Hotel Marques de Riscal, a Luxury Collection Hotel

Arriving at this hotel is an experience! The structure comes into view from a distance and lures you in. It beautifully frames the surrounding landscape. The rooms are spacious and quite comfortable. Despite the unique exterior of the property, the interior is laid out in a more traditional plan and quite nice. The spa area at this hotel is one of our favorites anywhere. With a sauna, steam room, yoga area, cold shower, refreshments, access to the vineyards, and more it has just about anything you might want. The indoor pool is the perfect temperature and does not suffer from the heavy chlorine scent that so many do. I looked forward to spending time in this area each day. The food at the hotel is very good.

I am a big fan of Frank Gehry so this hotel has been on my bucket list since its opening in 2006. And I was not disappointed, I think this hotel ranks in the top 5 Marriott branded properties I have been to! The hotel is a destination in itself and you will see tour groups visiting it. Its location right in the middle of Rioja vineyard and winery combined with direct proximity to the medieval village of El Ciego makes it even more unique. I was very luck to stay in the Gehry suite as there are only 14 rooms in the main building, all on the first floor. The second floor is for the restaurant and third floor hosts a library accessible only for hotel guests. The remaining rooms are located in an adjacent building, more recent and plain but some rooms have amazing views on the hotel and El Ciego. All the staff way amazingly welcoming, with a special thank you to Carole at the front desk. Food was great with of course amazing wine from their winery. There is a free parking in the shade right next to the hotel. I also recommend visiting the winery sad its beautiful shop and taking walks in the vineyard and El Ciego.

It was 90 minutes of pure awe and fun. Jessie took us through every aspect of wine making, from the fermentation process through the bottling of the wine. She was extremely knowledgeable and had a wonderful sense of humor. I needed a wheelchair and she made sure I was comfortable throughout the tour. The wines tasted were wonderful, with small appetizers given on the side. No one was rushed, and each wine type was explained thoroughly. The vineyard grounds are beautiful, and it added to the most welcoming environment. I highly recommend this tour!