Rioja celebrates 100 years of DO in New York

Jeff Jensen, wine expert for the luxury lifestyle magazine Robb Report , said the spectacular wines being tasted were more than just a story about Rioja's centenary as a designation of origin.

"They are an important part of Spanish history, with generations and families dedicated to this culture," he said at the event held in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood to commemorate the 100th anniversary.

As part of the tour that began in Hong Kong and Shanghai and will arrive in their own country in early June, with the expected presence of King Felipe VI, the commemoration landed in New York a few days ago with the tasting of 17 of the best red wines—one from 1970 was the big draw—and white wines grown in that region.

We are the locomotive of Spanish wine Íñigo Tapiador, Marketing and Communications Director of DOCa Rioja

"We are the driving force of Spanish wine," said Íñigo Tapiador, Marketing and Communications Director of this designation of origin and representing La Rioja at the event, which brought together nearly 200 attendees, including gastronomy experts, industry journalists, diplomats, and influencers. "We represent 40% of Spanish wine exports," he emphasized.

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Under the constant shadow of that Trumpist threat called tariffs—if they stay at 10%, they'll be a thorn in the side, but Rioja has already escaped other similar situations, they say—the US market is the third largest market in terms of volume, but the second largest in terms of value, behind only the United Kingdom.