The capital of La Rioja, Spain’s answer to Tuscany and Bordeaux, Logroño is a good base to explore the wineries dotting the province. With roots extending at least as far back as the Romans, Logroño owes its life to its location on the Rio Ebro and its utility as a prime crossing-place of that river. Historically, Logroño’s allegiance was long contested between Castile and Pamplona, before finally being annexed to Castile in 1173. Worth a visit is Logroño’s casco antiguo (old town), which as afternoon turns to evening becomes a great place to sample tapas and the local vino. To really embed yourself in the wine country, the town of Haro is 35min. away by train and truly the heart of La Rioja. In little Haro, there isn’t much else to do but drink wine, but then, what else do you need?
