Marie 'Angels' met us at the gate with the Labastida church bells ringing and we had arranged to meet 'Jesus' at Contino winery so it felt like we must have died and gone to heaven.

Lovely old house with a traditional 'Corredor' keeping it cool, Big airy rooms made it very comfy and in a great little Spanish town with an awesome church - luckily we got to go in on saturday morning.

The restaurant next door but one was the best food we had during our 7 days in Spain. There are all the shops you would need including a panderia that makes lovely madelenas.

Central in the heart of Rioja it is a superb base for exploring the wineries which are superb. Vina Real was extra modern and very interesting if you are into wine and wine making. Contino would be great for a tasting and more like a French chateau in character. Where else would you stay than the the house that was the origin of bordeaux style wine in Rioja? Quintano still exists today as part of a huge co-op.

Early May was very comfortable and the mountains were covered in wild flowers. Great trip all round. Only and hour from Bilbao too.

Gracias Roberto y Annie.