How to visit Franco-Spanish Wineries in Logroño (La Rioja)

In the middle of the harvest season, you may be considering making a wine tourism getaway to La Rioja in which you do not want to miss the opportunity to know the famous Laurel street from the city of Logroño, iconic corner of the region to enjoy wines and pinchos.

Located in the historic center of the city, the Laurel street It is located near the central park Walk of the Espolón, and not far from the Santa María de la Redonda Co-Cathedral.

This area is where historically the wall of Logroño until it was demolished in 1862, after which the houses that currently make up the aforementioned street were built.

The great attraction of Laurel street is that, in about 200 meters of it and other surrounding streets, there are more than 60 bars and restaurants that have gained fame for their varied offer of pinchos, always accompanied by the rich Rioja wines.

In this regard, did you know that in the same city of Logroño you have the possibility of visiting one of the most traditional Rioja wineries?

Indeed, just 5 minutes walk from the Laurel street you find the historic facilities of Franco-Spanish Wineries, unique century-old winery that you can visit in the historic center of the capital of Rioja.

In this way, to delve deeper into the wine tradition in this Spanish region you do not need to travel by car, and thus enjoy the wine tasting in peace.

With its location on the banks of the Ebro river in an area of ​​traditional openwork and wineries, visit of the Franco-Spanish Wineries has become one of the main tourist attractions of Logroño.

History of Franco-Spanish Wineries

The origins of Franco-Spanish Wineries They date back to 1890, at the key moment of the arrival of French winegrowers to Rioja, when their vineyards were being devastated by the disease of phylloxera.

This French landing in search of grapes and wines that would promote the continuity of production in their country is the origin of the so-called “fine Rioja wines".

By then Frederick Anglade Saurat, a native of Bordeaux, founded Franco-Spanish Wineries, and the first harvest, a year later, marked the appearance of the winery's iconic brands: Diamond y Burgundy style.

The latter in the last decade of the 50s was renamed Rioja Bordon, and more recently, in 2017, it was redesigned as Drone.

Previously, in 1920 the French owners sold their shares and the winery became Spanish property.

Its history highlights the visit to the winery made in 1925 by King Alfonso XIII , and the one made in 1956 by the American writer Ernest Hemingway.

Since 1984, after its acquisition by Marcos Equizabal, Franco-Spanish Wineries is in the hands of the Eguizabal Family.

Wine tourism activities at Franco-Spanish Wineries

At the most current stage, this traditional Rioja winery has gained a prominent role in the leisure offer of La Rioja with its varied wine tourism proposals, and cultural activities organized in the warehouses.

In the section of wine tourism, you can take a visit in which you will learn the history of this century-old winery, as well as the keys to the process of making its wines.

This visit lasts an hour and a half, and during it you tour the building that maintains its original architecture, with corners such as the original wooden vat room from the year it was founded, different barrel rooms, and the “old bottle rack” that It has kept bottles from the winery's best vintages since 1898.

The visit ends with a tasting of two of the best wines, accompanied by an aperitif.

Now, if you want something more special, you have the option of complementing the visit by tasting a typical Riojan menu in one of the rooms of the winery, composed of potatoes Riojana's style, roast lamb, homemade torrija and the wines Drone y Diamond (coffees and liquors included).

If you want to give priority to knowing and tasting the wines from the winery, the Gourmet visit ends with the tasting of three of the best wines of the same, paired with a complete appetizer that includes cellar ham, Riojan cheese y organic oil toast with wine salt.

Here you have all the information with the wine tourism visits in Franco-Spanish Wineries from Logrono.