Vitoria-Gasteiz yesterday hosted the first Wine Shapers’ conference, a unique event that brought together more than 200 international winemakers in the region’s capital to promote, connect, and give visibility to this new generation of wine professionals.

It is the first event of its kind in the region, and establishes Álava as a hub for international dialogue among young wine talents. The initiative, organised by EDA Drinks & Wine Campus, was backed by the Department of Food, Rural Development, Agriculture and Fisheries of the Basque Government and the Provincial Council of Álava. 

The first day of the conference focused on training and debate and included roundtables with the participation of young people from different countries such as France, Italy, Argentina, Mexico and China, strengthening the region as a key international location. They discussed the main challenges of the sector, such as regenerative viticulture, the paradigm shift driven by the new generation of winegrowers, and developing wine tourism as a strategic tool for development.

Under the theme “Regenerative Viticulture: Beyond Sustainability,” participants reflected on the transition from sustainable models toward truly regenerative approaches capable of generating a positive impact on the vineyard, the landscape, and the community. In this context, the panel discussion participants —Carlos López de Lacalle (Artadi, Rioja Alavesa); Roc Gramona (Gramona, Penedés); Paul Chevreux (Vizinho Vinhateiro, Portugal); Ana Laura Rodríguez (Puerta del Lobo, Mexico); and Santiago del Pópolo (PerSé, Argentina)— which was moderated by Gonzaga Santesteban (professor at the Public University of Navarra), noted that an important part of the winemakers’ work is primarily based on observing the vineyard and maintaining humbleness when it comes to interpreting it.

 

Likewise, the second panel discussion, titled “Wine Reloaded: How a New Generation Is Changing the Rules,” brought together Federica Boffa (Pio Cesare, Piedmont), Neza Skrt (Aiurri, Rioja Alavesa), Charly Gotchac (Indiano, Gredos), Ian Hongjing Dai (XiaoPu, China), and Manu Michelini (Michelini i Mufatto and Dominio del Challao — Argentina, Bierzo and Rioja Alavesa). Moderated by Amaya Cervera, international journalist and founder of Spanish Wine Lover, the panel explored how a new generation is reshaping the rules of the industry. Speakers highlighted the importance of entrepreneurial vision, environmental awareness and a contemporary narrative capable of connecting with new audiences. They also pointed to several key challenges facing the sector today, including the need for a stronger cultural approach to wine, the creation of unique experiences, the use of new communication channels and increasing global competitiveness.

Wine tourism—understood as a comprehensive experience rather than simply a winery visit—was another key theme of the conference. The third panel discussion, titled “Rethinking Wine Tourism: Experience, Sustainability and the New Generation of Travellers,” featured Rocío Sánchez Mahave (Baigorri, Rioja Alavesa), Jesús Rivera (Vinos El Cielo, Mexico), Paloma Sénéclauze (Château Marquis de Terme, Bordeaux), Ester Cardús Llopart (Llopart, Penedès) and Filip Rossi (Vinarija i Destilerija Rossi, Croatia). The session was moderated by David Mora, gastronomic tourism consultant and professor at the Basque Culinary Center. The conversation placed visitors at the heart of the experience, stressing the importance of ensuring that guests feel genuinely comfortable regardless of their level of wine knowledge, and of designing visits that leave a lasting impression.

During the conference lunch, the spotlight was on 10 young winemakers from Basque Country. Lucía Abando (Las Orcas), Ángela Bello (Bello Berganzo), Judit Valdelana (Valdelana), Carmen Fernández (Carmen F. Uriarte), Andrea Vuelta (Baynos), Neza Skrt (Aiurri, Alma Carraovejas), Haizea Aretxabaleta (Magalarte Zamudio), Miren Martínez (Luberri), Maider Rezabal (Rezabal) and Jade Gross (Jade Gross) served their own wines, strengthening the core message of the conference: local talent as a driver of the future. 

The day was rounded off with a tasting of four wines, guided by Luis Baselga —named ‘Best Sommelier in Spain’ in 2026, by the Michelin Guide— who put the finishing touch to a first day that highlighted technical excellence and knowledge sharing.

The first Wine Shapers’ conference showed that the wine world is not only ready to engage in global dialogue, but to also lead strategic conversations about sustainability, redefining the sector, and new ways of understanding the wine tourism experience. The strong international participation, the quality of the content, and the involvement of young winemakers, demonstrates the conference’s commitment to continuity and its ambition to become a global benchmark event.

Wine Shapers is more than a conference, it is a platform of the future —a space where knowledge becomes action, where the region becomes a learning environment, and where Álava reaffirms its position as an international location for contemporary wine.

 

Coming up over the next couple of days...

The Wine Shapers’ programme will continue today and tomorrow, 6 and 7 March, this time with the emphasis on experiences.

Today, 6 March, there will be five free wine routes that will take in iconic places in Rioja Alavesa (Laguardia, Labastida, Samaniego, Villabuena de Álava and Elciego) and along the Getaria coast. 

The routes pass through different municipalities, strengthening the connection between landscape, heritage and wine projects, and include visits to renowned wineries and vineyards such as Marqués de Riscal, Remelluri, Artadi and Ostatu, combining heritage, landscape and face-to-face meetings with experts who are shaping the present and future of the wine world. In Elciego, Judit and Juan Valdelana will lead a route that includes the Luberri, Valdelana and Marqués de Riscal wineries. In Samaniego and Villabuena de Álava, the Sáenz de Samaniego family will accompany participants on a visit to Ostatu, Bello Berganzo, Remírez de Ganuza and Luis Cañas. In Getaria, Mikel Txueka will show his group around Txomin Etxaniz and K5. In Labastida, Alain Quintana will lead the Bodegas Tierra, Manuel Quintano and Remelluri route. Finally, in Laguardia, Patricia López de Lacalle will guide the visit to Artadi, Las Orcas, Ukan, Javier San Pedro and Casa Primicia.

The day will conclude with a farewell party for congress attendees at the Public Design School of Euskadi. Guests will enjoy wines from the speakers as well as a selection of labels provided by Diam Bouchage, sponsor partner behind the conference. Culinary offerings will be provided by the restaurants Karmine, Manolenta, Sua Basque Fusion, and Kromatiko.

The conference will conclude tomorrow, Saturday 7 March, with four gastronomy experiences open to the public in Vitoria-Gasteiz and Rioja Alavesa, with dinners in restaurants such as Kromatiko, KEA, Sua Basque Fusion, Kimua and El Puntido. The dinners, which cost 75 euros and include wine pairing, have been designed as a bridge between the conference and the public, integrating cuisine and wine in a collaborative and co-creation format coordinated by the emerging ArabaK0 collective.