Wineries by the Sea: France & Spain

Straddling both France and Spain, this region has long been synonymous with glamorous beaches, great food and hard-to-pronounce wines. In recent years, the area has also become known for its waves; both Mundaka and Biarritz are now destinations on the world surf circuit.

Surfer at a beach in the French resort town of Biarritz. Photo © iStock.

Restaurants | Wineries | Hotels | Best Beaches

Restaurants

El Callejón, France

Star chef Alain Ducasse is a fan of this café, which serves Basque lamb and more than 30 Spanish wines.

El Rompeolas, Spain

This is one of winemaker Telmo Rodriguez’s favorite post-surf lunch spots. He orders local spider crab and fried anglerfish called pixín.

slideshow French Classics

slideshow Spanish Recipes

Wineries

Domaine Abotia, France

This small winery makes an Irouléguy (pronounced ear-RULE-eh-ree), a rare blend of Gros Manseng, Petit Manseng and Petit Courbu.

Marqués de Riscal, Spain

Its winery in the Frank Gehry–designed wine-tourism center produces an excellent Rioja Riserva. Francis Paniego, Rioja’s great chef, has a restaurant on-site.

Remelluri, Spain

This winery is owned by the family of the prolific Basque winemaker Telmo Rodriguez. It is believed to be the highest-elevation vineyard in Rioja and is known for its Remelluri Blanco, a complex blend of seven white grapes.

Txomin Etxaniz, Spain

This small winery is a top Basque producer of Txakoli, the region’s dry, slightly sparkling white wine, which is made from the native grapes Hondarrabi Zuri and Hondarrabi Beltza.

Plus: Spanish Food and Wine: A Crash Course

Hotels

Hôtel Arraya, France

This hotel in the village of Sare is 10 miles from the sea. Its restaurant serves regional dishes and a small shop sells Basque cakes, wines and linens.

Atalaya Hotel, Spain

It has 13 rooms and a top location near Mundaka’s surf and Urdaibai nature reserve.

Best Beaches

Côtes des Basques, France

Napoleon III and his wife, Eugenie, were among the first big-name vacationers at this popular beach in France’s glitzy seaside resort town, Biarritz. biarritz.fr.

Mundaka, Spain

Less than two hours from Rioja, it has the longest left-breaking wave in Europe. “This is the Montrachet of surf: powerful, elegant, fine, consistent,” says winemaker Telmo Rodriguez. The world’s best surfers compete here October 5–17 in the Billabong Pro (billabongpro.com).