El Puntido: an innovative culinary experience with views of the Rioja Alavesa vineyards
El Puntido: an innovative culinary experience with views of the Rioja Alavesa vineyards
In 1975, Guillermo Eguren planted a vineyard called El Puntido in Páganos – a privileged site in the Rioja Alavesa region guarded by the Sierra de Cantabria Mountain Range. As the grapevines were growing, the construction of the winery –known as Viñedos de Páganos– was also advancing. The first vintage under the name El Puntido was uncorked in 2001, and it soon became an internationally renowned label.
Two decades after that exciting debut, the Eguren family has once again surprised wine lovers (and lovers of gastronomy) with the opening of their own restaurant that pays homage to the vineyard planted by Guillermo Eguren. Located atop the impressive cellars of the winery, its dining room offers exceptional views of the Tempranillo grape vineyards that surround the property, as well as the medieval town of Laguardia and of Páganos.
The culinary offerings at the El Puntido restaurant are based on honest cuisine and a deep respect for the ingredients, which are prepared with utmost delicacy and precision. The result is two tasting menus (with five and eight courses) which change daily depending on the fresh ingredients available at the market: asparagus prepared in three different ways, “kokotxas” (a cut of hake from the throat area, traditional in the Basque Country) featuring European spider crab in a local pil pil sauce, grilled alfonsino, and roast kid goat are some of the delicacies presented on their menus.
As is to be expected, the wine list is the other great attraction of the restaurant. In addition to the emblematic labels by the winery itself, the menu includes wines from the other wineries belonging to the family group: Sierra Cantabria, Viñedos Sierra Cantabria, Señorío de San Vicente, and Teso La Monja. The best thing to do is to allow yourself to be guided by the paired menu proposed by the sommelier, thus immersing yourself completely in this establishment’s food and wine universe.
As well as getting to the restaurant by car, you can also access the establishment by helicopter, as it has its own heliport and there is a helitaxi agreement in place with BASQUE LUXURY HELICOPTER, thus elevating the gastronomic experience to the highest possible level.
El Puntido
Navaridas Errepidea, Páganos.
