Hotel in La Rioja with a winery: The history of Vinícola Real-200 monges
TheVinícola Real – 200 Monges hotel is the first hotel in La Rioja with a winery , built within the facilities of Bodegas Vinícola Real in the town of Albelda de Iregua, just 15 km from the capital of La Rioja, Logroño.
In 2004, Vinícola Real, recognizing the growing interest in wine tourism, decided to create a unique experience for its clients, hosting them within the winery itself. A completely innovative experience at the time, it led them to win the Best of Wine Tourism award three years later .
Over the years, this hotel with a winery in La Rioja has been recognized for its wine tourism offering, which goes beyond accommodations, offering 360-degree experiences such as guided tours of the winery, exclusive tastings, and samplings of its most iconic wines.
Its restaurant, El Calado , located in an old underground cellar, combines Rioja cuisine with the winery's wines, creating an unforgettable gastronomic experience.
Each of the rooms at the Vinícola Real – 200 Monges hotel has its own unique decor and personality and is named after the famous Albedense Codex, such as “The Rose of the Winds,” “The Temptation,” or “The Cross of the Angels.”
They successfully combine rustic style with the most modern amenities. Some rooms have sloping ceilings, and all are exterior-facing with a balcony or window.
History and tradition of the hotel in La Rioja with Vinícola Real winery
The history of wine in La Rioja dates back more than two thousand years, with evidence indicating that vines were cultivated in the region as early as Roman times.
However, it was during the 19th century that Rioja viticulture experienced a significant boom, partly due to the arrival of French winemakers fleeing the phylloxera plague in their vineyards.
The blend of local traditions and French techniques has boosted the quality of Rioja wines, which are now considered among the best in the world.
The Regulatory Council of the Qualified Designation of Origin (DOCa) Rioja , created in 1925, guarantees the quality and authenticity of the wines produced in this region.
The "Rioja" label has become synonymous with excellence, with a wide variety of wines including reds , whites , and rosés.
Wine tourism experiences at a hotel in La Rioja with Vinícola Real winery
One of the biggest attractions of wine tourism at the Vinícola Real winery in La Rioja is the opportunity to visit and stay at wineries , from the most traditional to the most modern.
The region has more than 500 wineries, many of which are open to the public, offering guided tours that allow you to learn about the winemaking process, from the vineyard to the bottle.
Culture and heritage
Wine tourism in La Rioja is also closely linked to its historical and cultural heritage .
La Rioja has established itself as a top-tier wine tourism destination, where visitors can enjoy not only the quality of its wines, but also the beauty of its landscapes, the warmth of its people, and its rich history.
At our hotel in La Rioja with the Vinícola Real winery, we wanted to bring that piece of history that surrounds us to the entire wine tourism experience, both at our hotel and at our winery.
A painstaking conservation effort that was rewarded in 2022 with the Best of Wine Tourism award once again for the recovery and preservation of the legacy of the 200 Benedictine monks who lived at the monastery of San Martín de Albelda.
The 200 Monks: Faith and Culture
The Monastery of San Martín de Albelda was not only a center of faith, but also a place of knowledge and teaching .
The monks' lives focused on prayer, but also on the study and preservation of texts important to the Christian tradition.
Through their work copying and preserving books, they contributed to the preservation of classical and medieval culture during a time of great political and social instability.
Among the most notable works of these monks is the creation of the famous Codex Albeldense , also known as "Codex Vigilanus".
This codex, compiled in 976 , is one of the jewels of medieval Hispanic culture and contains a rich compilation of religious, legal and historical texts.
The hotel in La Rioja with the Vinícola Real winery features one of the few existing replicas of the original document. During the tour, visitors will be able to see the document and its most notable pages.
Guests of the Vinícola Real – 200 Monges hotel can enjoy a 15% discount on this experience.
Vinícola Real has consolidated its reputation for both the quality of its wines and the uniqueness of its hotel, a place where history, tradition, and excellence combine to provide a memorable stay in the heart of La Rioja.