Rioja wines have won 576 awards at the 19th edition of the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) and two Best in Show recognitions, the most valuable distinction in the contest. Also, Rioja has been the most awarded Spanish Denomination at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, winning 92 awards.
The Decanter World Wine contest, considered the largest wine contest in the world, has awarded its most valuable distinction, Best in Show, to two Rioja wines. In addition, 3 Rioja wines were awarded Platinum, 24 won gold medals, 240 won silver medals and 307 won bronze badges. Thus, 576 Rioja wines have been awarded in total, which places the Qualified Designation of Origin as a benchmark for Spanish quality wines.
More than 18,200 wines from 54 countries participated, of which nearly 2,500 were Spanish wines and, specifically, 647 from Rioja. 89% of Rioja wines won awards, and Rioja won 40% of Spain’s total Best in Show awards. The wines were tasted by a jury made up of prominent Masters of Wine, Master Sommeliers and other great experts.
On the other hand, the Brussels World Contest, which also enjoys global prestige, assessed more than 7,300 wines from almost 40 countries. Of all the participating Spanish appellations of origin, Rioja had the largest number of award-winning wines: 92. Within these, 8 won Great Gold Medals – of the 17 distributed in total -, among which is the Best Spanish Red. In addition, 32 Rioja wines won Gold Medal.
Rioja has won awards for a variety of wines from the Denomination: white, rosé and red, receiving acknowledgement for its great diversity. Also, DOCa Rioja received the prize for “revelation red wine from Spain”.
José Luis Lapuente, director of the Regulatory Council of the DOCa Rioja, highlights that “Rioja is a reference and prestigious appellation in the international arena thanks to its recognized and certified quality, professionalism and outstanding breadth of range. These attributes, together with the value of the work of all the professionals who make up the Denomination and the permanent effort of the sector as a whole, are decisive for its consolidation as an international brand”.
Rioja, Spain’s Finest
The recognition of Rioja Qualified Designation of Origin in international markets underscores its leading international brand positioning: “Rioja, Spain’s Finest”. Through a series of promotional actions outside national borders, the Regulatory Council continues to underpin the leadership of the Denomination at a global level and thus transmits the quality, diversity and uniqueness found in Rioja.
