King Felipe attended a very emotional event yesterday, Thursday, June 5, representing the royal family. The head of state visited La Rioja to commemorate the centenary of the Rioja Qualified Designation of Origin (DOCa). There, he moved everyone by confessing how wine and its production are an emblem of Spanish culture and identity.
"It is rooted in your history and is your guarantee for the future," King Felipe stated in his speech. He also highlighted its role in the economy and its international projection. Felipe emphasized that wine is not just a beverage, but an expression of the history, work, and passion of generations of winegrowers.
King Felipe, representing the royal family, moves attendees at his latest event
Last Thursday, June 5, the royal family decided that King Felipe was the ideal person to travel to La Rioja. Because of his passion and fondness for wine, Letizia's husband was in charge of commemorating the centenary of the Rioja Qualified Designation of Origin.
There, before all the attendees, King Felipe moved everyone with his speech, confessing the importance of wine in Spanish culture. "Rioja is one of our signs of identity in the world," he pointed out about the importance of one of our most recognized products.
During the event, he also inaugurated the sculpture Somos tiempo. An unfinished sphere made up of one hundred pieces that symbolize the one hundred harvests and cycles of shared effort between the land, nature, and humans.
The celebration of the DOCa Rioja centenary not only commemorates one hundred years of excellence in wine production. It also reinforces Spain's position in the global wine scene. The support of the royal family, personified by King Felipe, is a testament to the value of wine in Spain's history.
"It is rooted in your history and is your guarantee for the future," he commented with emotion in his voice before the attendees. Felipe's speech was a moment of pride for the Spanish wine sector. It was also a sign of the royal family's commitment to promoting the region's quality products.
King Felipe is a great wine enthusiast
The king's fondness for wine is well known. At the Zarzuela Palace, he has a wine cellar that holds more than 10,000 bottles (10,000), many of them special gifts and personal acquisitions. This space, carefully kept, reflects his appreciation for oenology and his commitment to promoting Spanish wine.
In addition, Felipe has personal reserves in various wineries, such as Matarromera and Marqués de Riscal, where bottles with vintages significant to his life are kept. These include his birth, his wedding, and his proclamation as king. All of them represent important moments that have taken place within the royal family.
King Felipe's commitment to the Spanish wine sector has been shown on multiple occasions. He has supported initiatives such as the inauguration of the Institute of Vine and Wine Sciences in Logroño. He has also accepted the Honorary Presidency of the commemorative events for the centenary of Bodegas Ramón Bilbao.
Now, once again, for a much more special reason, the royal family is once again showing that support. Felipe's emotional speech in La Rioja and his constant support for the wine sector highlighted the importance of wine as a symbol of our identity. It also emphasized its essential role in the country's economy and culture.
The king, when speaking about wine, was not just referring to a beverage, but to a history, a tradition, and a legacy. A legacy that belongs to all of us and that the royal family encourages us to participate in as "a common good."