Barcelona Wine Week

•  The most important national wine fair marks the first stop for DOCa Rioja in the celebration of its Centenary, before continuing its journey to the Goya Awards this week in Granada
•  Various authorities, professionals, experts, media, and wine enthusiasts raised a toast to Rioja’s hundred-year legacy in the Designation’s striking and distinctive space
•  The tasting led by MW Pedro Ballesteros, a showcase of Rioja’s diversity and historical heritage, was fully booked, offering nine exceptional wines to the 70 attending professionals.

February 4, 2025 – The presence of the Qualified Designation of Origin Rioja at Barcelona Wine Week has left no one indifferent. With a distinctive and personalized space—the largest wine stand at the fair—Rioja has made a strong impression, proudly showcasing its quality and diversity at Spain’s most important wine exhibition.

The fifth edition of this major showcase, which will close its doors tomorrow, brings together buyers, experts, sommeliers, winemakers, producers, and other leading professionals from today’s wine industry. In total, more than 24,000 visitors are expected to attend the fair, with 20% coming from international markets.

With its impressive 100m² stand, DOCa Rioja has made a lasting impression at the Feria de Montjuïc. In a walk-around tasting format, its display of over 120 wine references—organized into three islands based on different styles, terroirs, and colors—offered a clear reflection of the vast diversity within the Designation.

Adjacent to the main stand, a small stage-style space is hosting 40 presentations by DOCa winemakers and oenologists, each showcasing their own wines, drawing significant attention and attendance.

Thanks to its prime location, eye-catching design, and strong focus on the Centenary branding, Rioja’s stand also serves as a hub, surrounding and supporting the individual booths of more than 150 DOCa wineries located nearby.

Within this framework, Rioja presented to the media, professionals, and authorities its special Centenary program, which will shape its calendar of activities and events throughout 2025. The presentation was led by the president of the DOCa Rioja Regulatory Board, Fernando Ezquerro; the general director, José Luis Lapuente; and the marketing director, Iñigo Tapiador.

During the event held yesterday, an early look at the 2024 commercial performance was also shared, highlighting an annual growth of 0.63% compared to 2023. Rioja surpassed 240 million liters sold, demonstrating its strength in a challenging global context for wine consumption.

The event was attended by the President of the Government of La Rioja, Gonzalo Capellán, accompanied by the Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development from the three Autonomous Communities where the Designation is located: Noemí Manzanos (La Rioja), Amaia Barredo (Basque Country), and José María Aierdi (Navarra), all of whom paid close attention to the Centenary program.

At the end of the presentation, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas—who was also in charge of inaugurating the fair—joined the president, the regional ministers, and the representatives of the Regulatory Board for a joint toast with all attendees to celebrate Rioja’s 100th anniversary. Together, they emphasized the importance of the Designation in their respective regions, as well as its relevance to the Spanish wine sector and its standing as an international benchmark.

“The leading Designation in Spain, with a hundred-year journey that reflects the fruits of a job well done, simply had to be present at this fair—and not just present, but with a prominent and striking display. This has been our first stop in the lineup of milestones we have planned for 2025 in celebration of the Centenary,” said Fernando Ezquerro, President of the DOCa Rioja Regulatory Board. “This Designation has always been and continues to be a success story. Once again, it shows that in difficult times, it proves its resilience—like the growth in 2024 sales, achieved in a challenging global wine market—demonstrating its strength and the difference between simply making wine and truly living wine, as we do in Rioja,” Ezquerro explained.