comfortable superior room was beautifully appointed with the finest quality materials. Guests receive a welcome bottle of Enate wine, snacks, and free minibar with juices and Panticosa mineral water. The plasma televisions are internet-equipped. Panticosa Resort makes a perfect destination, pre or post fiesta. Contact us regarding special packages.
