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Rioja Elevates the 2025 LAWFF

Professional connections, premium tastings, and a powerful presence at LAWFF.

This year’s Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival (LAWFF) brought together some of the most influential voices in the culinary and beverage world—and Rioja was proud to be at the center of it all as the festival’s Official Wine Sponsor. Over three days in Santa Monica, industry professionals had the opportunity to experience Rioja’s depth, diversity, and international appeal firsthand.

An Industry-Driven Rioja Experience

At Barker Hangar, Rioja hosted an elevated tasting environment designed specifically with trade engagement in mind. Distributors, buyers, sommeliers, retailers, and hospitality leaders sampled a curated range of wines showcasing the breadth of Rioja—Crianza staples, age-worthy Reservas, fresh whites and rosados, and innovative winemaker selections.

The pavilion served not only as a tasting space but as a place for meaningful conversation about category trends, consumer preferences, and new opportunities for Rioja across U.S. markets.

Kickoff Party at The Conservatory — A Standout Trade Moment

The weekend launched with a high-energy, industry-exclusive Kickoff Party at The Conservatory at Hotel Casa del Mar, where Rioja was the featured wine. Chefs, beverage directors, media, and trade partners connected over thoughtfully selected Rioja pours in a setting that encouraged collaboration and cross-industry dialogue.

The event created a memorable stage for Rioja’s centennial year messaging, reinforcing the region’s commitment to quality and its continued leadership in global wine.

Spotlighting Rioja’s 100-Year Milestone

As Rioja celebrates 100 years as a Denominación de Origen, LAWFF provided an ideal platform to highlight the region’s heritage and forward-looking vision. Conversations throughout the weekend reflected strong trade interest in Rioja’s trusted quality, versatility for by-the-glass programs, and growing appeal among younger consumers seeking authenticity and value.

Strengthening Relationships & Looking Forward

From distributor partners to on-premise leaders, Rioja’s presence at LAWFF helped strengthen existing relationships and forge new ones across key industry segments. Insights gathered throughout the festival will support continued trade education, programming, and U.S. market activation throughout Rioja’s centennial year and beyond.

Thank you to all trade partners who joined us at LAWFF. We look forward to building on this momentum together.