Tasting of the Century

• More than 350 industry professionals gathered at the Four Seasons Hotel in the capital to enjoy a high-profile event celebrating 100 years of certified excellence and quality of Rioja.
• Two exclusive tastings, led by Pablo Franco, Technical Director of the DOCa Rioja Regulatory Council, and Luis Gutiérrez, editor of the Wine Advocate publication and the “Parker List” in Spain, delighted the 140 expert participants, who explored the diversity and history of Rioja through a selection of exceptional wines.
• Critics and experts were captivated by the sublime quality of Rioja wines following the tastings and a showroom featuring over 100 DOCa references, organized into three thematic areas: style, terroir, and colors.
• The next “Tasting of the Century” to commemorate Rioja’s Centenary will take place in Bilbao on June 16th.

The Qualified Designation of Origin (DOCa) has spent 100 years “living wine” and is now approaching the midpoint of its Centenary. In this context, as part of the commemorative activities for its anniversary, the DOCa Rioja Regulatory Council organized yesterday the “Tasting of the Century”—a high-profile event for industry professionals that served as a true tribute to its sustained excellence throughout history.

The prestigious Four Seasons Hotel in Madrid was the chosen venue to delight the more than 350 professionals who did not want to miss one of the major events on the Rioja Centenary calendar this 2025.

The event began with a grand tasting titled “100 Years of Diversity of the DOCa Rioja,” led by Pablo Franco, Technical Director of the DOCa Rioja Regulatory Council. This exclusive session, attended by 70 high-level experts, showcased the diversity, contrasts, and quality of the Designation throughout its 100-year history through a selection of 10 wines. During the tasting, Franco guided the participants on a sensory journey spanning a century of winemaking history, where each wine from an exceptional vintage represented a milestone in the evolution of the Qualified Designation of Origin Rioja. Attendees were able to appreciate the depth of each reference and, by extension, the richness of Rioja and the people who have made it possible. “Throughout this Rioja Centenary, I would like to emphasize the people, placing them at the center of the Designation’s development. During the tasting, we have revisited key figures who have played a vital role over these hundred years,” Franco explained.

“It was a spectacular tasting; we witnessed different evolutions, different wine styles, and discovered true gems… Some of them moved us to tears—there are references that are pinnacles of style,” stated wine educator and critic Santi Rivas. “Rioja is the great land of diversity, the quintessential region for still Spanish wines—a place where the avant-garde is emerging without abandoning classicism,” remarked Raquel Pardo, a wine journalist, after the tasting.

Next, wine critic Luis Gutiérrez, editor of the Wine Advocate publication and the person responsible for creating the renowned “Parker List” in Spain, led a second tasting titled “The Excellence of Rioja.” This session, also for 70 professionals, featured some of the wines that, in his opinion, represent the pinnacle of the DOCa and have thus earned the coveted 100 Parker points. Each wine showcased the winemaking mastery and diversity of the Designation, while Gutiérrez shared anecdotes and insights into the production process of each wine, allowing attendees to better understand and deepen their knowledge of the Designation of Origin, the reference in Spain.

A true tasting of the century

Following the tasting sessions, which served as a demonstration of Rioja’s ongoing excellence and commitment to quality for the 140 attendees, the DOCa Rioja Regulatory Council organized a showroom with over 100 references from the Designation, bringing together some of the most prominent wine experts and enthusiasts. Over 250 professionals explored and enjoyed reds, whites, rosés, sparkling wines, unique vineyards, single-varietals, village wines, and wines from different regions—a melting pot of styles and varieties organized into three main areas: colors, styles, and terroir. “The tastings were outstanding, and the showroom was very interesting. I want to attend this tasting again when you celebrate your 200th anniversary,” said Rivas.

Through these references, attendees were able to not only discover the 100-year history of the Designation but also the innovations and trends that are shaping the present and future of Rioja, offering a true tasting of the century. “We can talk about the trends for the next 100 years of Rioja around three main axes: firstly, the origin, the territory, those extraordinary vineyards and unique Rioja terroirs; secondly, the fine wine of the DOCa, which never goes out of fashion, is timeless, and will continue to accompany us; and thirdly, the new interpretations by young winemakers, who, based on soils, are also focusing on the production of white wines. These are the three guiding lines,” explained Franco, “that will allow us to continue enjoying Rioja in the coming years.”

“Rioja has reached a point where three converging currents have become truly formidable: one is the more classic style, with all the historic wineries producing wines that, in my opinion, are UNESCO heritage and must not be lost. Then there’s the boom from the 1990s—wines that have succeeded and endured over time, evolving well. The third current is the new wave emerging—the new phenomenon in Spanish wine, focusing on textures, fluidity, and freshness. In Rioja, these three trends—representing what’s happening in the Spanish wine world—are coming together simultaneously, making Rioja the best Designation of Origin in the country,” said Rivas.

Finally, during the event, a second edition of the “Tasting of the Century” was announced, scheduled to take place in Bilbao on June 16th—another opportunity to explore the richness, quality, and diversity of the wines from Spain’s first Designation of Origin. “All of us here today conceive a great wine as one that endures, that remains in memory—just like us, like people, when we pass away but live on in the memories of others. I believe that a Centenary signifies something significant, and Rioja is indeed destined to be one of the world’s great wine regions because it will last much longer—this is just the beginning,” concluded Pardo.