bodegas casa primicia — Winery in Laguardia

Casa Primicia is the oldest active winery in Spain, and also the oldest civil building in Laguardia, the walled medieval town regarded as the capital of Rioja Alavesa. It is the only winery still operating inside the walls of Laguardia itself; all the other bodegas are outside the town. The tour (maximum 20 people, in Spanish and English, about 90 minutes) takes you through the building, the original 15th-century stone fermentation tanks carved straight into the rock, and the underground cellars that were dug 900 years ago and still house the best wines of the house. Besides the standard visit there are various tasting options: from two glasses of crianza and reserva (basic package, €10) to five special wines (€25), a tasting of all the single-varietal wines (Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo, Graciano), an organic package from the Carravalseca range, or lunch in the historic building itself.