Rioja Consejo ‘very happy’ with tasting

The new president of the Consejo Regulador DOCa Rioja, Luis Alberto Lecea, said he was “very happy” with the inaugural trade tasting and declared it a success.

Speaking to the drinks business at the event, which was held in London yesterday (9 October), Lecea said: “For an event that is the first of its kind, it has had very high success.

“We were a little cautious at first but now we’re very happy. I am told we had 500 visitors with a very wide profile, buyers, journalists, sommeliers etc.”

He added that further proof of the tastings success was that, “every winery with UK representation is here”.

He added that the plan was to continue the tasting over the following years and make it a regular event in the trade tasting calendar.

On the topic of the harvest in Rioja, Lecea said that around “80% of the region has begun and it should all be started in a week.”

In common with much of Europe, the harvest is two weeks later than last year and while there was a little hail during the growing season, Lecea stressed that it was localised.

“It will be a smaller crop but not as dramatic as France,” he said.

As for the quality he said only: “the weather over the next three to four weeks will determine the quality. We can’t say for sure yet.”