In Residence by Rioja

• DOCa Rioja inaugurated a new session of “In Residence” — one of the most exclusive culinary events of the year in the capital — featuring Le Doyenné, the French restaurant awarded a Michelin Green Star.
• Six outstanding Rioja wines were paired with the elegant and sublime creations of chef James Henry, whose cuisine honors its roots with a contemporary sensibility.
• DOCa Rioja presented the title of “International Ambassador” to the restaurant’s chef and sommelier, in recognition of their role as global advocates for the appellation.
• Rioja will host two more “In Residence” sessions this year, bringing the culinary proposals of Santo Palato (Rome) in September and PAZ (Faroe Islands) in October to Madrid.

Following the success of previous editions, the Rioja Qualified Designation of Origin (DOCa Rioja) inaugurated a new season of “In Residence Sessions” yesterday — an initiative that forms part of the celebrations for the Centenary the designation is marking this year. The chef chosen to open this edition was James Henry, the Australian soul behind the French restaurant Le Doyenné, awarded a Michelin Green Star and ranked 70th on the prestigious list of The World’s Best Restaurants.

In this way, the pop-up (ephemeral) version of this exclusive restaurant has become the first of several planned by the Rioja DOCa this year, and it will open its doors in the capital over the next three days, until May 25 in Madrid. Priced at €180 per person, the experience has sparked significant interest among experts and fine dining enthusiasts seeking a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Following the success of previous editions, the Regulatory Council of the Rioja DOCa has once again launched this initiative, which brings a unique gastronomic experience to Spanish audiences. Some of the world’s most renowned and influential chefs travel to Madrid with their teams and culinary proposals in an intimate and short-lived format, available only for a few days. Their fine dining creations are paired with outstanding wines from the Rioja DOCa, further elevating each dish.

In this first session, award-winning chef James Henry opened the season with a strong commitment to excellence, presenting a menu that combines technique, sensitivity, and a deep respect for the product.

Hosted at Semilla Food Estudio, in Madrid’s Salamanca district, this experience offers a true immersion into contemporary, cutting-edge signature cuisine. Guests enjoy an elegant ten-course tasting menu, paired with a selection of Rioja wines, featuring standout creations such as spring barbajuan, razor clam consommé, bomba rice with spring vegetable ragù, and pork with caillette.

“I wanted to create a menu that reflects the freshness and vitality of spring, working with simple yet characterful ingredients,” explained the chef, after congratulating Rioja on its Centenary in front of all the guests at the start of the first service.

The pairing, carefully selected by Le Doyenné’s sommelier, Romain Rieu, featured six wines from the Rioja DOCa that beautifully complemented the avant-garde menu: Abel Mendoza Blanco 2022, Jade Gross Chiguita Blanco 2023, Luis Cañas Blanco 2022, Viña Pomal Ecológico 2019, Marqués de Vargas Gran Reserva 2016, and Oxuel Supurao Tinto 2017.

“Pairing our menu with Rioja wines was a way to enrich it even further. We weren’t looking for wines that simply accompanied the dishes, but ones that told their own story,” said Rieu. “Each selection was chosen for its ability to add nuance, contrast, or continuity to the menu, and to showcase the richness, diversity, and versatility of Rioja in all its expressions.”

New International Ambassador of Rioja

In this first session of the year for “In Residence by Rioja”, the Designation of Origin named chef James Henry of Le Doyenné and his sommelier, Romain Rieu, as “International Ambassadors”, recognizing their role as advocates of Rioja DOCa wines in France.

The award was presented by Fernando Ezquerro, president of the Regulatory Council of the Rioja DOCa, who emphasized: “The proposal of the magnificent restaurant Le Doyenné perfectly represents some of the values we want to highlight in our Centenary: respect for origin, commitment to sustainability, and a contemporary outlook that connects with new generations. It is an honor to have them as ambassadors of Rioja in an international market.”

“Receiving this recognition as an International Ambassador for our restaurant from Rioja is a true honor. I have always admired the diversity, authenticity, and history embodied in their wines. I deeply appreciate this distinction and the opportunity Rioja has given me, to which I extend my congratulations on its one hundred years,” said Henry.

Rioja will pair with Italy and the Faroe Islands

In Residence by Rioja will reopen the restaurant doors from September 17 to 21, featuring the culinary proposal of Italian chef Sarah Cicolini, one of the leading figures in the reinvention of Italian cuisine. Representing Santo Palato in Rome, she offers her contemporary vision of the Italian trattoria, rooted in Roman and Abruzzese cooking traditions.

In October, from the 15th to the 19th, it will be the turn of Poul Andrias Ziska, chef of the two-Michelin-starred restaurant Paz, located in the Faroe Islands, known for his focus on sustainability and culinary storytelling.

The experience can now be booked for any of the proposals through the In Residence Sessions by Rioja website.

With this initiative, the Rioja DOCa strengthens its close connection to haute cuisine and its commitment to international outreach, within the framework of celebrating its Centenary. Through experiences that connect territories, flavors, and people, Rioja commemorates one hundred years of history as a leading Designation of Origin, looking to the future with an open, innovative vision deeply rooted in its origins.