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-Editorial
As part of the XXXIV Harvest Festival in Baja California, the “Dr. Ramón García Ocejo” Paella Contest, held on Sunday, August 18, at Viña de Liceaga, reaffirmed its status as one of the most anticipated summer events in the region. Over 2,500 attendees enjoyed a family-friendly afternoon filled with paella, wine, music, and culture.
Organized by the Provino Baja California Committee, this event not only pays homage to local cuisine but also represents a strong sense of Ensenada’s identity. Attendees were able to taste and purchase over 160 labels of wine from 84 participating wineries, divided into two color zones, blue and orange, under the shade of ancient oaks. Various sparkling, white, rosé, and red wines, made from grapes from the valleys of Baja California, were offered.
The competition brought together 90 paella teams that worked hard to present the best paella of the afternoon. Samples were available for the public at different times. The jury, composed of the Baja California Gastronomic and Paella Association (AGAPE), rated the teams by color zones, using a coding system to maintain the anonymity of the contestants and assess the quality based on organoleptic characteristics such as color, appearance, flavor, and texture.
The winners of the contest were announced by the Provino Board of Directors, led by President Wenceslao Martínez Payán and Baja California Secretary of Tourism Miguel Aguíñiga Rodríguez:
In the Quality category, which evaluated “color, appearance, flavor, and texture,” the winners were: first place for San Sebastián, second place for Martes de Ricos, third place for Pacífica at Ensenada Bay, fourth place for Triana, and fifth place for To Go. In the Presentation category, first place went to Los Jacaleros, followed by Vivencias in second place, Tía Margarita in third place, Los Rústicos in fourth place, and Paella Kraken in fifth place.
The winning teams received trophies, wine, and paella pans, as well as commemorative aprons, t-shirts, and caps. Thanks to the event’s sponsors, such as Banco Afirme, Distribuidora La Canasta, and Visit Baja California Sur, they were also awarded promotional items and special vouchers redeemable for a total value of $14,000 MN.
To enhance the experience, a musical program was featured on two stages, highlighting DJ Robbie Solis with electronic music and Ovejas Negras with classic rock. The group La Gran Familia was a major attraction, keeping the audience dancing for five hours. Children under 12 had free entry and participated in arts and crafts workshops and mural painting by Academia Prisma, as well as a pétanque game organized by the Mexican Pétanque Federation.
As a grand finale, a tourist package for two was raffled among the attendees, which included a round trip from Tijuana to Loreto, four nights at La Misión Hotel, dinner at Restaurant Raíz, and a tour of the Loreto Bay National Park.
This thirty-fourth edition of the Paella Contest not only reaffirmed the Provino Committee’s commitment to promoting the culture of the most important wine region in the country but also strengthened the ties with the community and the tourists who attend these traditional Harvest Festivals year after year.
