What do Placido Domingo, Alejandro Sanz and Antonio Banderas have in common?

The Prestigio Rioja Prize was created in 1994 by the Control Board of the D.O.Ca. Rioja and is awarded each year to individuals or institutions whose personal or professional attitude contribute to upholding and promoting the culture of wine and the way of life associated with it. A pioneering initiative in identifying wine with culture, the Prize seeks to encourage society to take a positive view of the cultural and gastronomic aspects that make wine a healthy option that is different from other beverages. This is part of the work undertaken by the Rioja Control Board for the benefit of wine in general.

The Prestigio Rioja Prize has been awarded by the Rioja Control Board to personalities who have selflessly identified with the goals of the Prize and agreed to receive it:

• I. Federico Mayor Zaragoza, former Director General of UNESCO (1994)
• II. Francisco J. Ayala, scientist (1995)
• III. Mario Vargas Llosa, writer (1996)
• IV. Eduardo Chillida, sculptor (1997)
• V. Theresa Zabell, sportswoman (1998)
• VI. Plácido Domingo, opera singer (1999)
• VII. Valentín Fuster, cardiologist (2000)
• VIII. Isidoro Álvarez, owner of El Corte Inglés (2001)
• IX. Cristóbal Halffter, composer and conductor (2002)
• X. Pedro Duque, astronaut (2003).
• XI. Antonio Banderas, actor (2005)
• XII. Carlos Sáinz, rally driver (2006)
• XIII. Ana Patricia Botín, businesswoman, president of Banesto (2007).
• XIV. Alejandro Sanz, singer (2008).
• XV. Sara Baras, dancer (2010).

The Prestigio Rioja Prize counts on the selfless collaboration in its jury panel of prominent figures in the fields of culture, science, economics and communication, such as Antonio Mingote, Carmen Iglesias, Eduardo Arroyo, Rafael Ansón and Mª Teresa Álvarez. Former jury panel member who are no longer with us include Camilo José Cela, Francisco Grande Covián, Angel Martín Municio and Horacio Sáenz Guerrero.