Spain’s Winery Hotels

Road trips organized around winery visits seem so bucket-list perfect: a convertible winding its way through idyllic landscapes, with you at the wheel and a good friend riding shotgun, eager to share the experience. Lazy afternoons spent sipping varietals in summer’s long, bright light.

But there’s that one not-so-minor detail: who wants to be the designated driver on an epic road trip when great wineries aren’t just the destination, but the raison d’etre for the entire experience? Answer: No one. How, then, to successfully check this item off as “accomplished” on your bucket list? Simple: Build your trip around stays at winery hotels.

While plenty of wineries in the U.S. also run hotels, Spain tempts wine-loving road trippers with its blend of historic accommodations (we’re talking monasteries-turned-inns that are older than the United States) and contemporary, daringly-designed hotels by renowned architects like Frank Gehry. And, then, of course, there’s the temptation of exceptional wines, ranging from world-famous Riojas to the lesser known Albariños.

So, if you’re planning a road trip through Spain’s wine regions, here are some of our favorite stops to consider along the way.

Marques de Riscal Winery & Hotel, Elciego, Spain

The small town of Elciego, located in Spain’s Basque Country, is home to the Marques de Riscal Winery, which has created an entire “city of wine” on its own property. There, you’ll find the usual winery installations– vineyards, a tasting room, and boutique where you can buy wines to take home– but you’ll also find some less typical additions, like Bodega 1860, the winery’s 150+ year-old wine cellar, which is considered to house the world’s second most important wine collection.

Besides all that, the main draw for the well-heeled road tripper (or one who’s saved up for a splurge) is the Frank Gehry-designed Marques de Riscal Hotel (left), which is managed by the Starwood chain. Though the ultra-contemporary hotel seems a strange complement to the winery’s historic, ivy-covered brick buildings, it fits right in on its lofty perch, which overlooks one of the winery’s vineyards. The hotel has two restaurants, one of which is headed by a Michelin-starred chef, a spa, and a panoramic view of Elciego. It’s an excellent base for exploring Marques de Riscal and the many surrounding wineries, including Bodegas Luis Cañas and Miguel Angel Muro.

Abadia Retuerta Vineyards and Le Domaine Hotel, Sardón de Duero, Valladolid, Spain

If you want to feel steeped in Spanish history, it would be tough to find a place that fits that bill better that Abadia Retuerta’s vineyards and its Le Domaine Hotel (above, main photo). The restored 12th-century abbey, a national historic site since 1931, sits on the banks of the Duero River, and every one of its 22 rooms offers vineyard views.

You’ll eat and drink well here; the Relais & Chateaux property sources ingredients from its own on-site farm, and, of course, the majority of its wine list is comprised of bottles from its own vineyards. If you want a bird’s eye view of those vineyards, the hotel will happily arrange hot air balloon or helicopter rides. For those who prefer to keep closer to the ground, private tours on foot, horseback, or car are available.

Read on for more of our top picks for winery hotels…

Castillo Perelada Winery & Hotel, Peralada, Girona, Spain

There are tougher—much tougher– ways to spend your day than sipping Catalonia’s bubbly cava and subjecting yourself to “wine therapy” treatments at Castillo Perelada’s spa. Located in the Empordá wine region, known for its gravelly soils, Castillo Perelada produces whites and reds, as well as olive oils and vinegars.

Nothing goes to waste from its production process; grape seeds and skins, as well as the lees, are all diverted to the hotel’s spa, where innovative wine-based treatments dominate the treatment menu. You can get a grape seed body peel, a Muscat white wine bath, or a body wrap made of the lees. The latter comes with a glass of wine. 

Accommodations are modern and comfortable, and the hotel (right) has a golf course and restaurant on site. Staff will happily offer suggestions about other sights and activities in the medieval town of Perelada when you want a break from all things grape.

Hacienda Zorita, Valverdón, Salamanca, Spain

A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Hacienda Zorita is a 14th-century monastery that has been converted into a quiet and luxurious wine resort. On the 40-room property, you’ll find a wine cellar, two restaurants (one with a Michelin-starred chef; both serving produce grown on the hacienda’s own organic farm, charcuterie from their own pata negra pigs, and raw milk cheeses from their own sheep), a spa specializing in “vinotherapy,” and a chapel filled with religious artwork that dates back to the 16th-century. The Tormes River, a tributary of the Duero, runs right underneath the hotel.

If that’s not enough for you, there’s the hacienda’s storied past; it’s said that Christopher Columbus stayed here while passing through on a trip to collect funds for his explorations. In fact, the cellar is designed as a sort of homage to Columbus; it’s in the shape of an inverted ship’s hull. And, of course, there’s wine. The property’s vines date to the 14th-century. You’ll have a view of them—or the river—regardless of the room you’re assigned upon check-in.