Wine tourism and motorhoming make a delicious pairing: you tour wineries and vineyards at your own pace, taste without rushing, and in many cases can even stay overnight among the vines. It's a relaxed route, with great food and beautiful scenery, ideal for autumn. Here are the tips to enjoy it, always with responsibility behind the wheel.
Overnighting at wineries: a growing trend
More and more wineries offer areas or spaces for motorhomes to stay overnight among their vineyards, sometimes free in exchange for a visit or a purchase. Initiatives connecting wineries with motorhome travellers have popularised this arrangement. Sleeping surrounded by vines, under a starry sky, is a unique experience (you'll need autonomy, as there isn't always a hook-up; use the calculator).
Great wine routes in Spain
Spain has more vineyard area than any other country in the world, so there's no shortage of options: La Rioja and Rioja Alavesa, Ribera del Duero, Penedès, Jerez, Rías Baixas, Rueda, Somontano... Each area with its own wines and landscape (see La Rioja).
How to enjoy the visits
- Book ahead: many wineries require a reservation for visits and tastings.
- The grape harvest (autumn) is the most special time: activity at the wineries and golden landscapes.
- Combine wine and culture: wine regions usually have great villages and food to match.
The non-negotiable rule: if you taste, don't drive
Here the motorhome works in favour of safety: if you're going to taste, the sensible thing is to stay overnight at the winery itself or nearby and not drive afterwards. Plan the route so you don't have to get behind the wheel after tastings; your home travels with you, so there's no excuse for taking a risk. Responsibility behind the wheel comes first (see this same philosophy applied at every stop).
In summary
Wine tourism by motorhome is a delicious, relaxed route: you tour wineries at your own pace, sleep among vineyards and taste without rushing, always without driving afterwards. The step to take today: plan visits with a booking (ideally during the harvest), look for wineries that allow overnight stays among the vines and plan the route so you sleep there after tastings; you'll have a well-rounded, safe wine getaway. Combine it with La Rioja.