Wine Edition 2025, the most important wine congress in Spain, will once again offer an enriching experience for wine lovers, with a variety of tastings, theoretical sessions and innovative pairings. With the same philosophy as in previous editions, this event dedicated to the world of wine, part of Madrid Fusión Alimentos de España, will continue its quest to discover new trends and talents, and serve as a forum for discussion and learning about a sector that is a fundamental part of our culture and gastronomy.

Master tastings focusing on volcanic wines, aged whites and rosés from around the world, theoretical sessions on brand building, storytelling and the fermentation revolution, or topical pairings including natural wines and non-alcoholic options, are some of the highlights of this annual event, which offers a balanced mix of tastings, theoretical presentations and gastronomic experiences for professionals over three days.

Speakers at this fifth edition of The Wine Edition Wines from Spain include internationally renowned winemakers, renowned sommeliers, Michelin-starred chefs and wine experts such as Raúl Pérez, Henrietta Lovell (Rare Tea Company), Sarah Jane Evans MW, Samuil Angelov (Vice-President of the Finnish Sommelier Association), Beth Willard (Co-Chair - Decanter World Wine Awards), Jonatan García Lima (Suertes de Suertes) and Jonatan García Lima (Suertes de Suertes), Jonatan García Lima (Suertes del Marqués), Angeliki Karakosta (Hatzidaki Winery, Santorini), Antonio Maçanita (Bodegas Antonio Maçanita, Portugal), Ferran Centelles (former sommelier at elBulli), Mohamed Benabdallah (sommelier at Etxebarri*), Agustín Trapero (former sommelier at Four Seasons Madrid), James Henry (Le Doyenné Saint - Vrain*), Pilar Cavero or Hugo Muñoz (Ugo Chan*).

This year, the congress will not be limited to wine alone, but will also explore other beverages such as sake and non-alcoholic wine, positioning itself as a complete event that combines education, tasting and networking for professionals and wine enthusiasts.

The fifth edition of Madrid Fusión The Wine Edition Wines from Spain will be held at IFEMA Madrid on 27, 28 and 29 January 2025, both in person and online through a powerful digital platform that can be accessed from anywhere in the world.

Advisory Board

Madrid Fusión The Wine Edition Wines from Spain has an international Advisory Board made up of Elisa Errea (CEO AT THE Wine Studio & The Human Studio), Almudena Alberca MW, Ferran Centelles (former sommelier elBulli), Pilar Cavero (ABC wine critic), María Naranjo (Director of the Food, Wines and Gastronomy of ICEX Spain), Benjamín Lana (General Manager of Vocento Gastronomía and Vice President of Madrid Fusión) and led by Patricia Mateo (CEO Mateo&Co), the international experience and unconditional support of Wines from Spain by ICEX as an exceptional sponsor.

Different areas for learning, tasting and networking

As in previous editions, the V International Wine Congress Madrid Fusión The Wine Edition Wines from Spain will have its own auditorium of equal importance to the main stage of Madrid Fusión Food from Spain, as well as an excellent tasting area, exhibitors and an adjacent stage for commercial presentations. The aim is to integrate gastronomy and wine to explore new trends, discover new talents and act as a space for debate and learning. To achieve this, the event will bring together international chefs, sommeliers, producers, catalysts and influential thinkers in the sector to create a full programme of conferences, round tables, paired tastings and presentations.

In order to strengthen the link between the world of wine and gastronomy, which is so important to both sectors, Madrid Fusión The Wine Edition Wines from Spain 2025 will open its doors to all participants, both in the auditorium and in the areas dedicated to the event.

As in the previous edition, access to The Wine Edition Wines from Spain exhibition area will be free, with a programme of more than 15 open tastings from different wineries and origins, while access to the Wine Congress auditorium will be by purchasing individual tickets for each tasting at www.madridfusion.net. It will also be possible to buy tickets for individual days.

The stars of wine

Among the wine personalities who have already confirmed their participation as speakers at Madrid Fusión The Wine Edition Wines from Spain 2025 are Raúl Pérez, Henrietta Lovell (CEO Rare Tea Company in the UK), Samuil Angelov (Vice-President of the Finnish Sommelier Association), Beth Willard (Co-Chair - Decanter World Wine Awards), James Henry (Le Doyenné Saint-Vrain*), Sarah Jane Evans MW, Ugo Muñoz (Ugo Chan*), Rafa Peña (Chef and owner of Gresca), Tao Platón (Península Vinicultores), Ismael Álvarez (Chispa*), Rafael Palacios (Rafael Palacios), María Vargas (Marqués de Murrieta and Pazo de Barrantes), Jonatan García Lima (Suertes del Marqués), Angeliki Karakosta (Bodega Hatzidaki Santorini) and Antonio Maçanita (Bodegas Antonio Maçanita, Portugal).

Other congress regulars will also be present, such as Ferran Centelles (former sommelier at elBulli), Mohamed Benabdallah (sommelier and head sommelier at Etxebarri*), Pilar Cavero (ABC wine critic), Agustín Trapero (former beverage director and head sommelier at Four Seasons Madrid) and Alberto Segade (sommelier and head sommelier at Kadeau**).

Round tables and innovative pairings

For the fifth consecutive year, the event will maintain its format of morning and afternoon sessions. The programme will include a variety of activities including lectures, panel discussions, winemaker dialogues, expert-led tastings and exhibitions. All with the aim of providing a comprehensive and engaging perspective on current trends in the wine industry. As an integral part of the event, Vinomios will offer unique culinary experiences over lunch. During these sessions, renowned chefs and their kitchen teams will conduct joint demonstrations, allowing attendees to enjoy exquisite wine pairings and carefully selected dishes.

In the same vein, meetings and talks have been organised in which great names in the sector will share their experience on current topics such as natural wines, which will be the focus of the first Vinomio of this edition on Monday 27 January, led by Rafa Peña, chef and co-owner of Gresca, and Alberto Segade, sommelier and head waiter at Kadeau**.

Brand building, communication and transmission is the focus chosen by Ferran Centelles for his theoretical session on the same day. Accompanied by Gabriel García de Oro, an expert in emotional storytelling, these two professionals will attempt to will try to provide tools for applying the basic concepts of storytelling to the world of wine, using practical examples. In the afternoon, Samuil Angelov (Vice-President of the Finnish Sommelier Association) will give a talk on 'Discovering Finnish drinks and culture'. 

On Tuesday, James Henry, chef at Le Doyenné Saint-Vrain*, a French Green Star restaurant, will give a Vinomio inspired by this gastronomic and agricultural project in the Ile de France, in the grounds of the Château de Saint-Vrain, 36 kilometres south of Paris. A culinary paradise where cuisine and nature are intimately linked, reflecting the original terroir and respecting the rhythm of the seasons.

At the end of the second day of the Wine Edition Wines from Spain, Tao Plato will be joined by renowned winemakers such as Raúl Pérez, Alberto Ruffoni, Paco Berciano and Diana Berrouet García to present and taste some of the most internationally awarded wines.
The last Vinomio of the year will take place on Wednesday, with chef Hugo Muñoz at the helm of Ugo Chan*'s kitchen. On this occasion, the subject of study will not be wine, but sake, in a pairing that will draw on the experience of Marco Chan, the restaurant's sommelier.

At the end of the third day of the Madrid Fusión Alimentos de España Wine Congress, Pilar Cavero, ABC's wine critic, will bring artists from other disciplines to the stage for a relaxed and surprising encounter that will close the fifth edition with a unique concert.

News in a glass

In recent years, the morning and evening sessions have taken a more hands-on approach. These now include expert-led tastings and opportunities for direct interaction with the winemakers. These experiences, called Top Tastings, are designed to provide a deeper understanding of all aspects of wine, from winemaking to appreciation.
Through these tastings and meetings, participants have the opportunity to explore the characteristics of different wines at first hand. This hands-on approach not only enriches learning, but also allows participants to discover for themselves the latest innovations and trends in the world of oenology. This new structure aims to complement theory with sensory experiences, providing a more complete and up-to-date view of the latest trends in the fascinating world of wine.

On Monday, the Top Tastings will begin at 10:30 with Pilar Cavero, who will take participants to such evocative regions as the Canary Islands, Greece and the Azores to discover the unique character and personality of wines born in fiery lands. She will be accompanied by some of the most important volcanic wine producers in the world: Jonatan García Lima, Suertes del Marqués, Tenerife; Angeliki Karakosta, Hatzidaki, Santorini; and Antonio Maçanita, Azores, Portugal.

For his part, Mohamed Benabdallah, sommelier at Etxebarri*, will be in charge of a master tasting that will leave no one indifferent. In the afternoon, Henrietta Lovell of the Rare Tea Company will lead one of the most eagerly awaited tastings of the fifth edition of The Wine Edition Wines from Spain: non-alcoholic pairings, a tasting that will highlight the current relevance and versatility of an alternative that is increasingly in demand by those seeking to reconcile gastronomy and health.

Tuesday is the big day for the Top Tastings. The day will begin with Agustín Trapero and his selection of Spanish wines on Liv Ex, a global online platform and benchmark marketplace for the fine wine trade. In his presentation, the sommelier will focus on the Spanish wineries that are part of this platform (Vega Sicilia, Pingus, Rioja Alta, Álvaro Palacios, Castillo Ygay), with the aim of explaining its advantages. It will be a tasting session where participants will have the opportunity to taste some of these great wines with the winemakers.

Immediately afterwards, Robert Ruiz of Lov Ferments will take to the stage to counterpoint wine with other fermented beverages that can also have their place in the world of gastronomy and food and wine pairing. The fermentation revolution, explained by one of the most knowledgeable Spaniards on the subject.

To conclude the morning, Beth Willard (Co-Chair of the Decanter World Wine Awards) will offer a masterful tasting of international and national rosés. A tasting that will highlight the gastronomic possibilities of these elegant and subtle wines that are increasingly appreciated both at home and abroad.

On Tuesday afternoon, Ismael Álvarez, sommelier at Chispa*, will select some of the most exciting young producers for a tasting on the present and future of the sector.

What makes a white wine great, is it the grape variety, the terroir, the winemaker's hands, the barrel? Sarah Jane Evans MW will discuss these questions and more on Wednesday in an exceptional tasting with three of Spain's leading producers: Rafael Palacios (Rafael Palacios) and María Vargas (Marqués de Murrieta and Pazo de Barrantes).

Juli Soler Prize for talent and the future of wine

In the same way that Madrid Fusión Alimentos de España unveils the new crop of revelatory chefs every year, The Wine Edition Wines from Spain does the same with the new wine professionals. In this fifth edition, and once again with Ramón Bilbao as the official sponsor, the 5th Juli Soler Award for Talent and the Future of Wine will be presented to young people with a promising future in the different areas of the sector. The prize will be awarded on the last day of the Congress.