La Rioja, Spain's smallest region is found inland in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. Its capital is Logroño city. The first thing that springs to mind when La Rioja is mentioned is wine. This region is Spain 's main wine growing region with over 30,000 hectares covered in grapevines, which in fact makes it one of the most important wine growing regions in Europe, along with areas in France and Italy. The famous La Rioja wines come in seven varieties, four red wines and three white.

Festivals held in this region are generally related to wine and its production. Haro is in the heart of the wine country where the annual traditional "battle of the wines" (Batalla del Vino) is held. The only weapon in this battle is naturally, wine. La Vendimia is held in the region's capital and involves parades, grape-treading displays and wine tasting. A very original festival is the Danza de los Zancos, where participants dance on stilts.

This region is also a great place for rural-style vacations, with activities such as hiking, mountain climbing, shooting and fishing. Wine tasting is a must here, with countless wineries to visit and local cuisine offers succulent lamb and goat, chorizo (sausage) and exquisite Sierra de Cameros marzipan.

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