Abstract

The natural beauty, wine and cuisine, and cultural offerings of the autonomous regions of Rioja and Castilla y León have been appreciated by religious pilgrims, oenophiles, and Spanish visitors for centuries. The growth of the economic and cultural importance of the Spanish wine industry has resulted in substantial investment in the area, as both Rioja and Ribera del Duero (situated in Castilla y León) have evolved into major wine producers on the world market. Perhaps the most visually engaging type of investment is seen through the integration of a number of iconic structures designed by the world’s leading architects. The juxtaposition of the strong lines of the new structures with the pastoral environment and surrounding medieval towns enhances the visual impact of the area. In recent decades, architects including Santiago Calatrava, Zaha Hadid, Frank O. Gehry, Richard Rogers, Philippe Mazière, Norman Foster, Iñaki Aspiazu, and Jesús Manzanares have contributed to redesigning the visual landscape of wine-producing zones. This paper will address aspects of the different structures, the manner in which they incorporate or contrast with the environment, and the reaction that their presence has provoked among residents and visitors alike.