The Casknolia Wineries, in Lucena (Córdoba), have been this Thursday the chosen setting to announce the XXVIII Moriles Expo Wine Tasting, which will take place from October 23 to 25 and which on this occasion is articulated around the slogan 'Tenacity'. A concept that synthesizes the way of facing the day-to-day of a sector that, after the devastation caused by downy mildew in the past campaign, continues focused on the work of the land, the care of the vineyards, and each phase of cultivation, sustained by effort, dedication, and patience.
In the presentation, the mayor of Moriles, Francisca Carmona; the mayor of Lucena, Aurelio Fernández; the delegate of Human Resources of the Diputación, Tatiana Pozo; the manager of the regulatory council of the DOP Montilla Moriles, Enrique Garrido; the manager of the Montilla-Moriles Wine Route and owner of Casknolia Wineries, Rafael Cabello; the manager of the Association of Wineries of Moriles, Cristóbal Valverde, in addition to various representatives of the wine sector, have intervened.
Carmona has emphasized that "the slogan of this edition arises from a reality experienced by the sector after the campaign marked by downy mildew, but it goes much further than a specific circumstance, as it speaks of a way of understanding the land and wine, of those who do not give up and continue caring for their vineyards so that Moriles remains a reference for the quality and uniqueness of its wines".
Among the new elements, the mayor has announced the selection of Ramón Francas Martorell as Ambassador of the Wines of Moriles, a figure of great weight in the field of communication and wine dissemination in Spain and distinguished as Best Journalist and Wine Promoter of Spain 2025, an award that supports a trajectory very linked to the dissemination of wine culture.
The mayor has stressed that "having Ramón Francas as Ambassador represents a recognition of the value and prestige that our wines have and the importance of continuing to bring them closer to new audiences", and has also highlighted "the vocation of the Tasting to establish links with other territories of winemaking tradition".
The cava and the ties with other territories
In this same line, Sant Sadurní d'Anoia will be present at the inauguration of the Cata as an exponent of a municipality intimately associated with the production of cava, since it is intended that "Moriles is also a meeting space between territories that share a wine culture, which have much to contribute and much to learn from each other," Carmona has pointed out.
The municipal official has also insisted on the role of the Cata as a great showcase for Moriles and the sector as a whole, emphasizing that they aspire for "this new edition to once again be a meeting point for professionals, visitors, and wine lovers," but "also an opportunity to show everything that lies behind our wines: our land, our wineries, our culture, and our way of understanding viticulture."
Institutional support and growth of the exhibition
On the other hand, Tatiana Pozo has expressed the support that the Provincial Institute of Economic Development provides to the Cata of Moriles "within an institutional collaboration aimed at supporting the economic, tourist, and agri-food promotion of the municipalities of the Córdoba province."
The delegate has added that "supporting initiatives like this is betting on rural development, on the economic activity linked to the territory, and on a wine sector that generates employment, identity, and opportunities."
In turn, Cristóbal Valverde, manager of the Association of Wineries of Moriles, has announced the main novelties of this edition, including the expansion of the exhibition area and the increase in the number of participating wineries, which this year reach nine. From Moriles will be Bodegas El Monte, Bodegas Casablanca, Bodegas Doblas, Cooperativa San Jerónimo, Lagar Los Gabrieles, Lagar Los Frailes, and Bodegas Hathor. Joining as guests are Bodegas Arrabal, from Montilla, within the Montilla-Moriles framework, and Bodegas Emendis, from Castellet i la Gornal (Barcelona).
Valverde has indicated that this expansion "responds to the goal of continuing to grow the Cata and offering visitors an increasingly broad and diverse representation of the sector," and has highlighted the importance of the presence of wineries from other origins to foster the exchange of experiences and reinforce the dissemination of wine culture.
New pairings and activities at the Cata
Another highlighted addition will be a specific pairing of wine and chocolate, designed with the advice of Chocolates Simón, from Barcelona, which will allow for a deeper exploration of the combination possibilities between both products.
Likewise, the schedule of the Tasting will be adjusted to include new dynamization actions, such as live music performances, with the intention of enriching the experience of those who attend and accompanying the tasting of the wines with other cultural expressions. The "in situ" visits to wineries and wine presses will be maintained as a distinctive feature of the program during Saturday and Sunday, which will allow for firsthand knowledge of the spaces where the wines are produced and to get closer to the wine heritage of Moriles.