Rioja Prestige Tasting

• The most influential Swiss wine influencers, experts, and professionals gathered at the prestigious Einstein Gourmet restaurant to explore 25 outstanding wines from DOCa Rioja.
• Attendees enjoyed a top-level tasting and an exclusive menu created in collaboration with Michelin-starred Riojan chef Miguel Caño, from restaurant Nublo (Haro), further strengthening Rioja’s connection with international haute cuisine.
• Wine expert and educator David Schwarzwälder, who led the tasting, was awarded the Officer’s Cross of the Royal Order of Civil Merit by the Ambassador of Spain to Switzerland, María Celsa Nuño, in recognition of his distinguished career.
• Rioja continues to reaffirm its prestige and consolidate its global leadership with a dynamic international promotional campaign, focused this year on the Centennial and aimed at both experts and consumers.

As part of its Centennial celebrations, Switzerland hosted the exclusive Rioja Prestige Tasting—one of the industry’s most anticipated events—which brought together nearly thirty of the most influential figures in the Swiss wine scene this past Tuesday evening.

Distributors, specialized journalists, and wine influencers—as well as some of the top Swiss sommeliers—took part in this exclusive event organized by the Regulatory Council of the Rioja Qualified Designation of Origin. Held at the two-Michelin-starred Einstein Gourmet restaurant in St. Gallen, the event offered a prestigious showcase for the excellence and quality of Rioja wines.

The event began with a tasting of 16 wines led by renowned wine expert, educator, and journalist David Schwarzwälder, who delivered an advanced masterclass to participants—a true sensory journey through the diversity of Rioja wines and their evolution over the years. “My aim was to highlight current trends in Rioja and to showcase the new wave of white wines from old vineyards, along with a lineup of producers that reflect the quality and diversity of the Designation,” said Schwarzwälder about the carefully curated selection of DOCa wines presented. “In the context of Rioja’s Centennial, it’s important to recognize the achievement of elevating the Designation during challenging times and turning it into Spain’s strongest,” he concluded.

In addition to the tasting, attendees enjoyed a fine dining menu prepared by chefs Sebastián Zier and Richard Schmidtkonz of the Einstein Gourmet restaurant, with the participation of guest chef Miguel Caño—invited by the Regulatory Council of the DOCa Rioja—who also holds a Michelin star at his restaurant Nublo in Haro (La Rioja). Award-winning sommelier Loris Lenzo, recipient of the 2024 Michelin Sommelier Award, curated the perfect pairings, enhancing the culinary experience with exquisite wines from the Designation. In total, a selection of 25 exceptional Rioja wines was enjoyed by participants, both during the tasting and throughout the meal.

This event in Switzerland is part of the dynamic international promotional campaign launched by the Regulatory Council, with the Centennial celebration as its central theme this year. The goal remains the consolidation of Rioja as a leading premium brand in the global market, strengthening its position in strategic markets, and driving sales growth.

In this regard, in the coming weeks, as the Centennial of the Designation approaches its midpoint, New York, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and London will host events and gatherings organized by the Regulatory Council.

A recognized achievement

The expertise and dedication of David Schwarzwälder, a specialized journalist and professor at sommelier schools, were recognized during the event organized by Rioja in Switzerland. He was awarded the Officer’s Cross of the Royal Order of Civil Merit by the Ambassador of Spain to Switzerland, María Celsa Nuño, in recognition of his extensive career and essential work in promoting and spreading knowledge of wine in international markets, particularly in Switzerland and Germany. In his words of thanks, the expert expressed: “I still haven’t fully processed the recognition I have just received. It is an honor; this recognition carries great significance.”