Rioja is probably the wine region in the world that has experienced the most rapid jump in the last three decades, both by the growth of its production structure, as the projection achieved in international markets. Witnesses and protagonists of this revolution, the five presidents of the Regulatory Council that have led the institution backbone of the interests of the Rioja wine sector have met for the first time to analyze from his perch the keys that have allowed to climb between regions Rioja world’s most prestigious wine.
The magazine La Rioja Press celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of its establishment with Santiago Coello, Angel Jaime, Victor Pascual, Luis Alberto Lecea and Jose Maria Daroca, Chairmen of the Board between 1985 and 2015 in its latest issue published an extensive report on this success story, the fruit of the combined efforts of the entire industry and in which each of the five presidents has played a leading role and has made its mark.
At the stage of Santiago Coello legal and organizational basis of the current model of the denomination, “a work that belongs to everyone and it was a success that has contributed to a sense of security and reliability, both internally and sat the market”. Agrees with this assessment of the first president of the Council on democracy successor, Angel Jaime, at which stage there was a dramatic growth of the productive structure of Rioja, “close the control cycle and start the cycle of image and communication, a restructuring of Rioja approach, because I’ve always thought that Rioja was very large and had to sectorializarla “.
The third stage began in 2004 with the Inter taking the reins of the name, a new management model that is at the forefront of the presidency to the winemaker Victor Pascual and then winegrowers Luis Alberto Lecea and Jose Maria Daroca. The Strategic Plan of Rioja ‘2005-2020 marks the’ roadmap ‘of the last decade in which, as Victor Pascual says, “was a priority to go out to promote Rioja wine under a common umbrella, with all funding the sector, a strategic decision of great significance for the positive developments that have taken Rioja in foreign markets. ”
The two presidents winegrowers latter mandate to found a new historical crossroads, with important challenges such as the disappearance of planting rights as a first step towards liberalization, the adaptation of the Regulation to the new Law on Regulatory Councils, conversion Rioja wine tourism in a world benchmark or the resurgence of old debates and the evolution of the categorization of wines by aging and even the identification of geographical entities such as the municipality or the estate.
Lecea emphasizes “in securing the suppliers are recognized as the competent authority and that the current concern about doing different things can be developed without imposing them, provided they are profitable.” Daroca is satisfied with the recent agreement sector planning to three years is very clear that “as an appellation Rioja is one and we must go all the name Rioja” while Baro shows his conviction that “there will be an evolution, as it has happened in all we’re talking about here. “Given what Pascual recalls that the important thing is that” Rioja finish developed out of here, so we need to do things right and rules of clarísimas game to ensure equal opportunities for all the time to go to market. ”
Source: Ediciones La Prensa del Rioja
