Oyón-Oion – Vineyards, Trade Routes, and the Beginning of the Wine & Fish Route

Vineyard Landscapes, Trade Routes, and the Southern Gateway to the Basque Interior

Oyón-Oion sits at the southern edge of the Basque Country in Rioja Alavesa, where vineyard landscapes meet historic trade routes at the beginning of the GR® 38 Wine & Fish Route. From here, the trail leaves the wine-growing plains and begins its journey north toward the Cantabrian Mountains and the Atlantic coast, linking inland agriculture with maritime culture.

The town lies beside the River Ebro near the regional boundary with La Rioja, surrounded by orderly vineyards and low hills shaped by centuries of cultivation. Walking here feels open and expansive, with wide skies, vine-lined tracks, and quiet agricultural roads forming a gentle introduction to the route before terrain becomes steeper beyond Laguardia and the Sierra de Toloño.

Oyón-Oion provides useful services for walkers starting the GR® 38. Shops, cafés, accommodation, and transport connections make it a practical place to prepare, stay overnight, or begin the journey north through Rioja Alavesa’s wine country.

Beyond the town, the route heads toward Laguardia through an expanse of vineyards and historic wine estates, gradually approaching the foothills of the Cantabrian range. The landscape transitions from cultivated plains to upland terrain, marking the first stage of a journey that will cross mountain passes, inland valleys, and coastal reserves before reaching the fishing port of Bermeo.