Spanish wine country: The 10 best wine hotels in Spain

Beginning with a full-bodied red we enter the best rioja wineries by way of the Hotel Marques de Riscal. A luxury retreat opened by one of the region’s oldest bodegas, Hotel Marques, enlivens the sleepy town of Elciego with its avant-garde architecture, designed by Frank Gehry to blend tradition and modernity. Since being taken over by the Marriott, the hotel maintains its allure thanks to its vinothérapie spa, rooftop terrace and wine library with exclusive access to the Marques de Riscal cellars. Besides the wine, other selling points include the Michelin-starred restaurant, balcony views over the Rioja Alavesa sub-region, plus complimentary guided tours and free bicycles to help you explore the area.

Also in the Rioja wine region, Hotel Finca de Los Arandinos competes for those guests seeking the best Spanish red wine (although tasty whites are also made locally too!) offering up a bold white-washed boutique, furnished in pale woods and polished concrete to contrast with the Rioja Alta sub-region surrounding. The Arandinos’ winery stretches across 16 hectares around Entrena, with all its wine produced in the Hotel’s downstairs cellar. Try the on-site restaurant Tierra for local fare paired with a selection of rare Rioja vintages. The small but fancy spa is also a great way to while away the hours after a thirsty day’s work of wine tasting.

Another cloistered living experience in Castilla y León awaits at Castilla Termal Monasterio de Valbuena, itself located inside a 12^th-century Cistercian monastery. A great jumping-off point into the Ribera del Duero region, it boasts the utmost luxury living in a modern structure designed to a T. Explore the region by day, hurrying back to the hotel to swim in the pool, relax in the hot spring bath and dine at the Converso restaurant where the à-la-carte menu is paired with a number of rare vintages. Those wishing to explore more can also rent a bike or car from the hotel, driving 38 kilometres to Valladolid or 48 kilometres to Palencia.

Also in Castilla y León the Hacienda Zorita Wine Hotel & Spa boasts more in the way of monkish history (its building founded as a Dominican monastery in the 14^th century), modernising with its vinothérapie spa and stylishly converted living spaces overlooking the Tormes River. The estate lies just moments from the city of Salamanca while remaining in easy reach of Arribes del Duero Natural Park to the west, the border to Portugal. The winery here produces Marqués de la Concordia wines in addition to organic farm fare, such as olive oil, ham and cheese. Stay in the monk’s rooms or separate villas, touring the 1,366-barrel cellar and farm (via four-wheel drive) in your downtime.

The wine region closest to Barcelona is Penedès, a key producer of Spanish sparkling wine. Of the many lodgings in Catalunya, Hotel Mastinell wins out with its elevated take on rural life, its bottle-stack window design showcasing unique views over the Penedés’ vineyards and a large outdoor pool. Fill your days with horse riding, biking, hot-air ballooning or Segway adventuring, moving back to the hotel to refuel on tapas and shellfish at the ‘En Rima Culinary Space’ before unwinding with some bubbles and a vinothérapie bath. Stay during the harvest season and you’ll also get to be involved in the annual grape-stomping tradition!

Also close to Catalunya’s best vineyards and overlooking the sublime natural scenery of Montsant, Terra Dominicata offers up 26 rooms across two medieval builds, where lavish luxury and relaxation go hand in hand. Rather than being extravagant, Terra Dominicata has a friendly and rustic vibe, enhanced by warm staff and earthy tones. Dive into the estate’s wine-making history at tasting sessions in the cellar, sobering up at the Alma Mater restaurant with regional Spanish fare. Montsant Natural Park lies nearby for daytime exploration, though even closer to home lies the monastery history of the Escaladei ruins to roam in peace and quiet.

Also on the small side in Jerez’ sherry region is Casa Viña de Alcantara, offering up six elegant rooms and Andalusian hospitality like nowhere else. The historic Casa Viña de Alcántara showcases both the legacy of the region as well as its natural beauty, with views over the vineyards of Jerez de la Frontera and grounds covered in century-old cypress, laurel and mastic trees. As well as an outdoor pool, guests can choose to drive just 15 minutes to the coast, revelling in the Moorish architecture of this part of the country.