Rioja Alavesa presented its first wines of 2024 at the ‘Uztaberri Eguna’ in Lapuebla de Labarca. Last year, by October, the region exported 28 million litres, marking a 9.1% increase.

• Accompanying President Pradales, Amaia Barredo, Ramiro González, Noemi Agirre, Irma Basterra, and Maite Córdoba visited the main areas of the Conference.
• Amaia Barredo, Basque Government Minister for Food, Rural Development, Agriculture and Fisheries, highlighted the collaborative efforts between the sector and institutions to ensure competitiveness in international markets.
• The wineries of Lapuebla de Labarca have opened their doors to showcase the diverse range of wines from Rioja Alavesa
• Wines from Araba are driving Basque wine exports in 2024, with 28 million litres exported, valued at 173.1 million euros.
• "In our primary sector, we are building the future by investing in the growth and well-being of Rioja Alavesa. This will enable us to adapt to the instabilities of the international market as well as to changes in commerce and consumer behaviour.”

 Lapuebla de Labarca, 08/02/2025

Amaia Barredo, the Basque Government Minister for Food, Rural Development, Agriculture and Fisheries, attended the nineteenth edition of Uztaberri Eguna this morning, held in the Araba town of Lapuebla de Labarca. A traditional event in which the twenty wineries in the municipality opened their doors to showcase the wide variety of Rioja Alavesa wines crafted from the latest harvest.

Barredo stated: "according to data from the Spain Wine Trade Association, in 2024—up to October—wines from Araba were the driving force behind Basque wine exports, representing 69% of the volume and 90% of the total turnover. This translates to a 9.1% increase in the volume of litres exported, with a 4.5% rise in turnover.”

"Today is an exciting day for Rioja Alavesa, as we discover the flavour of wines made with the latest vintage and, once again, confirm their high quality. In our primary sector, we are building the future by investing in the growth and well-being of Rioja Alavesa. This will enable us to adapt to the instabilities of the international market and to changes in commerce and consumer behaviour in the wine markets," said Amaia Barredo.

"Recognising the excellence and tradition that define the wines of Rioja Alavesa, the Basque Government is collaborating with wineries, winegrowers, and industry stakeholders to enhance the visibility of these wines and ensure the competitiveness and future of this strategic sector for the Basque Country. Our goal is to ensure that Rioja Alavesa wines claim their rightful place in the best national and international markets," added the Basque minister.

Accompanying President Imanol Pradales, Basque Cabinet Secretary Amaia Barredo, Deputy General of Araba Ramiro González, Araba Deputy for Agriculture Noemí Agirre, and Mayor of Lapuebla de Labarca Maite Córdoba, she visited the main areas of the conference.

Peru Abarrategi delivered the opening speech, followed by a toast to inaugurate the 19th Uztaberri Eguna. Afterwards, the group visited 'El Txoko de las Tradiciones' to learn how to prepare 'Bolo' and toured the premises run by a group of Lapuebla de Labarca veterans, who are responsible for cooking it. The dish consists of a mixture of rice, shredded cod, potatoes, and choricero pepper. In past decades, this dish was mainly eaten during the grape harvest season, when the work of making wine was carried out in the wineries.  

The festival began with various activities aimed at highlighting the importance of the rural environment and wine production in the region. Eight local wineries have showcased artisan products such as doughnuts, olives, olive oil, and a sweet syrup made from grape must.

Many of the visitors also participated in the guided tasting led by oenologist Mikel Garaizabal, organised by the HAZI Foundation under the title “Disfruta de los sentidos con el vino” [Enjoy the Senses with Wine.] In addition, the wineries participating in Uztaberri Eguna offered their wines to attendees in the El Plano square.

Araba Wine Exports

According to data from the Spain Wine Trade Association, in 2024—up to October—wines from Araba were the driving force behind Basque wine exports, representing 69% of the volume and 90% of the total turnover. This translates to a 9.1% increase in the volume of litres exported, with a 4.5% rise in turnover.

"Despite a complicated global situation, with various commercial factors such as inflation, the transport and supply crisis, and the reduction in consumer purchasing power due to rising product costs causing a slowdown in international wine trade, the Basque Country exported 12.9% more wine in the first ten months of 2024, reaching 40.7 million litres, compared to the same period in 2023. Turnover increased by 5%, totalling 191.7 million euros," Amaia Barredo calculated.

Protected Designations of Origins (PDO) wine, the driving force behind Basque wine exports—accounting for 84% of the value and 61.5% of the total volume—grew by 5.3% in value and 13.1% in volume. White wine sales grew more than red and rosé, in line with the global trend of recent years. In any case, red and rosé wines continue to dominate Basque PDO wine sales, with exports increasing in 2024.

The main international markets for Basque PDO wine are the United Kingdom, which leads with 6.6 million litres, and the United States, with 3.3 million litres. Far behind the top two, Switzerland remains in third place, followed by Germany. Exports to Mexico, the Netherlands, Japan, and China are also particularly noteworthy.