Discovering Spain: A Flavorful Exploration

Spain has a wide variety of regional specialities - each with ties to the regions they hail from, and all made with a deep love of food and flavor. So we're coming to you with our top 3 destinations in Spain if you seek the best dishes and wine pairings.

Valencia

As the birthplace of paella, Valencia is much more than just a foodie pit stop. The coastal setting overlooking the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean provides a great spot for fresh seafood and traditional rice dishes. But Valencia's gastronomic scene is more than just one dish - you could spend dawn until dusk exploring the city through its flavors. Start in Old Town exploring shops and cafes, having morning horchata, a sweet rice milk beverage, paired with farton, a fluffy pastry. Then make your way to the famous Mercado Central (Central Market) of Valencia to explore the fresh dishes and local ingredients. Valencia is also known for the variety of oranges that grow there year round - so while you're at the market, pick up an afternoon agua de Valencia, a cocktail only found in Valencia made from all local ingredients. And of course, end the night with an orange-infused dessert to make sure you have the most authentic end to your evening.

San Sebastián

On the northern border of Spain, just south of France, is the costal town of San Sebastián - a town where they take food seriously. So much so that they have more Michelin stars than almost anywhere per capita in the world. San Sebastián is also renowned for its pintxos - small snacks offered in skewers or toothpicks with ingredients and origin from the indigenous Basque country. These are similar to tapas but less known internationally. The city offers a plethora of bars and restaurants where visitors can sample these small, flavorful dishes. If you want to experience pintxos like a local - hop from one place to the next ordering just one or two dishes with some txakoli, sparkling Basque wine. But if you have less time spent here for your trip, at least make it to the Mercado de la Bretxa - a historic market where local chefs source their ingredients - to find the freshest seafood, Basque cheeses, Iberian ham, and more local delights.

La Rioja

Lastly (we haven't forgotten you if you are a wine enthusiast), is La Rioja. Home to over 500 bodegas - or wineries - this region is known for a variety of red wine, and maybe most famous for the Tempranillo, a full bodied red wine made from the grapes of the same name. Haro is the wine capital of Rioja and a great home base for your vino adventures. The Barrio de la Estación here has one of the highest concentrations of prestigious wineries in the world - you can walk from one to the next. If you're lucky enough to be here for the Haro Wine Festival in June, enjoy the iconic "Battle of the Wine", where you can literally wine wrestle! The food scene here compliments and revolves around wine. In fact, taking a wine pairing class is a great way to get into the spirit during your stay (see what we did there). On a road less traveled, but certainly worth it for the views, is Laguardia (for those of you who have visited New York, we promise that it is much more scenic at THIS Laguardia). This medieval hilltop town looks like a movie set and sits right in the heart of Rioja Alavesa. It’s surrounded by vineyards and built over wine cellars. Here you can explore cobblestone streets and go underground to centuries old wine cellars.