CENTENNIAL DOCa RIOJA 1925-2025
The Uncorking of La Prensa del Rioja
Text: Javier Pascual, Director
The centennial celebration of the creation of the DOCa Rioja, which we had the opportunity to enjoy on June 5, 2025, may be remembered in the near future as more than just the commemoration of a very special birthday. It will be one of those historic moments when the spirit of the people of wine aligns and manages to bring forth the transforming energy necessary to face and overcome the most difficult situations. Moments in which the high quality of the human capital that propelled the DOCa Rioja toleadership of Spanish wines a century ago and that, five generations later, continues to make a difference and strengthen the leadership of Rioja. The 'good vibes' that were felt at the institutional event presided over by King Felipe VI, that atmosphere of interaction between people that fostered the party was the best part of the celebration and hopefully represents a turning point that marks the beginning of a new cycle. The centennial celebration is undoubtedly a unique opportunity to highlight the decisive impact of theintervention of the human factor in the evolution of the sector, to place people at the heart of the narrative.
It had been too long since the public administrations with powers in the governance of the DOCa Rioja -Ministry of Agriculture and autonomous governments of La Rioja, Navarra, and the Basque Country, represented by their highest authorities- had jointly staged the union of interests that has historically been one of the strengths of this designation and one of the keys to its leadership. Beyond the greater or lesser success of the regulatory development on which the DOCa Rioja and its Regulatory Council were configured, it is worth highlighting the‘strategic alliance of professionals for the organization of the sector and its governance’, one of the factors that explain the greater success of Rioja compared to other wine regions.
Of course, it has never been a bed of roses to reconcile the interests of the different players and business models that coexist in the Rioja wine sector and to establish a regulatory model that accommodates everyone and stands the test of time. The story we could tell today of the last hundred years of the Rioja wine region would be very different without that alliance that has guided the development of the designation since its creation in 1925. In the most critical moments, the attitude of cooperation made it possible to overcome differences thatseemed insurmountable and to make strategic decisions that opened up new periods of prosperity.
Personally, it has been a great source of satisfaction and pride to have the opportunity to participate in this event in two ways: both personally as the director of this magazine, and through the commemorative book of the centenary 'RIOJA, 100 REASONS TO TOAST', which the Regulatory Council has decided to dedicate exclusively as an institutional gift for attendees of the centenary events. A farewell to the 'professional arena' that I could never have imagined better and for which I am very grateful.
The Uncorked column published in No. 251 of La Prensa del Rioja
La PrEnglishsa del Rioja – 251
English