To celebrate Cariñena being named the European Wine Capital of 2025, the town’s municipality has designed an extensive program of activities that combines enotourism, culture, art, gastronomy, and entrepreneurship. This initiative aims to solidify Cariñena’s position as a leading wine region while fostering innovation and economic growth.

Viticulture and Education: The Future of Wine in Cariñena

One of the key pillars of the celebration will be education in viticulture and enology. The University Popular of Cariñena will organize the Aula de Vitivinicultura, a specialized course aimed at students and professionals. The course aims to enhance knowledge about wine production in the Denomination of Origin Protected (DOP) Cariñena, positioning the region as a leading center for wine education.

The town’s municipality will also create a new section in the municipal library dedicated to enology and viticulture. This space will serve as a resource for students and enthusiasts, reinforcing the city’s viticultural identity.

Additionally, technical workshops on viticulture and enology will be held in collaboration with sister cities like Rupea (Romania), Saint Pierre d’Oléron (France), and Santa Brígida (Spain). These workshops will serve as forums for exchanging knowledge on innovation in cultivation techniques, sustainability, and wine marketing.

Cultural and Educational Initiatives

In collaboration with the University of Zaragoza, Cariñena will host a special course directed by Vicente Pinilla, titled “An Introduction to the Economy of Wine: From Aragón to the Global Market”. This course will analyze the economic impact of the wine industry in Aragón and its role in the global market, addressing recent trends, climate change adaptation strategies, and international wine trade.

The town will also host the EuAWE Conference, organized by the European Association of Wine Economists (EuAWE). This event will bring together economists and experts from the wine sector across Europe to discuss the economic impact of enology and viticulture. The conference will include presentations, workshops, and roundtable discussions on market trends, sustainability, and wine marketing strategies.

La Viñadora: A Cultural Icon for the Young

The younger generation will also have a dedicated space in the program with La Viñadora, a character inspired by the values and culture of the Denomination of Origin Cariñena. La Viñadora will be presented officially during the celebrations of San Valero and will travel throughout the municipalities of the DOP Cariñena, bringing its magic to local festivals and events. This initiative aims to introduce the culture of wine to new generations in an engaging and fun way.

The Role of Cinema in Showcasing Wine Culture

One of the most anticipated cultural events will be the premiere of the film Cariñena. Vino del Mar, directed by Javier Calvo and inspired by Antón Castro’s novel of the same name. This production highlights the history and viticultural landscape of the region and will be screened outdoors during the summer in all municipalities of the Denomination of Origin Cariñena.

The IV Film, Gastronomy, and Wine Days will offer film club sessions analyzing other movies shot in Cariñena. As a complement, a themed escape room will be organized in the urban area, and local bars and restaurants will offer menus and tapas inspired by cinema and wine.

Art and Culture with Wine as the Protagonist

The wine will not only be the focus of education and tourism but also of numerous artistic and cultural activities. In 2025, Cariñena will celebrate the special edition of the XVII Painting Prize City of Cariñena, with the exclusive theme of viticulture, awarding works inspired by the harvest, vineyards, and wineries.

Another highly anticipated event will be Cariñena Rural. La Cultura Vivida, a series of sessions dedicated to reflecting on the past, present, and future of the rural landscape with wine culture as the guiding thread. These sessions will include colloquia, artistic, and musical performances related to the depopulated Spain.

The I Photographic Rally City of Cariñena promises to bring photography to the streets, capturing the essence of wine and the region’s landscape.

International Promotion and Enotourism Experiences

The international projection of Cariñena will be crucial in 2025. The municipality will set up a sales booth for wines and local products at three important European events: the Spangenberg Fair (Germany), the Rupea Castle Festival (Romania), and the Christmas Market of Saint Pierre d’Oléron (France), in addition to being present at the gastronomic fair of Almuñécar. These initiatives will bring the products of the DOP Campo de Cariñena to new markets and strengthen relationships with its sister cities.

Innovative Enotourism Experiences

Among the most innovative proposals of the program is the Night of Star Gazing and Wine Tasting, an activity that combines astronomical observation with a wine tasting in emblematic places like the Hermitage of the Holy Cross in Encinacorba and the Convent of Santa Catalina in Cariñena. Participants will enjoy astronomical explanations, live music, and a tasting of the region’s best wines.

On World Enotourism Day, Cariñena will host Aquarelles entre Viñedos, where numerous artists will paint the colors of the viticultural landscape. The works will later be exhibited in municipal facilities, followed by a communal meal featuring the artists and the public.

Gastronomy and Wine: An Indispensable Combination

Gastronomy will also play a fundamental role with events such as the XI Tapa and Wine Contest, where local bars and restaurants will offer specially created tapas paired with the best wines from the DOP Cariñena. Attendees will vote for their favorites, and the winning establishment will represent the locality in the Provincial Contest.

Literary and Dance Festivals

Cariñena will also host literary events such as the Aragón Negro Festival, the largest gathering of noir fiction in Aragón. The 2025 edition will feature the writer Julia Navarro and a theatrical performance of El Nido, a work by Juan Bolea.

The Danza Mínima Festival will offer an innovative experience by combining contemporary dance and live music in unique spaces such as wineries and plazas in Cariñena.

One of the most notable events will be a cultural project that merges wine, music, and art at the historic Santuario de la Virgen de Lagunas. This festival will feature a gastronomic space and an art market, both with local and sustainable proposals that will boost the economic development of the area and strengthen the projection of the Denomination of Origin at the regional, national, and international levels.

With a varied program that covers education, art, cinema, culture, gastronomy, and tourism, this event promises to make Cariñena a reference point for enotourism and wine culture. It represents a great opportunity to project the locality internationally, consolidate its viticultural identity, and foster innovation and entrepreneurship in the rural environment.