1928 – The First Regulatory Framework
The first Rioja regulations were introduced in 1928, providing crucial protections for the region’s wines.
On October 22, 1926, a Royal Decree established the first regulatory body for the Rioja Designation of Origin. This regulatory council was tasked with defining the production area, overseeing the issuance of “guarantee seals,” and recommending legal measures against those who misused or falsified the Rioja name. Its regulations were officially approved in February of 1928. Before long, Rioja’s regulatory framework became more robust.
In 1933, a ministerial Order authorized the creation of Rioja’s second regulatory council, in accordance with the Wine Statute of 1932’s guidelines regarding its composition, presidency, and functions. With continued improvements in regulation, Rioja gained an even stronger grip on quality control and protecting the Rioja name. The Rioja Regulatory Council’s supervision and control extended across all parts of winemaking, from grape production to the crafting and commercialization of protected wines.
More significant efforts to strengthen quality came in 1970, when a new regulatory council was formed to initiate the process of improving Rioja’s control system, eventually making it one of the most rigorous and effective in the world. But this big change for quality assurance was just one of a handful to come.
