participates in the Hotel Wine Fest

Seven wines accompany the tasting menu at El Palace Barcelona

The festival brings together ten denominations from January 21 to February 4

The Rueda Designation of Origin (D.O. Rueda) is participating in the third edition of the Hotel Wine Fest, held from January 21 to February 4 in Barcelona, featuring seven wines paired with a tasting menu designed by chef Jesús Caballero at El Palace.

El Palace Barcelona designs a contemporary Basque-inspired menu

Barcelona, 27/01/26

In this third edition, D.O. Rueda joins nine other Spanish wine Designations of Origin, offering a unique way to explore some of the country’s main wine regions through the cuisine of six iconic hotels in Barcelona. Seven wines from seven different wineries within the denomination will accompany both a “tapa” (small plate) and a full tasting menu at El Palace Barcelona, a five-star hotel located on the city’s Gran Via.

The hotel’s chef, Jesús Caballero, has designed a comprehensive menu, preceded by a signature tapa, which harmonizes with the selected Rueda wines to create a synergy reflecting the identity of the D.O. and the establishment’s gastronomic style. The menu includes various courses that showcase the chef’s Basque roots and his respect for traditional cuisine, reinterpreted through a contemporary lens.

The tapas and small plates at the Hotel Wine Fest will compete for the “Alimentos de España” Pairing Award from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food. A professional jury will grant this recognition, which highlights the best harmony between wines and food products produced in Spain.

The public chooses the best experience after the 2025 triumph

The public will play a leading role by voting for the Audience Award for Best Experience, an honor won in 2025 by the partnership between D.O. Rueda and the Cotton House Hotel. Attendees can vote for their favorite proposal through the festival’s official website. “The Hotel Wine Fest is a magnificent opportunity to showcase the versatility and personality of Rueda wines within a top-tier gastronomic context,” says the President of the D.O. Rueda Control Board, Carlos Yllera.

This third edition of the Hotel Wine Fest arrives with significant updates, including the participation of INCAVI (Catalan Institute of Vineyard and Wine) as the promoter of the Catalan Wine Route. The festival has established itself as one of the most prominent food and wine events of the winter in Barcelona and serves as a prelude to Barcelona Wine Week.

The versatility of white wine enhances haute cuisine

“Our wines stand out for their ability to adapt to haute cuisine, enhancing flavors and creating memorable experiences at the table,” adds Yllera. The event brings together wine, fine dining, and five-star hospitality, offering a unique opportunity for attendees to discover, taste, and enjoy the diversity of Spanish wine paired with high-level gastronomic proposals in exclusive settings.

The festival reaffirms its role as a meeting point for wine, gastronomy, and hospitality excellence, proving that when wine is paired with fine dining in unique spaces, the result is extraordinary. D.O. Rueda’s participation at El Palace Barcelona reinforces the denomination’s positioning within Barcelona’s high-end gastronomic segment.