The PNV proposal to segregate the Rioja Qualified Designation of Origin (DOCR) to separate the wineries located in Álava has reached the Council of Ministers, although the Government does not participate in the procedure that is in the hands of the European Commission. In this sense, the Minister of Agriculture Luis Planas has recalled that "the Government has no position because it is not part of the administrative procedure" but he has defended, in a private capacity, that "the Rioja Denomination of Origin is one of the great reputed brands not only in Spain but in the rest of the world».

In this sense, Planas has pointed out that "everything that can lead to increasing the weight and sales of the agri-food sector will be positive, but that what contributes to weakening the image of the framework is not".

The head of Agriculture has concluded that "the administrative procedure is the one that corresponds and is in the hands of the European Commission in whose hands is the recognition of this hypothetical Denomination of Origin."