We are delighted to be celebrating the broad choice, premium quality, and versatile grapes at the ultimate wine experience for Rioja Lovers this October. This year’s festival will mark the fourth year running of The Rioja Wine Festival and it will take place at The Alex Hotel, Fenian Street, Off Merrion Square, Dublin 2 on Saturday 18th October 2025.

Ireland loves Rioja. The wines produced there are approachable, accessible, consistent and delicious. Many of them are produced in the traditional style, with fruit and oak playing key roles in the flavour profile. However, there is an increasing move away from this traditional style by smaller producers who are ageing their wines for less time, emphasizing fruit instead of oak. Then we have Single Vineyard classified wines, which are being produced since the 2018 vintage. These are wines made from a single plot, with a lower yield than traditional Rioja wines, thus producing higher quality. We want you to come and explore the changing world of Rioja wines this October. You will be immersed in the culture, the wine, the tastes and flavours of Spain’s most famous wine producing region.

The event will be run over two sessions in order to provide an opportunity for ticket holders to taste as many wines as possible. Each session will last for 3 hours with ample time to attend a 45 minute Masterclass, as well as tasting through all of the wines on show. Sessions will run from 1.30pm-4.30pm and 6pm – 9pm.

**Winemaker Masterclass host to be announced soon**

Tickets purchased for Masterclasses will include General access to tasting over 150 wines as well as the Masterclass you have chosen.

The Discovery Zone is back and it’s bigger and better than before!

This year The Discovery Zone will feature wines from all over Spain. When you’ve tasted all of the Rioja wines, we want you to come to the Discovery Zone to try Sherries, Cava, regional whites, albarinos, Tempranillos, Garnachas and all other blends, wines and fortifieds from the lands of Spain. Whether its Ribero, Ribera del Duero, Jerez, Rias Biaxas, La Mancha or Penedes, you’ll learn something new about Spain and the regional wines on offer from the most diverse wine producing country on the planet!

Knowledge, Education and Understanding is the theme of the Discovery Zone for 2025 so you’ll understand & taste the regional differences across the land of Spain by the time you leave The Rioja Festival this October 18th.