First Airén Grape Festival Held in Campo de Criptana, Spain

The Denominación de Origen La Mancha organized the inaugural I Día del Airén in Campo de Criptana, Ciudad Real. The event features wine tastings, educational sessions and local cultural activities to celebrate the historic Airén white grape.

Airén, recorded in Spain’s official grape catalogues, covers about 200,084 hectares, making it the country’s largest vineyard variety. The DO La Mancha’s jurisdiction includes 192 municipalities across Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca and Toledo, underlining the grape’s economic importance to the region.

Organisers aim to promote the variety as consumer preferences shift toward fresh white wines, positioning the festival as a catalyst for tourism and local development.