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Feb 11 2025
47 International Buyers Visit Spain’s Leading Wine Regions after Barcelona Wine Week
The discovery trips, jointly organized by FWS, give them a unique and up-close look at Spain’s diverse and high-quality wine scene
Author: Samara Kamenecka.
FWS took 47 international buyers to the fair to hold business meetings with the Spanish wineries and then to travel on different routes around Spain to discover the Spanish offer at first hand.
A very special event for wines, Barcelona Wine Week (BWW), recently come to a close after running for 3 days, from February 3rd to the 5th.
More than 1,200 wineries participated at this annual event, and over 75 different designations of origin and quality seals from across the country came to showcase their top-quality products.
BWW focuses specifically on innovation and sustainability and has become one of the leading international events for promoting wines from Spain as it attracts sector professionals from around the world interested in learning more about the diversity of Spanish wines.
Additionally, wines were paired with Spanish gastronomy, offering attendees the chance to sample the country’s delicious cuisine.
Showcasing Spanish wines to international buyers
The event included a Hosted Buyers Program as part of FWS’s internationalization strategy. This included 47 international buyers from around the world: China, Japan, South Korea, the US, Canada, Mexico, the UK, Germany, Poland, Ireland, the Netherlands, and many other countries.
Participants got the unique opportunity to travel to different winemaking regions of Spain to discover the country’s best wines and wineries, learn more about their diversity and quality, and return home with this unique knowledge.
There were a total of seven trips around Spain.
Discovering the wines of La Rioja
On the discovery trip to La Rioja, organized by FWS and the Federación de Empresas de La Rioja, the five participants traveled to Logroño, first stopping at Finca Valpiedra for a tour and vertical tasting of plot wines.
Their next stop was Bodegas Santalba, for a tasting, followed by Bodegas Tarón, where they sampled wines such as Tarón Tempranillo Blanco 2022 and Tarón Cepas Centenarias 2019.
From there, they headed to Bodegas Marqués de Tomares, where they had the opportunity to learn about single-varietal wines from old vines, as well as some very special reds and whites.
The following day they visited Bodegas Franco Españolas, sampled wines from top brands such as Rioja Bordón and Valparaíso. The next stop was Bodegas Aradón to taste wines from the Aradon jóvenes range and crianza wines.
The last few stops included a visit to Compañía de Vinos Heraclio Alfaro to try their new Garnacha and Reserva releases and the Egomei line of wines and, finally, Bodegas Escudero.
Up-close and personal with the Grandes Pagos de España
A group of five traveled around Spain to experience the Grandes Pagos de España, organized by the winemakers’ association and FWS.
This group visited a total of four bodegas: Clos d’Agon, Alta Alella, Can Ràfols del Caus, and Mas Doix.
Visiting Rueda
The Rueda wine discovery trip was jointly organized by FWS and CRDO Rueda. Eleven trade professionals from around the world had the opportunity to get to know these fantastic wines.
First they met at the headquarters of the Rueda DO Regulatory Council, and then they visited wineries such as Marqués de Riscal, José Pariente, Lagar de Moha, Bodegas Javier Sanz on the first day.
On the second day, they toured and tasted wines at Bodegas De Alberto, Bodega Cuatro Rayas, Félix Lorenzo Cachazo, Finca Montepedroso and, finally, Garciarévalo.
Entering the world of DO Cava
Spain’s Cava DO also received visitors thanks to a discovery trip organized by FWS and the DO’s regulatory council.
Nine participants started off with a masterclass organized by the region’s DO, and the next day they set off to discover the region’s best wines.
This included visits to, and tastings at, Pere Ventura, Cavas Hill, U més U, Vilarnau, Ferré i Catasús, Giró del Gorner, and Oliver Viticultors.
Burgos and its excellent wines
Another group, this time with eight people, traveled to Burgos to enjoy a discovery trip planned by FWS and Burgos Alimenta, which is part of the local government.
Their first stop was Bodegas Buezo, in Arlanza DO; followed by Bodegas Carmelo Rodero, to sample wines made using the winery’s innovative techniques; and Páramo Arroyo, a family-run bodega that practices organic farming and regenerative agriculture. The final stop that day was Bodegas Nabal, for dinner and a wine tasting.
The following day they toured Bodegas Abadía San Quirce, Bodegas Moradillo, and Bodegas Milénico.
The fine wines of the land of Garnacha
Seven lucky professionals traveled to Campo de Borja DO for a trip that was jointly organized by FWS and the Campo de Borja DO regulatory council.
This group visited Bodegas Aragonesas and Bodegas Borsao. They also visited a showroom with the DO’s best wines at the wine museum in Vera de Moncayo and toured Zaragoza, the world capital of Garnacha.
Exploring the wines of Castile-La Mancha
The trade mission to this part of Spain was organized by FWS and IPEX, and four trade professionals embarked on a trip to get to know the region’s best wines.
Their first stop was Bodegas El Tanino, known for its high-quality Garnacha Tintorera wines, and Bodegas Gardel, which makes organic wines.
The following day, they visited Finca Antigua, which produced innovative, avant-garde wines; Bodegas Bogarve 1915; and Bodegas Arrayán, located in the heart of Garnacha wine country.
A successful event
All in all, the combination of BWW and the program for buyers gives international professionals a close-up look at Spain’s incredible world of wine.