Marqués de Riscal to open City of Wine

Model of Marques de Riscal's new City of Wine

(Image credit: Model of Marques de Riscal's new City of Wine)

Rioja pioneer Marqués de Riscal will open its long-anticipated City of Wine cultural centre on 1 September.

Located at the company’s main bodega in the tiny Rioja village of Elciego, the 60ha complex, devoted entirely to wine, is part of a 10-year, US$77m renovation of the winery and its facilities.

Visitors to the hotel, set amid Riscal’s vineyards, will be able to descend by glass elevator to cellar level, where they can participate in tours and tastings that take them through the winemaking process from production to ageing.

The restaurant, run by Michelin-starred chef Francis Paniego (of Restaurante Echaurren, also in Rioja) will also offer cooking and wine-and-food pairing classes.

Best known for its Reserva and Gran Reserva Riojas, the 150-year old Marqués de Riscal also produces wine in La Rueda and Castilla y León.

Written by Maggie Rosen

Maggie Rosen is a wine journalist, editor and author, hailing from New York but based in London. Aside from Decanter, she has contributed to the Financial Times, The Drinks Business, Harpers Wine and Spirit Weekly, The Wall Street Journal, The World of Fine Wine and Meininger's Wine Business International. She is also a member of the Circle of Wine Writers.