Two days ago King Juan Carlos officially "inaugurated" the spectacular titanium, Frank Gehry designed City of Wine hotel-pavilion complex for the Marqués de Riscal vineyards in tiny Elciego in the Rioja, Alava province (Basque Country).
The 43 room hotel is managed by the Starwood Luxury Collection and has a wine therapy spa (vinoterapia) brought from Les Sources de Caudalie at the Smith Lafitte vineyards in Bordeaux.-Martillac. The hotel room rates start at a heafty 300 euros a night, making it the 2nd most expensive hotel in the Basque Country after the María Cristina in San Sebastián. The hotel's restaurant is supervised by the Michelin star chef Francis Paniego of El portal de Echaurren (fanatastic restaurant!) in Ezcaray.