Distance: 23 km / 15 miles
Stage Nine Villages
Viana, Logroño, Navarrete
Watch for:
La Rioja Region – Shortly after Viana, enter the autonomous region of La Rioja.
La Rioja Wine – Four classifications of Riojan wine: (1) Rioja – aged less than one year, (2) Crianza – aged at least two years with at least one in oak barrels, (3) Rioja Reserva – aged at least three years with one in oak barrels, (4) Rioja Gran Reserva – aged at least two years in oak and three years in the bottle.
Riojan agriculture – Wheat, olives, vegetables (particularly white asparagus).
Riojan Storks – Spring & summer. Make nests on every available church spire.
Riojan Culinary specialties – Potato stew w/spicy chorizo, lamb roasted open fire w/grapevine in the fire, baked apples & peaches in wine sauce.
Viana to Logroño – Warning! 9.3 km / 5.8 miles without support services.
Logroño – Political. Capital of the winemaking region of La Rioja. The region has produced wine since the time of the Romans.
Logroño – Casa Felisa: When you descend down the final road before reaching the Ebro river, stop at the house to the right where, since 1940, Felisa Rodriguez Medel (and now her daughter, Maria Medel), have welcomed pilgrims. House is marked with a small billboard saying, Información y Sellado a Los Peregrinos, Felisa. There is a table in the front garden under a shading canopy. Leave small offering.
Navarrete – Bodegas (underground cellars): doors built into the hill for storing wine and mushrooms.
Navarrete – Cultural – Known for wine and terracotta pottery. Pottery craft practiced here since Roman times.
Navarrete – Plazas: Church of the Assumption 16th century, overlooks the top square. Another square is at the lower end of town on the noisy main road w/cafes and restaurants.
Navarrete – Restaurant recommendation (by Beebe): Bar Deportivo: aka Casa de Comidas de Begoña y Antonio. pinchos and creative Riojan dishes.