E-Land Kims Club's Spanish wine "Royal Crianza Rioja," launched in January, won the grand award in the red wine category at the 2025 Korea Wine & Spirits Awards.
The Korea Wine & Spirits Awards is the representative liquor evaluation competition in South Korea, now in its 12th year. It has been held annually by ChosunBiz since 2014 with the goal of "discovering and widely promoting good domestic alcohol and supporting the formation of a healthy drinking culture."
This year's event saw 236 companies submit a total of 1,008 brands, making it the largest domestic competition dealing with general liquor. Among these, 431 brands received the grand award.
"Royal Crianza Rioja" is a product introduced through E-Land Kims Club's value-for-money wine series called "Everyone's Wine." E-Land Kims Club aims to popularize wine and launched the "Everyone's Wine" series in 2021, achieving sales of over 1.2 million bottles, gaining popularity as a cheaper alternative to beer.
The award-winning wine, Royal Crianza Rioja, is a vintage red wine made from the famous local variety "Tempranillo" from northern Spain, aged for over 12 months in oak barrels. It has a deep ruby color with a harmonious blend of well-ripened berry aromas and flavors. It's a daily wine that pairs well with spicy Korean dishes.
The producer of this wine, "Bodegas Franco Españolas," has been brewing wine in Rioja since 1890, boasting the longest history among local wineries. It is recognized as a company that led the golden age of Rioja wine, beloved by famous individuals worldwide, including King Alfonso XIII of Spain and the great writer Ernest Hemingway. It remains a must-visit destination for Santiago pilgrims, attracting many visitors.
E-Land Kims Club sells this wine for 9,990 won, securing price competitiveness through annual direct contracts with local wineries for large volumes.