Exactly 100 years ago, Rioja became one of Spain’s officially protected wine regions. Today, more than 600 wineries and around 14,000 winegrowers produce wines on 66,797 hectares of vineyards—wines that are renowned for their quality in over 100 international markets.
Despite the challenges facing the wine industry, Rioja was able to increase its sales by 0.63%, explained José Luis Lapuente, General Director of the Regulatory Council, during the presentation of the latest market data. In 2024, more than 240m litres of wine were marketed (2023: 238m litres). “Rioja continues to work on maintaining balance. These figures once again demonstrate its strength and resilience in difficult times—we’re outperforming the competition,” said Lapuente.
To mark the centenary, around 30 events are planned in Spain and key export markets. According to a recent press release, 65% of the €9.3m communications budget is allocated to the centenary programme. “We want everyone to know that Rioja is celebrating its 100th anniversary—as Spain’s first official appellation and the clear favourite among Spanish consumers, with a significant lead in all markets. This year should inspire us for the next 100. The future looks bright,” said Fernando Ezquerro, President of the Regulatory Council of DOCa Rioja, at the launch of the celebrations.
All information about the anniversary events can be found at riojawine.com/centenario.
