Music, gastronomy and wine, protagonists of the Essfera Rioja Alavesa

The multidisciplinary festival triples the number of spectators in the second edition and brings together more than 3,500 attendees

“How cool to be here, even if it’s a little warm.” These were the words of French singer Kissia, leader of The Excitements, to Villa-Lucía’s scorching reception of the weather and Riojan audience. The attendees did not long offer the artist the hats that had been given away at the entrance of the festival, to which she responded with a friendly and amused gratefulness with a “Thank you, but I have a natural one”, referring to her Afro hair. Not only was the heat present during the festival, but also the good atmosphere and the desire to enjoy the gastro-musical experience of the Essfera Rioja Alavesa, a show that has tripled its audience in its second edition and attracted more than 3,500 attendees .

The event is part of the ‘Festivals for a Territory’ proposal, which organizes festivals in which the public enjoys a premium experience during their visit and where meetings between the public and artists take place. All this framed in incomparable places of Álava and La Rioja, such as the wineries Marqués de Riscal and Ysios and the schoolyard of Laguardia, accompanied by the best wine and the best gastronomy. To all this is added the complete musical offer that presented fifteen concerts over four days, with artists such as Teenage Fanclub, Iván Ferreiro, Tanxugueiras, Kruder & Dorfmeister, JP Bimeni or Glassio.

The culinary experience was another strong point of this event. Led by Chef Francis Paniego, whose cuisine combines tradition and modernity and has three Michelin stars, and Chef Roberto Ruiz, from the winery restaurant Hika txacolí, they delighted the public who attended the Alava wineries. All this accompanied by some wine tastings mixing great wines from the area, with other brands linked to the other festivals of the organization in the Valencian area of ​​Alforins or the Galician Ribeira Sacra.

The second edition of Essfera Rioja Alavesa was a success for its director, Carlos Montilla, who celebrates the festival’s triumph, but believes it has yet to be “consolidated”. What is undeniable is that the event has caused a sensation in the area and the multidisciplinary proposal has attracted thousands of people with the perfect excuse to say goodbye to the holidays. ««We were on the beach when an advertisement for the festival jumped out at us and we didn’t think about it. It’s the best way to enjoy yourself before going back to work,” explains a group of festival-goers.

Source: La Verdad

Wayne

I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.