Briones

Briones summarizes the essence of Rioja Alta with its wineries, vineyards and a beautiful natural setting. It is also a place to eat well and, above all, soak up the culture of wine. It is located in the north-west of the province on an 80-metre-high rocky outcrop. On the north side of the town, the drop to the River Ebro is almost vertical.

The historic quarter contains noble houses and narrow stony streets to wander through and enjoy the numerous houses with coats of arms on the façades (among them a casona no less than 500 years old that is the oldest civil building in La Rioja) and an irregular-sided main square that you reach at the end of your walk. The square is home to the magnificent church of the Assumption and, next to it, a baroque mansion that houses an ethnographic museum depicting a typical house of the area.

This small but intense municipality contains many treasures, especially its varied catering establishments, where you can enjoy its gastronomy in the bars and restaurants.

Some of the most interesting places in Briones are its wineries: either small ones owned by individuals or large ones that have brought prestige and fame to the town. They all apply traditional winemaking techniques, and you can buy great wines at reasonable prices as well as the usual catalogue of Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva wines.

The town is also home to the Vivanco Museum of the Culture of Wine, declared the best in the world by UNESCO in 2007. A must-see for any visitor to this great town.

There are two wine bars at the top of the town, one dedicated to Vivanco wine and the other to the rest of the local wineries.

The municipality is classified as a historical-artistic complex, and joined the Association of the Most Beautiful Towns/Villages in Spain in December 2017.