Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Hotel Viura la Rioja, in Villabuena de Álava, La Rioja
Facts in brief
Official star rating 4
Location The hotel is 8-minutes' walk from Bodegas Luis Canas winery
Annual opening All year except February
Closest airport Bilbao Airport
Distance from airport The hotel is about 90-minutes' drive from Bilbao Airport
Closest railway station Logrono
Distance from railway station About 30 minutes by car
Hotel facilities and services
Restaurant, Bar, Outdoor Swimming Pool, Wine Cellar, Wine Experiences, Gym.
Out and about nearby
Vilabuena de Alava is a small village with a number of age-old and decorative churches. There are also a hug number of wineries in the region to be visited.
Sports nearby
There is a Basque pelota court situated next to the hotel and there are some beautiful walking and cycling routes through the local vineyards. Hotel Viura can organise canoeing, rafting, rafting, canyoning, trekking, quad biking and more.
We particularly loved the Hotel del Sogno on Lake Garda for its character, beauty and amazing views. Great service too from the reception staff. Also they gave us great recommendations for restaurants.Mr and Mrs S, June 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Viura room for 5 nights
From about
£1,490
Holiday Code EXH1098
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Hotel Viura la Rioja, in Villabuena de Álava, La Rioja
The picture-postcard village of Vilabuena de Álava, with its huge number of wineries, is home to the distinctive architecture of the four-star Hotel Viura. Resembling a staggered assortment of angular pods, the overriding feel of the property is an industrial one, which is somewhat at odds with the age-old churches and residential properties nearby. The concept behind this look becomes clear inside, as the sparse decorative style comes to resemble that of a converted winery. This influence is most apparent in the restaurant, with its exposed concrete walls, floors and columns, and a ceiling lined with old barrels. Clean lines, a monotone colour scheme and wall-to-wall windows create an atmosphere of sophisticated elegance, setting the scene for a feast of Riojan and Basque flavours. Selecting only the freshest natural ingredients, the creative menu is complemented by a wine list prepared by the hotel's prestigious sommelier. For a better insight into the wine production process from vine to glass, Hotel Viura guests can embark on a tour that begins in the fields, learning about the grapes, and ends with an introductory course in wine tasting in the wine cellar. This fantastic experience concludes with an indulgent pairing dinner. Spacious, open-plan rooms and suites are a harmonious place to unwind at the end of the day, their neutral palette and intimate lighting establishing a stylish energy. An in-room bar encourages you to relax in style, with a selection of choice wines to sample in private. The Viura rooms offer plenty of space but deluxe rooms hold up to two beds and boast splendid village views.
Room descriptions
Hotel Viura offers rooms with 32-inch plasma TV, in-room bar and complimentary water.
We particularly loved the Hotel del Sogno on Lake Garda for its character, beauty and amazing views. Great service too from the reception staff. Also they gave us great recommendations for restaurants.Mr and Mrs S, June 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Viura room for 5 nights
From about
£1,490
Holiday Code EXH1098
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Hotel Viura la Rioja, in Villabuena de Álava, La Rioja
The journey and how you get there
For a holiday to Hotel Viura, Villabuena de Alava, Expressions Holidays includes scheduled flights with British Airways from London to Bilbao. Flights may be available from other UK airports with Easyjet and Jet2 for example. If you are combining this hotel with stays elsewhere, you may want to consider flying into one airport and out of another. We can arrange this for you. The hotel is about 1 hour 25 minutes’ drive from the airport and we recommend that we book for you either a private car transfer or a hire-car, depending on the itinerary.
Special offers
Call to make your booking and save an extra £50 per adult Call us instead of emailing us when you are thinking of booking a holiday and save an extra £50 per adult (in addition to any special offers that might be available). We want to talk to you to discuss your requirements and a phone call is usually the best way for you to define what you want enabling us to respond more accurately. We want to talk to you and you save an extra £50 per adult.
We particularly loved the Hotel del Sogno on Lake Garda for its character, beauty and amazing views. Great service too from the reception staff. Also they gave us great recommendations for restaurants.Mr and Mrs S, June 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Viura room for 5 nights
From about
£1,490
Holiday Code EXH1098
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Hotel Viura la Rioja, in Villabuena de Álava, La Rioja
About La Rioja
La Rioja, by Spanish standards, is a small and compact region in the north of Spain, to the south of the Basque country and north of Castile and Leon. Sheltered from the Atlantic by the Sierra de Cantabria, La Rioja is a region whose name is synonymous with the high-quality wine produced in over 500 wineries. The vineyards form a patchwork on gently rolling hills and terraces above the valley of the River Ebro and are divided into three zones: Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Baja. Each of these areas has a wine route the visitor can follow. Many of the wineries have been run by the same families with expert knowledge passed through the generations for centuries, whilst others are set apart by their stunning modern architecture. The Marques de Riscal winery is one place which combines both elements; founded in 1858 it is one of the oldest wineries in La Rioja but is also known for its iconic building which was designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry. As well as the wineries, La Rioja is also known for its cultural significance and magnificent religious buildings. The town of Santa Domingo de la Calzada is a key stop on the St James’ Way pilgrimage route which traverses northern Spain and the cathedral here is well worth visiting. Meanwhile in the city of Logroño guests will find the Cathedral of Santa María de la Redonda with its twin baroque towers and elegant façade. The Ebro River winds lazily through the city and visitors can enjoy a relaxed, self-guided tour of the town, stopping in at the many bars to try the local pintxos paired with local wines.
Highlights of La Rioja
Wine-producing towns across La Rioja DOC region where visitors can enjoy cellar tours and wine tastings, which can also be enjoyed at the luxury vineyard hotels which we feature. La Rioja is subdivided into three zones; Rioja Alta, Rioja Baja and Rioja Alavesa. Follow the wine routes of each of these areas. The beautiful Iglesia de San Bartolomé and cathedral in Logroño. The Cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada, stopping point on the Saint James’ Way pilgrimage route. Numerous bars across the region which serve ‘pintxos’ (a Basque version of tapas), including those in Logroño. The attractive old town of Haro. The Museum of Wine Culture in Vivanco. San Millán Yuso and Suso (Upper and Lower) Monasteries, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in La Rioja, known for their role in the early development of the Spanish language. The hilltop walled town of Laguardia. Walking and nature watching in the Sierra de Cameros Natural park near Soria. “El Barranco Perdido” paleontology-themed amusement park. The pretty village of Ezcaray in the Oja River Valley, made wealthy by the wool trade, is popular with visitors for its outdoor pursuits and host of tapas bars.
Festivals in La Rioja
April: “Los Picaos” Easter procession in San Vicente de la Sonsierra. May: Saint’s Day festivities in Santo Domingo de la Calzada. June: Festivities of San Bernabé in Logroño, Haro Wine Festival and the Battle of Wine, Briones Medieval Festival. August: Bread and Cheese Festival in Quel. September: San Mateo Wine Harvest Festival (Logroño).
Gastronomy in La Rioja
La Rioja is best-known for its high-quality reds as well as many excellent white and rosé wines. A regional variation of tapas called ‘pintxos’ can be found throughout La Rioja, frequently eaten as a snack in bars. Enjoying pintxos like a local means visiting several bars and trying one or two small dishes in each, accompanied by local wines. Regional cooking varies from place to place but the key flavours and ingredients are simple and wholesome with high quality products from the region. Of particular note are the traditional stews made with fava or caparrón beans and a wide array of vegetables and pulses. Christians and Muslims have each left their mark on the region with pork and lamb forming popular bases for dishes, whilst fish caught from the Ebro also appear on the menu.
Climate in La Rioja
La Rioja is one of the colder regions of Spain and tends to have fairly mild summers and wet winters. The preferred time for visitors tends to be from June to September with most tourists avoiding the winter months of November to March. This part of Spain escapes the fierce summer heat found in the centre and south of the country with pleasant temperatures of around 20-25 degrees typical.
