The Rothschild family opens a luxury hotel in the Rioja Alavesa region
The Rothschild family opens a luxury hotel in the Rioja Alavesa region
The Palacio de Samaniego, built in the eighteenth century at the request of a clergyman, was owned by the Spanish National State before becoming a hotel. When Ariane de Rothschild discovered it in 2016, this building designated as a historical monument had not lost even an ounce of its charm. After a year and a half of renovation work that has not changed the building’s character, the palace has become a signature establishment and the pride and joy of the local population in a municipality of less than 500 inhabitants; an authentic and cozy hotel located in the center of the village of Samaniego, whose streets still breathe a medieval atmosphere.
More than hotels, Ariane de Rothschild considers her properties (she has several in France) as places to live in which she likes to leave her mark with family keepsakes and works of art. That is what makes a family home different from a hotel. Her passion for the glass has led her to put a spectacular collection on display in the Samaniego Palace that brings together different styles and eras, with emphasis being placed on ceramic art and Murano glass, with its brightly colored pieces, as a nod to the warm blood that runs through the veins of the Rioja Alavesa region. With only nine rooms and suites, a restaurant, terraces, a garden that spans several levels, and a designer pool, the Palacio de Samaniego Hotel embodies everything that a haven of peace wrapped in privacy could possibly need.
Behind the showcases that house the collection of vases lies the dining room of its restaurant, Tierra y Vino, which dares to tackle the contrast between contemporary works made of paper and aluminum and the recycled wood patchwork that is the tables, which were custom designed by artist Mathisse Dalstein. At those tables, local dishes are served which have been reinterpreted with boldness and precision through a type of cuisine that brings together Basque and French gastronomy, keeping alive a sophisticated and constantly evolving menu which is nourished by local ingredients and the best of both sides of the border. The Iberian and Basque specialties, prepared in as traditional a way as possible, are modernized, keeping respect for French techniques in mind. Savoir-faire at the service of local, in-season cuisine whose common thread pays tribute to the essence of the Edmond de Rothschild Heritage Houses.
The menu is based upon the repertoire of the surrounding area: from the blue spiny lobster of the Cantabrian Sea to the varieties of fruits and vegetables grown locally. True to local customs, the culinary offer revolves around carefully selected dishes and a tasting menu for lunch and dinner.
The tasting menu, which changes every season, presents delicacies as succulent as zucchini blossoms with Stracciatella and sourdough, wild turbot with braised lettuce, and bresse pigeon with plums and saffron. Likewise, they propose dishes as original as grilled scallops with cauliflower and almonds, venison sirloin with foie gras, chestnuts, and Port wine jus, and rack of lamb in pistachio crust with seasonal vegetables’ stew.
At the same level as the kitchen is the restaurant’s wine cellar which includes, in addition to the best labels from the Rioja Alavesa region, great wines from wineries owned by the Rothschild family, as well as bottles by Château Clarke of France, Flechas de los Andes of Argentina, Rimapere of New Zealand, and Rupert & Rothschild Vignerons of South Africa.
In Rioja Alavesa, the Rothschild family owns the renowned Macán Winery, located just a few minutes from the hotel. Coming into existence in 2004 as a result of a partnership between Tempos Vega Sicilia and the Baron Edmond de Rothschild Wine Company, Bodegas Benjamin de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia produced their first wines, Macán and Macán Clásico, in 2013, offering a modern and unique take on wines from the Rioja region by following the Bordeaux model of first and second wines.
This pairing of haute cuisine and exceptional wines has established the Palacio de Samaniego Hotel as an essential gourmet hotel in the Basque Country; a family residence in the heart of Spain’s most prestigious winegrowing region; a perfect haven to explore the cultural and culinary riches of Rioja Alavesa.
Palacio de Samaniego
Calle Constitución 12, Samaniego.
Tel.: +34 945 660 000
