Ábalos: Wine, Culture and Views

Ábalos is home to the Iglesia de San Esteban, which was declared a National Monument by Decree 2556/1973.

Culture and History

The building, constructed from ashlar stone, dates from the beginning of the 16th century and was built in the Flamboyant Gothic, also known as the Catholic Monarchs’ style. One of the church’s altarpieces is attributed to the workshop of the Beaugrant brothers. The Palacio de los marqueses de Legarda is classified as a Historic Garden in the category of Bien de Interés Cultural. Northeast of the village, the Romanesque Ermita de San Felices stands on a hill; it was restored several decades ago.

The Museo de Eduardo Garrido displays numerous ethnographic objects associated with rural life and agricultural and livestock work. La Casa de Maricruz is a private museum in Ábalos. Its exhibition space preserves the architectural elements, materials and rooms typical of the region in the early 20th century.

Wine and Local Insights

The Territorio Puelles experience takes you into the vineyard, to old wine presses, through the historic centre of Ábalos and into the winery; it ends with tapas and a wine tasting. Bodegas de la Real Divisa has existed since at least 1367 and is one of the oldest wineries still producing wine in Europe. Its underground cellars are made of stone.

Bodegas Puelles is located in a former 17th-century mill surrounded by vineyards. Bodegas Solana de Ramírez Ruiz offers exclusive tours led by the winemaking family, ending with a wine tasting and a small Riojan snack. Bodegas Obalo offers tours suitable for the whole family.

You can compare this information side by side before making a decision.

Views and Landscape

The Mirador de Peña La Rosa offers views of the Sonsierra, the Ebro Valley and even the Iberian System. The Mirador de San Felices has a recreation area with a spring; from there, Samaniego, Laguardia, San Vicente, Briones and San Asensio can be seen.

The Mirador de la Carretera is located on the road between Ábalos and Samaniego, less than one kilometre from the village centre, and can be reached on foot or by car. It is situated on a small promontory and offers a view over a sea of vineyards. From the viewpoints at Bodegas Obalo, a rocky mountain landscape can be seen to the north and a sea of vineyards to the south.

Hiking

Four signposted short hiking trails, known as the “Senderos del Vino”, pass through the municipality of Ábalos. An extension leads from Ábalos along a country track and a narrow forest path to the Ermita de la Virgen de la Rosa. The ascent from Ábalos takes around one hour and 15 minutes. The short trails, the forest path and the approximate ascent time provide different points of reference for planning your day.

After the village tour, the Sendero del Vino Dólmenes y Ermitas passes by the Palacio del Marqués de Legarda towards the “La Tejera” recreation area and the Romanesque Ermita de Santa Maria.

Further destinations for planning your trip: San Vicente De La Sonsierra, Anguiano, Ojacastro, Villalobar De Rioja, Cervera Del Río Alhama, Enciso, Lardero, Grañón

To the higher-level travel overview: La Rioja.