According to wine enthusiasts it is Spain's Rioja! Encompassing just over 150 000 planted acres,  Rioja was promoted to DOC in 1991, and recently has scaled new heights in the production of world-class wines. Through its evolution beyond a one-product, one-style region, the region has not only put itself on the international wine map, but has done the same for Spain.

Rioja (vibrantrioja.com), the leading wine region in Spain, announces that it has been named the "Wine Region of the Year" by Wine Enthusiast (winemag.com), one of the wine industry's premiere magazines and online Web sites. This award recognizes the D.O.Ca Rioja for its excellence in the wine and spirits industry.

A feature article on each of the winners from ten different categories will appear in the December 15th "Special Awards" issue, appearing on newsstands November 14th. The Wine Star Award recipients will be honored at a gala dinner and awards ceremony at the New York Public Library on Monday January 28, 2008, with net proceeds from the dinner to benefit the Culinary Institute of America.

"In Spain, we consider Wine Enthusiast a leading wine media outlet for the U.S. market, and we are very honored that the publication has selected us for this year's wine region award," said Ricardo Aguiriano San Vicente, the director of marketing and communication for the Consejo Regulador de la Denominación de Origen Calificada Rioja.

"We would like to thank our U.S. importers, distributors and retailers for their part in Rioja's success and their ongoing support in bringing Rioja to U.S. consumers—it is with their collaboration that we have been able to achieve this recognition in the wine community."

Chris Adams of New York City fine wine retailer Sherry-Lehmann said: "We have seen the increased interest in Rioja wines and applaud the region for elevating all of Spain with the quality, consistency and value that our fine wine customers look for."

Although Rioja's winemaking history goes back centuries, and benefits from hundreds of years of experience and innovation, it is currently undergoing a stylistic revolution—or, as winemakers prefer—an "evolution." This historic region was Spain's first denominated, governed wine region, a designation only given to regions that consistently demonstrated the highest quality levels over many years.

"Everyone in Rioja should be especially proud of this recognition, as we are at Wines from Spain. We have worked with the Rioja Consejo Regulador for many years to further educate Americans about the region and the rich complexity, consistency and quality of the wines and the dedication of the people who bring the fine wines to the U.S.," notes Katrin Naelapaa, director for Wines from Spain at the Trade Commission of Spain.

There were five nominees in each of the nine Wine Enthusiast's Wine Star award categories, and the winners were selected for their outstanding contribution to the world of wine and spirits, with special attention to achievements in the year 2007. The five nominees in each category, narrowed down from a much larger number, were unusually qualified, and all merited special recognition.

The Wine Enthusiast Awards Dinner was begun in 2001, honoring achievements for the year 2000. Wine Enthusiast Magazine is the user-friendly, entertaining, versatile wine publication which emphasizes the "lifestyle of wine," informing readers about the world of wine and spirits with a wide range of interesting articles.

The subjects cover wines from all regions around the world, with wine news and profiles of the personalities behind the brands, plus feature coverage of travel and fine dining. Each of the 14 annual issues includes a Buying Guide, rating and reviewing over 500 new wines and spirits.