San Asensio: Wine, Culture and Holiday Apartments

San Asensio is one of the places that form part of the Ruta del Vino Rioja Alta; vineyards and gentle hills shape the landscape.

Wine and Tradition

In the upper part of San Asensio, on Cerrillo Verballe hill, lies the Barrio de las Cuevas, also known as Barrio de Bodegas, with 300 wine cellars. Calados carved into the rock have been preserved and connect to form passageways between the wine cellars; there are also preserved wine cellars from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.

The Museo de La Vista is a sensory wine centre in a renovated building in the Barrio de las Bodegas. Images and audiovisual media accompany courses, presentations and tastings there.

The Batalla del Clarete takes place on the Sunday closest to Saint James’s Day and is classified as a festival of regional tourist interest. At this festival, participants gather at Cerrillo Verballe, also known as Barrio de las Bodegas, and use water pistols, buckets and other objects for the Clarete celebration.

Bodegas Lecea offers a standard visit to its 16th-century wine cellar, including a tour of the caves carved into the rock and a wine tasting. The premium experience combines an activity in the vineyard, lunch at the Guardaviñas and a cellar tour with tasting.

Bodegas Lecea’s Fiesta del Pisado de la Uva takes place annually and invites visitors to take part in grape treading. Bodegas Perica offers guided cellar tours, commented tastings with the winemaker and vineyard visits. At Señorío de la Estrella, tours of the wine cellar, wines and vineyards are available by appointment.

Culture and Architectural Heritage

Castillo de Davalillo is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural in the Monument category. San Asensio preserves traditional Riojan architecture with stone houses, carved portals and paved streets. The Iglesia de San Asensio is a Baroque religious building that was renovated in the 18th century over an older structure and houses a main altar and a collection of religious images.

The Ermita de la Virgen de la Vega lies outside the town centre of San Asensio, is a pilgrimage site and is surrounded by fields and nature. The Monasterio de Santa María de la Estrella belonged to the Hieronymite Order in the 15th century and was rebuilt in the Neo-Gothic style, which harmonises with the old structure.

When considering a holiday apartment in San Asensio, you can compare travel dates, room category and cancellation policies on the respective offer pages.

Other town pages for planning your trip: San Vicente De La Sonsierra, Las Ruedas De Ocón, Ollauri, Grañón, Tirgo, Arnedillo, Nájera and Baños de Río Tobía.

Routes and Transport Connections

The Sendero del Vino del Canal runs parallel to a canal. After 1,500 metres along the route, the viewpoint offers views of the Najerilla Valley.

San Asensio is connected by road to Haro, Logroño and Nájera and also has public transport.

For the higher-level travel overview: La Rioja.