Spain has more vineyard acreage than any other country in the world, so for wine and motorhome lovers the options are almost endless. Touring a wine route in a motorhome is delightful: unhurried tastings, beautiful scenery and, increasingly, the chance to stay overnight among the vines. Here are Spain's great wine routes and how to enjoy them responsibly. (If you're tasting, don't drive.)
The great appellations
- La Rioja and Rioja Alavesa: the most famous, with wineries of spectacular architecture (see La Rioja).
- Ribera del Duero: powerful reds, castles and villages along the Duero.
- El Penedès (Catalonia): the birthplace of cava.
- The Sherry Triangle (Cádiz): fortified wines and centuries-old bodegas.
- Rías Baixas (albariño), Rueda (verdejo), Somontano, Ribeira Sacra, El Bierzo...
Staying overnight among the vines
More and more wineries are letting motorhomes stay overnight among their vineyards, sometimes in exchange for a tour or a purchase. It's a unique experience (you'll need autonomy, since a hook-up isn't always available; see the calculator). We cover it in wine tourism by motorhome.
Non-negotiable: if you're tasting, don't drive
The great advantage of a motorhome for wine tourism is safety: plan the route to stay overnight at or near the winery and avoid getting behind the wheel after a tasting. Your home travels with you, so there's no excuse for taking risks.
Practical tips
- The grape harvest (autumn) is the most special time of year.
- Book visits in advance.
- Combine wine, villages and gastronomy from each area.
- Pick one appellation per trip, don't try to see them all.
In summary
Spain offers wine routes for every taste (Rioja, Ribera, Penedès, Jerez and many more), perfect by motorhome if you stay overnight after tasting. The step to take today: choose one appellation, book visits in advance and look for wineries that allow overnight stays among the vines; plan the route so you sleep there after tasting, and you'll enjoy the wine in complete safety. Combine it with wine tourism.