While Italy may be the first country most people think of when “European wine” comes up. However, did you know that Spain has some of the richest wine countries in the world – rivaling Italy’s in many ways? If you want to get to know it, do yourself a favor and head to the heart and soul of Spanish wine country: Rioja.

If you really want to make the most of your time out there, I highly recommend doing a proper tour. I’ve reviewed the 7 top Rioja wine tours that are actually well worth your time and money, pouring wine, showing you medieval villages, cellar doors, and much more. Let’s jump right in!

Best Wine Tours in Rioja

	Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa Wine Tour	Rioja Like A Native Wine Tour	Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries From Bilbao
Meeting Location:	Hotel pickup and drop-off included	Hotel pickup and drop-off included	Hotel pickup and drop-off included
Tour Length:	8 to 9 hours	9 hours	7 hours
Start Time(s):	9:30 AM	9:30 AM	9:00 AM
What’s Included:	Group tour for up to 8 people, English-speaking wine expert tour guide, private transport with A/C, 3 guided vineyard visits, lunch "like a native"	Group tour for up to 8 people, wine expert tour guide, private transport with A/C, explore 3 vineyards with commentary and meet winemakers or family	Air-conditioned vehicle, Bottled water, Snacks, Light meal served at villages of Laguardia or Labastida, Professional guide, Wine tasting
	Check Tour Availability	Check Tour Availability	Check Tour Availability

Our 7 Top Picks For The Best Rioja Wine Tour:

1. Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa Wine Tour
2. Rioja Like A Native Wine Tour
3. Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries From Bilbao
4. Full Rioja Wine Tour with Lunch from San Sebastian Private Tour
5. Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries Visit with Tasting from San Sebastian
6. Half Day Rioja Wine Tour
7. Rioja Wine Tour: Winery, Tasting & Lunch from San Sebastian

Rioja Wine Tour Reviews

1. Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa Wine Tour

What to Expect on the Tour

Let’s skip all the unnecessary stuff and jump straight to Spain’s top wine experiences without the stress and with all the beautiful views and pours. The Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa Wine Tour takes you in comfortable, private transportation with the rest of your small group, right into the center of two of Rioja’s most renowned sub-regions.

Over the day, you can expect to visit 3 hand-picked wineries, where each one has something a bit unique to offer from the rest. You’ll learn and taste the differences between Alta’s elegant, high-acidity styles and Alavesa’s richer, fruit-forward reds, with your wine expert guide teaching in a way that isn’t intimidating.

Expect behind-the-scenes cellar access and winemaker insights, plus a “Like a Native” lunch pairing local bites to go along with your wine. If you’re on the hunt for a wine experience that goes far beyond the ordinary, you have to give this one a go.

What Makes This Tour Great

If you really want a proper regional immersion, you can’t go wrong with a tour that lets you taste two different terroirs in one streamlined experience. Uncover how soil and altitude impact Rioja’s signature varietals, all while getting to sample the gems firsthand with winemakers and expert guides.

Rather than people you just met, it feels like old friends showing you around – old friends who happen to know all the local wine secrets, that is. I appreciated that the 3 wineries selected were family-run and felt more charming than many of the bigger spots (not that they’re better or worse – just different).

I love a good local wine experience, and the Riojan meal was just as phenomenal, highlighting regional flavors perfectly. If you want something more educational over a plain, old day-drinking excursion, don’t pass this one up!

Expect one-on-one discussions, generous wine-tastings, and if the weather is right, even the opportunity to go pick some grapes yourself!

Reserve Tour Now and Pay Later / Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours of Tour Start Time

2. Rioja Like A Native Wine Tour

What to Expect on the Tour

It can be difficult to try to experience a place like a local when you’re visiting – especially if it’s your first time there! However, on this next tour, you’ll get that immersive feeling that is typically reserved for locals only.

The Rioja Like a Native Wine Tour stops at 2 intimate, family-operated wineries and an elegant vineyard setting, where you’ll learn all about the roots of Rioja wine, dating back from Roman times to the present day.

Expect round-trip transportation from your hotel so you don’t have to worry about meet-up points or booking your own, with a cozy, air-conditioned van there to haul you there.

Expect a well-paced itinerary that allows plenty of time for savoring each wine and exploring the properties – oftentimes, with VIP looks into the inner workings of wineries. Pair that with a delicious lunch comprised of local seasonings and ingredients, and you have the making of a very fulfilling day.

What Makes This Tour Great

Some people like going on wine tours to see how many they can down and get obliterated, at a great price. While there’s absolutely no judgment there, if that’s what you’re looking for, this likely isn’t the tour for you.

Rather, if you’re someone genuinely curious about the entire process of making local wine, from vine to glass, this is a fantastic way to do so. You’re learning and tasting right from the source – in family-owned bodegas that provide stories those big commercial tours typically don’t.

This tour doesn’t feel like you’re just checking “Rioja wine tours” off your bucket list – rather, you’ll gain valuable knowledge you can apply every time you sit down for a glass anytime in the future. You’ll learn why oak barrels matter, how altitude impacts flavor, and so much more!

If that weren’t great enough already, you’ll get to try Rioja flavors in a delicious native-style lunch, perfectly paired with wine.

Reserve Tour Now and Pay Later / Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours of Tour Start Time

3. Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries From Bilbao

What to Expect on the Tour

If you’re searching for the best Rioja wine tours from Bilbao, this full-day escape should be near the top of your list. Departing right from the city, you’ll be chauffeured in a comfy coach into the center of La Rioja wine country – home to Spain’s most renowned reds.

Expect tastings at 2 boutique wineries, where you’ll taste your way through the region’s top varietals (hello, Tempranillo lovers!). The Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries from Bilbao has a way of treating you more like a friend than a tourist, offering insight into how everything is produced, with scenic stops in Laguardia or Labastida (depending).

Your expert local wine guide is there to answer any of your questions, and bolsters an already-rich commentary on winemaking, barrel aging, terroir, and more. No car rental, no logistics to fret over – just a streamlined experience with experts at the helm.

What Makes This Tour Great

Generic tours don’t belong in the world of wine if you’re truly passionate about it, though the big, commercialized tours can lean that way, sometimes. What sets this one apart is its personal, boutique-style approach, where no two tours are exactly the same.

The local guides have a genuine love for Rioja and its flowing reds, offering up plenty of personal anecdotes, wine facts, legends, and tips on how to taste like a sommelier. The friendly, low-key vibe made the whole subject approachable for beginners, without losing interest of the more experienced aficionados.

Rather than observing the massive industrial ops, you will appreciate family-run bodegas that take you quite literally to walk among the vines, meet the winemakers themselves, and maybe even try a vintage that you can’t find commercially!

That, along with the gorgeous stop in the village on the way back made for a day I surely won’t forget (though I should have given the amount of wine I drank!).

Reserve Tour Now and Pay Later / Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours of Tour Start Time

4. Full Rioja Wine Tour with Lunch from San Sebastian Private Tour

What to Expect on the Tour

If you’re interested in not only learning about Rioja wine, but more specifically about the Basque Country, this is just the ticket. The Full Rioja Wine Tour with Lunch from San Sebastian Private Tour is perfect if you’re not a fan of group tours with complete strangers, or simply prefer a more intimate setting.

This private, personalized excursion gets you cruising with a luxe vehicle, weaving through the scenic views of La Rioja. You’ll visit 3 hand-picked boutique wineries, each offering tastings of rich Tempranillo, elegant Gran Reservas, and plenty of other local gems you won’t find in your average supermarket.

Expect highlights like BTS peeks at cellars, chats with winemakers, and a traditional Riojan lunch stacked with charcuterie, olives, and plenty of vino. You never have to worry about being rushed or loitering around, because you set the pace here.

What Makes This Tour Great

I don’t know about you, but for me, a premium, zero-stress tour is always welcome in my book. Skip the busloads of people and cookie-cutter brochures and opt for personal anecdotes, local lore, and all-access to some of the best vineyards.

Many people are intimidated by wine culture and feel it can be a bit too exclusive, but this experience is all about being easy to understand – approachable storytelling and welcoming staff prove that. Again, it’s completely private, so you don’t have to worry about strangers judging you or anything like that – it’s just you and whoever you’re traveling with.

After your tastings, enjoy a traditional lunch in a beautiful medieval village and relax! With convenient round-trip transportation that takes you to and from your hotel, along with customization to the itinerary (within reason), you’re in for a real treat.

Reserve Tour Now and Pay Later / Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours of Tour Start Time

5. Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries Visit with Tasting from San Sebastian

What to Expect on the Tour

This next tour combines 3 of my favorite things: Basque culture, breathtaking natural vistas, and amazing wine. The Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries Visit with Tasting from San Sebastian combines them all effortlessly, focusing on historic paths, interesting architecture, and of course, plenty of wine to go around!

Whether you’re a complete newbie or a wine expert yourself, there’s something fun for everyone. Expect round-trip transportation from your hotel, so there’s no need to deal with logistics and booking separate transportation.

It’s a couple of hours to drive to La Rioja, so I appreciated the AC, big windows, and excellent educational commentary from our driver. With a small-group setting, it was nice and intimate, and both stops to the different wine growers were great learning experiences.

What Makes This Tour Great

Sure, you could go and make the drive to La Rioja on your own, but you’d be missing out on so much! First off, I never recommend driving after doing a wine tasting – much less, doing wine tastings at 2 different growers, like you will here.

Secondly, with this tour, you have an all-access pass to famed wineries, where you get to see the inner workings, talk to winemakers, and so many other cool experiences that you wouldn’t have going it alone. Our guide was so knowledgeable about the Basque Country and culture, and as there were only a few people in our group, we had all the opportunities to ask questions.

We learned how to properly taste wine, how it’s made here, the nuances of different grapes, and enjoyed a lovely break for lunch in Laguardia with our little group and guide. The wineries chosen were great, with each one offering something unique from the other – a must-do!

Reserve Tour Now and Pay Later / Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours of Tour Start Time

6. Half Day Rioja Wine Tour

What to Expect on the Tour

Perhaps you’re interested in learning more about La Rioja’s wine country, but don’t want to commit (or have the time) to a full-day experience. If that’s the case for you, check out the best bet: the Half-Day Rioja Wine Tour!

It’s more compact, yes, but it certainly doesn’t compromise quality, with comfortable transportation and local experts to take you behind-the-scenes of 2 amazing vineyards. You’ll be picked up right from your hotel in air-conditioned transportation with your driver there to regale you with trivia, history, cultural lore, and more.

Each of the family-operated winery visits are different enough that you’ll get to try different wines at each one – crucial in a shorter tour like this one. Expect a relaxed yet enriching vibe, with plenty of time for photos, pensive sips, and a deeper connection to this region’s authenticity.

What Makes This Tour Great

When it comes to half-day Rioja wine tasting tours, no one does it better than this one. If you’ve never been on a wine tour at all before, I actually recommend this one, as it’s convenient, well-planned, exclusive, and offers a comprehensive look at this region’s offerings.

Explore Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa, where you’ll learn about and see the differences and similarities between each one. As a bit of a history nerd, I not only appreciated the personal stories from the staff but also the legends and history behind these wineries.

Oh, they also do a great job of showing both ancient and modern winemaking methods, and where each holds its strengths and weaknesses. All that, AND if you’re lucky enough, you may even get a tour of the Cuevas de Lecesa cave system!

Reserve Tour Now and Pay Later / Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours of Tour Start Time

7. Rioja Wine Tour: Winery, Tasting & Lunch from San Sebastian

What to Expect on the Tour

There’s a ton to do and see in La Rioja, but if you want to not only see the main sights, but also check out spots off the beaten path, this is it. The Rioja Wine Tour: Winery, Tasting & Lunch from San Sebastian is a great way to try the region’s traditional flavors all across the board.

Start things off with a convenient hotel pickup from San Sebastian, heading into a scenic drive through the Basque Country’s rolling vineyards. Expect your first stop of the day to be an authentic, quaint winery tucked into La Rioja, where you’ll venture through old wine cellars and learn how it honors the fermentation and storage processes necessary to create each batch.

Try a flight of local wines perfectly paired with a traditional two-course lunch (plus dessert), as you sit around and chat with your group and guide about the day so far.

What Makes This Tour Great

How would you like to make your way into the heart of Spanish wine country and learn from people who feel like they’ve known you for years? That’s what you’ll get here – engaging guides, knowledgeable winemakers and owners, and an overall breezy vibe. The wineries and food were phenomenal, and the photo opportunities held their own against them!

Our tastings heavily leaned on history lessons and practices that have been used for hundreds of years, which was super cool to me! The traditional lunch and dessert were also incredible, and the added bonus of visiting a couple of extra medieval villages!

Reserve Tour Now and Pay Later / Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours of Tour Start Time

Katarina Jelks

Katarina Jelks is a professionally trained sommelier from Hawaii. She received her Wine & Management Diploma from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. Her experience working across the wine industry, in locations all around the world (France, Australia, New Zealand, the US & more), has resulted in a global perspective. She loves sharing her passion with others and helping them to chase their thirst for interesting wine and great food.