Rioja

September and October are harvest season — grapes are picked, villages celebrate the vendimia (harvest festival), and the bodegas are buzzing. Spring (April–June) offers pleasant temperatures and green vineyards without the crowds.

Rioja is Spain's most celebrated wine region, known for Tempranillo-dominant reds with distinctive oak aging: Crianza (2 years), Reserva (3 years), and Gran Reserva (5+ years). White Rioja from Viura is increasingly popular.

Logroño is the regional capital with great restaurants and easy access to wineries. Haro is the traditional wine capital in the Rioja Alta, home to the famous Barrio de la Estación bodegas cluster.

A car is recommended to reach rural bodegas, but Haro and Logroño are walkable and have good clusters of wineries. Guided day trips from Bilbao or San Sebastián are also excellent options.

The Battle of Wine (Batalla del Vino) takes place in Haro every June 29th — participants drench each other in red wine. It's one of Spain's most exuberant wine festivals, drawing visitors from across Europe.