Hospederia del Monasterio de la Oliva, La Rioja

Hotel. It appears as if two worlds collide here at Hospederia del Monasterio de la Oliva as monks of the Order of Cistercians cultivate vineyards and foster high quality wines. Working the land and cultivating this crop does not betray any sacred pact between the monks and God, but rather through the elaboration of wine the monks connect to nature – a pillar of the Monastic community. Although religion remains the motivation behind the monks’ being, the wine of this monastery has grown into its own distinction. Lying between the fertile vineyards of Burdeos and La Rioja, the monastery’s history has deep roots in this land. Since 1147 the monks have been connected to the land, elaborating these wines that transform into the blood of Christ on the altar. The Hospederia del Monastero de la Oliva’s secluded and simple existence allows for concentration on both the religious self and the wine to anyone seeking refuge or merely a place of calm.

Wine. For the monks at the Monasterio de la Oliva, winemaking has worked its way into being a part of their faith. As a traditional part of their manual labor, cultivating the vineyards has become a routine task that they complete with diligence and excellence. A specialist monk pays extraordinary attention to the overall cultivation of the grapes and the ageing process to ensure the production of the best varieties. The outcome: a glorious array of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tempranillo, Garnacha and Rose.

Dining. Although there is no restaurant at the monastery, guests of the Hospederia have the option of eating their meals with the monks in the monastery.