local specialities in La Rioja

Why not sample some of the delicious local cuisine and wine from the La Rioja region?

La Rioja's red wines have made the region known throughout the world. As an alternative to wine-tasting you could try 'vinotherapy' - various spas and hotels in La Rioja offer massages and other treatments which allow guests to benefit from the goodness of the wine without actually drinking it, though some might argue that this spoils the fun.

La Rioja is famous for its marzipan; it's called golmajería and regulations insist that it must be made from at least 45% almonds. The other key ingredient is, of course, sugar.

La Rioja is crossed by the Río Ebro, Spain's longest river, and its waters have made the surrounding valleys perfect for the cultivation of vegetables. Fresh local produce ranges from artichokes to aubergines, tomatoes, leeks, chard, celery, borage and peas. The region's sweet red peppers, pimientos del piquillo, are particularly popular.