Rioja Showcases 25 Wines in Lausanne

Rioja brought its message of range and quality to Switzerland over the weekend with a tasting and dinner at the Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne, where nearly 30 importers, sommeliers, wine journalists and opinion leaders gathered for the latest edition of “Rioja Prestige Tasting.”

The event took place at Restaurant Pic at the Beau-Rivage Palace, a two-Michelin-star restaurant that has become one of Europe’s best-known dining rooms. The Rioja Wine Regulatory Council said the gathering was part of its international promotion strategy and aimed to reinforce the region’s position in priority markets.

The tasting featured 16 wines selected to show both current trends and more traditional styles within the denomination. David Schwarzwälder, a wine journalist, teacher and consultant, led the session and guided guests through what the council described as a broad look at Rioja’s evolution, diversity and quality.

Schwarzwälder said the selection included high-quality reds and whites that reflected both new developments and established styles in the denomination. He said Rioja offered an unusually wide range of styles for a single appellation and called its dynamism unique.

The lineup placed particular emphasis on white wines from old vineyards, along with wines from long-established producers. The council said that choice was meant to highlight how Rioja combines innovation with continuity, while keeping a strong focus on origin and quality.

After the tasting, guests attended a dinner designed around the culinary approach of Anne-Sophie Pic. The menu was paired with Rioja wines and presented as a refined meal built to match the structure and style of the bottles poured during the evening.

In all, attendees tasted 25 Rioja wines during the event. The council said the turnout and setting reflected Rioja’s strong standing in Switzerland, where it has worked for years to build recognition among trade professionals and consumers.

Rioja is Spain’s oldest qualified designation of origin, dating to 1925, and was the first to receive qualified status in 1991. It covers more than 65,000 hectares across three zones — Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Oriental — spanning 144 municipalities, about 600 wineries and more than 13,000 growers. The denomination is present in 139 countries and accounts for more than 40% of the value of Spanish wines with designation of origin.