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In September, both routes organised a series of cross-tastings between wineries in Haro and Jerez.
The aim is to collaborate in promoting wine tourism on both routes, which are the most visited in Spain.
Over recent months, the Rioja Alta Wine Route and the Jerez Wine and Brandy Route have strengthened their collaboration to launch joint activities that consolidate both as leading wine tourism destinations. The most recent initiative stems from the institutional twinning between Haro and Jerez de la Frontera, and takes the form of a unique programme of cross-tastings between wineries in both destinations, which will share their wines and experiences.
Each tasting will bring together a winery from the Marco de Jerez with another from Haro, in a new format that will allow attendees to enjoy very different wines and styles, but with the same essence: quality and winemaking tradition. This initiative highlights the collaboration between the two Wine Routes, the most visited in Spain, which are working together to promote wine tourism as a driver of cultural, economic and social development.
In the words of Alfonso Maestro, manager of the Rioja Alta Wine Route, “in recent months, the Rioja Alta Wine Route and the Marco de Jerez Wine and Brandy Route have developed a joint project that goes beyond wine: it is a bridge between territories, landscapes, traditions and ways of understanding life. Our goal is to continue promoting this relationship for the benefit of all our partners.‘ For César Saldaña, president of the Marco de Jerez Wine and Brandy Route, ’This twinning is much more than an institutional gesture. It is proof that wine culture transcends territories and unites us around shared values: tradition, hospitality and passion for our wine heritage.”
Cross tastings:
These will be held in Cadiz from 12 to 14 September, coinciding with the Harvest Festival:
• Friday 12 September, 12 noon. Bodegas Lustau (guest winery: Martínez Lacuesta).
• Friday 12 September, 7 pm. Bodegas Cayetano del Pino (guest winery: Ramón Bilbao).
• Saturday, 13 September, 12:00 noon. Bodegas Valdespino (guest winery: Valenciso).
• Sunday, 14 September, 12:30 p.m. Bodega Viña Santa Petronila (guest winery: Muga).
Similarly, the town of Haro will organise these twinning tastings during the festivities in honour of the Virgen de la Vega on 5, 6 and 7 September:
• Friday, 5 September, 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Bodegas Muga with Bodegas Santa Petronila.
• Friday 5 September, 12 noon. Bodegas Martínez Lacuesta with Bodegas Lustau.
• Saturday 6 September, 11 am. Bodegas Ramón Bilbao with Bodegas Cayetano del Pino.
• Sunday 7 September, 11 am. In the Plaza de la Paz. Bodegas Santalba with Bodegas Faustino González.
• Sunday, 7 September, 1 p.m. In the Plaza de la Paz. Bodegas Valenciso with Bodegas Valdespino.
Last June, around twenty representatives from companies and organisations associated with the Jerez Wine and Brandy Route took part in an educational trip to the Rioja Alta Wine Route to continue advancing towards an innovative, sustainable and collaborative wine tourism model. This trip reinforced the exchange of experiences and the integration of good practices in wine tourism and sustainability.
Twinning between Haro and Jerez de la Frontera
The institutional twinning between Haro and Jerez de la Frontera is based on a shared history of modernity, wine and progress. Two cities separated by distance, but united since the 19th century by milestones that marked their transformation, such as the arrival of electric light and the railway, which allowed both towns to project themselves onto the world stage.
Today, both cities share this centuries-old wine-making heritage, a consolidated international profile and a model of wine tourism that attracts thousands of visitors every year. For all these reasons, they will seal their institutional twinning during the patron saint festivities in the Rioja town. The main event will take place on 5 September at the Teatro Bretón in Haro, where the twinning document will be signed with a manifesto that will be read aloud in a dramatic performance.
In addition, the programme of events includes the aforementioned twinning tastings organised by the wine routes, the unveiling of a mural and a lamppost commemorating this institutional link, musical performances and exhibitions by artists from Haro and Jerez in different wineries.
