Elite Traveler Fall 2022

EXPLORE TOP HOTELS

Hotel Marqués de Riscal ÁLAVA, SPAIN Located in northern Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, Hotel Marqués de Riscal is much, much more than a hotel. It’s an icon for myriad reasons. The dramatic, instantly recognizable architecture with its swirling titanium ribbons is the creative work of renowned architect Frank Gehry. The Marqués de Riscal Winery, the oldest winery in the Rioja region (dating back to 1858), commissioned Gehry to create the hotel — now, the winery and the hotel together comprise ‘The City of Wine.’ Within the avant-garde hotel, you’ll fi nd the Michelin-starred Restaurante Marqués de Riscal; the laid-back 1860 Tradición Bistro Restaurant; wine bar (of course); a Caudalie Vinothérapie spa (soak in the barrel bath in grape pomace); a handsome library with bookcases fi lled to the rafters with books about the region, its wine production and history; an indoor swimming pool; a 24-hour gym; and a rooftop lounge. It’s worth noting that not all of the guest rooms are in the main Gehry-designed building, so be sure to book the one-bedroom Gehry Suite. With undulating shapes, asymmetrical design and

12-ft-high ceilings, the loft-like abode comes with a sizable terrace overlooking the terra-cotta roofs of the medieval Elciego village below, the majestic Cantabrian Mountains in the distance, and the vineyards. Learn more about the historic vineyard and the art of wine-making on one of the daily tours. Roam from grapevine to bottle as you tour the fermenting and aging rooms, then on to the gigantic cellar that is home to some eight million bottles of wine, some of which date back to 1862. Grape escapes Hop on one of the hotel’s bicycles and meander through winding pathways, through the vines, past ancient stone chapels along the Ebro River. Request a picnic hamper and stop o ff for a refuel — with rehydration courtesy of a bottle of Marqués de Riscal wine, naturally. Gehry Suite from $1,120 per night. Contact Stefan Friedl, general manager, reservations.marquesderiscal@marriott.com, +34 945 180 880, marriott.com