Two Made in Spain Products Make Their Way into Oprah Winfrey's 2024 Favorite Things List

Media icon Oprah Winfrey, one of the most influential figures in U.S. media, generates significant buzz each year with the announcement of her annual list of favorite products.

This year, that selection has a stronger Spanish flavor than ever. Bonilla a la Vista potato chips, crafted in A Coruña (Galicia), were among Oprah’s picks. She described them as being “worth the splurge,” explaining that they are “fried in olive oil for a light, crisp chip. Delicious on their own or, as dedicated snackers might guess, just as tasty with a dip.”

Additionally, another selected item was Flor de La Jara, an extra virgin olive oil made from picual olives in the Montes de Toledo (Castile-La Mancha). Oprah commented that “you can practically taste a bit of Spain in this olive oil.”

An independent election

The marketing team at Bonilla a la Vista told Foods and Wines from Spain that Oprah Winfrey and her team made the choice “completely independently.” They were notified two months before the official announcement by Oprah’s representatives. “It was our U.S. distributors who alerted us that the host knew about our product, liked it, and would include it on this list.” The announcement has led the company to increase production at their plant to meet U.S. demand. Bonilla a la Vista potato chips, produced in Galicia since 1932, had already gained attention through fashion campaigns by brands like Balmain and even in films, such as the South Korean movie Parasite.

The owners of Flor de La Jara shared that they were “absolutely thrilled” to have been chosen by Oprah, calling it “a dream come true” for their brand. This extra virgin olive oil is produced on a family estate that has been making olive oil for three generations, using centuries-old olive trees. Jorge Rodríguez Valera, co-founder of the brand, manages the company with his wife, Tiffany Cohen, and the pair reside in Brooklyn, New York.

Oprah Winfrey and her team begin the product selection process at the start of the year, with the host personally testing each item before narrowing it down to the final list. “The team sets everything up in a giant room, and that’s where Oprah hand-selects every product.” Oprah is particularly fond of savory foods, according to her team, adding extra weight to her choice of Bonilla a la Vista potato chips and Flor de La Jara olive oil. It seems that the American TV personality has fallen in love with the flavors of Spain.