In the Patio de Escala of the Provincial Council of València, the graphic line created by the Valencian cartoonist Paco Roca to celebrate Requena's designation as Spanish Wine Capital 2026 has been unveiled. The event was attended by the Deputy of Tourism, Pedro Cuesta; the Culture and Tourism Manager of Requena City Council, Santiago Vañó; Nacho Villalba, project director; and journalist Jaime Nicolau as moderator.
"I have tried to capture in different drawings everything that visitors will be able to enjoy if they come to Requena, centered around wine culture. Visits to wineries, the streets and historical and cultural heritage of Requena, its festivals…", began explaining Paco Roca. "Furthermore, I wanted to represent those 2,700 years of the wine world's connection with these lands, in the drawing that is set to be the capital's logo", he added.
Although the illustrator could not attend the event due to an unforeseen health issue, a video sent by the artist himself was projected, in which he highlighted his personal connection to the project: "It is an honor to participate in this beautiful campaign for this special year for Requena. As a wine lover, it has been a pleasure to collaborate on this initiative with which I wanted to reflect different moments that arise around wine, because it also represents brotherhood and unity among people".
For the Deputy of Tourism, Pedro Cuesta, "it is a pride that a municipality in our province has achieved this distinction. It puts our province on the map thanks to Requena. The region where it is located is a very important territory for the Provincial Council, and Requena is probably the municipality that leads this charge the most, even more so now that it has been proclaimed Spanish Wine Capital".
Santiago Vañó, culture and tourism manager for Requena City Council, pointed out that "all these actions and all this effort aim to make Requena the gateway so that, through wine, people can discover other lesser-known attractions of the municipality. The historical heritage we usually show in the Barrio de la Villa, but also the connection between urban and rural areas through the villages that form part of Requena". He also highlighted that "this capital status should serve as a locomotive to boost tourism and development in the interior of the province of Valencia, a territory that is often forgotten. Requena is a destination that can be visited and enjoyed throughout the year".
Nacho Villalba, director of the Requena Spanish Wine Capital 2026 project, emphasized Paco Roca's participation in the initiative and his work's ability to synthesize Requena's identity through a recognizable graphic proposal linked to history, culture, and wine.
During the presentation, the illustrations created by Paco Roca were unveiled one by one. This collection aims to reflect the essence of Requena, its wine, and the shared moments it generates. The images cover some of the most representative elements of the municipality, from its historical and cultural heritage to its wineries, festivities, and traditions.
To conclude the event, the latest piece was presented, intended to become the official image of Requena Spanish Wine Capital 2026. It is a golden ace that "could well have been found at the Las Pilillas archaeological site and represents the wine trade that those civilizations carried out through the rivers 2700 years ago", assures Paco Roca.
Overall, Requena Spanish Wine Capital 2026 will continue with a schedule of events and actions aimed at positioning the city in the interior of the province of Valencia as a mandatory reference for wine tourism in the national territory.
