Vella Terra emerged from the need to create an independent and international space for industry professionals and consumers, where natural wineries from our region and those with decades of experience abroad could express the movement, share, and showcase their wines.

Our fair began to take shape in late 2014 when the number of natural wine producers in Spain was very limited, and only two distribution companies offered this product nationally. As a result, there were few opportunities for consumers and hospitality professionals to enjoy and learn about the sector. After a year of visiting natural wineries in Spain and across Europe, we launched the first edition of Vella Terra at the Poble Espanyol in Barcelona on May 9, 2016. We brought together 70 winemakers from Spain, France, and Italy, and in addition to wine, we featured artisanal cheeses, extra virgin olive oil, artisanal bread, specialty coffees, sakes, and organic spirits.

Vella Terra 2016 was the first initiative in Spain that gathered both professionals and consumers, including the first conference on natural wine and biodynamic agriculture for sommelier students at the Barcelona School of Hospitality, with Nicolas Joly as the host. Since that first edition, we have projected the sector internationally, connecting wineries with clients, distributors, importers, hospitality professionals, sommeliers, and wine enthusiasts, always with a professional approach.

Over the years, we’ve helped internationalize most of the participating wineries, promoting natural wine when it was still largely unknown in our country. We invited European wineries with decades of experience, proving that natural wine is a historic practice, not a passing trend. With strict criteria, we’ve supported the growth of the sector and collaborated with experts in journalism, graphic design, and audiovisual art.

We are an independent fair, meaning we are not backed, influenced, or subject to the impositions of associations, distributors, or importers. We select our exhibitors based on the quality of their wines and verify them through testing; those who do not meet natural winemaking criteria are excluded.

We also exclude wineries that act like “Rock Stars,” often inflated by so-called international fame from a few importers, but in reality, are unknown in their own region or country, with little local market presence. Many of these wineries were unknown when we started organizing fairs, and their global recognition is largely thanks to Vella Terra and other internationally recognized natural wine fairs. Likewise, we exclude those who have shown inappropriate behavior towards women at our events or others. It is essential to us that the people behind a winery are of good character. Our fairs are respectful environments, and we reserve the right of admission.

We are not a conventional fair, nor a fair dedicated to technological wine with “a corner” reserved for natural wine. We are also not a simple gathering of friendly wineries backed by their distributors pretending to be a fair when, in reality, they are disguised showrooms. These types of events, often held in wineries or small venues, can be fun and pleasant for passing the time, but they should never be called fairs. They avoid the high costs of rental, insurance, licenses, and probably taxes associated with a real fair, taking advantage of visitors under the natural wine hashtag. They offer a hodgepodge of producers with no guarantees or verifications for consumers, creating significant confusion. On principle and with clear criteria, we prioritize the need to make a difference.

In 2018, we opened the GARAGE BAR, the first bar in the world created by an international natural wine fair, where visitors can taste thousands of wines that have been showcased at the fair, whether they are distributed in the city or not. With Garage Bar, we promote the movement independently and offer visitors natural wines from various regions worldwide, all year round.

Our fair has become a global benchmark, recognized for our expertise, professionalism, and closeness to the public. Since the 9th edition in November 2023, we’ve reduced the number of exhibitors by half to further enhance the tasting experience.

We invite you to explore our history, written through actions, not just words.

Thank you for visiting us!