Avoid the crowds flocking to the Costa Del Sol and head to the tranquil northern Spanish countryside of Rioja instead. Expect rolling hills, unforgettable tapas and some of the best wines in the world. 

1. The wine 
For any wine enthusiast, a trip to Spain’s flagship wine region is a must. The walled village of Laguardia in Rioja Alavesa should be your first stop, where you can visit Villa Lucía’s Thematic Wine Centre to learn about the wine-making process before embarking on a wine tasting course to awaken the taste buds to Rioja. From here, the Rioja region and its wines is yours to discover. You could head north to Rioja Alta and the town of Haro, home to many of Rioja’s oldest wineries or south, and across the Ebro river to the Mediterranean influenced Rioja Baja region.

2. The views
Travelling inland from the well-worn Spanish coast provides a whole new perspective on the Iberian Peninsula. Verdant vineyards are intersected by winding country roads, majestic mountains and sparkling rivers. Take a trip to the mountains and climb the peaks of the Cebollera Mountain Range National Park, or head for the Rioja Baja to catch a glimpse of some dinosaur tracks dating all the way back to the Jurassic period.

3. The food 
Rioja is the gastronomic heartland of Spain and benefits from a generous land which produces a wealth of food including olives, asparagus, artichokes and peppers.  These ingredients, along with milk fed lamb, jamon iberico and chorizo form the basis of many of the region’s tapas dishes. Not to mention the quality of its meat, and the abundance of tapas, which pairs so perfectly with Rioja wine. To experience the most authentic tapas, pull into the city of Logroño and go tapas-hopping down Calle Laurel. Or, for a more sophisticated experience book into one of the two Michelin-starred restaurants, Echaurren or Venta Moncalvillo, and feast on exquisitely produced dishes paired with some of the best Rioja wine. 

4. The architecture
From prehistoric fossils, to crumbling monasteries, Rioja is full of fascinating, architectural sights to explore. Take time to visit the ancient twin mountain monasteries of Suso and Yuso at San Millán de la Cogolla, dating back to the sixth and 11th centuries. Alongside these are wineries with cutting-edge architectural designs by Frank Gehry, Santiago Calatrava and Zaha Hadid.

5. The culture
The Dinastia Vivanco Wine Museum in Briones is one of the most comprehensive wine museums in the world, covering every aspect of production from grape to glass. Why not visit El Torreon Contemporary Art and explore the works of local artists? Visitors travelling in the summer can schedule a visit to the Haro Wine Festival (28-30 June) and take part in the Batalla de Vino, where crowds gather every year to pour wine from buckets over each others’ heads.

To find out more visit riojawine.com, or connect on Facebook (RiojaWineUK), Instagram (riojawineuk) and Twitter (@Riojawine_UK)

For a taste of Rioja in the UK and Ireland this summer check out the Tapas Fantasticas on Tour popping up at festivals across the country.

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This article has been tagged Food + Drink, Destination