The city recognizes the work of Pablo Juárez, Aniceto Mesías, and Marcelino Díaz.

The Extremaduran region of Tierra de Barros paid tribute this Wednesday, June 24, with a unique sculpture to the pioneers of cava in Almendralejo. The work, entitled *“The Three Bubbles of the Origin,”* was inaugurated at the “Cava Pioneers” roundabout located on the EX300 road, at the intersection of Miguel Hernández and A Rúa avenues.

The sculpture was created by Murcian artist Amando López and symbolizes, in the artist’s own words, the effervescence of cava as a metaphor for life, celebration, and cultural dynamism.

The sculptural ensemble consists of three ascending spheres that represent both the bubbles of cava and the three pioneers who made cava production possible in 1983 in the capital of Tierra de Barros, Almendralejo.

The work pays tribute to Pablo Juárez, co-founder and visionary; Aniceto Mesías, a winemaker trained in France and the technical driving force behind Extremaduran cava; and Marcelino Díaz, an agricultural engineer and innovator in viticulture who led the legal defense of Almendralejo as a cava-producing region.

A CULTURAL AND TOURIST LANDMARK

Each sphere bears a symbolic imprint featuring the initials of each pioneer in relief, along with their personal signatures, leaving a lasting record of their legacy. In addition, the pedestal includes a commemorative plaque marking 1983 as the historic origin of this milestone.

The sculpture aims to become a cultural and tourist landmark, a meeting place and visual reference point that strengthens local identity and promotes the wine tourism appeal of Almendralejo and Tierra de Barros.

Marcelino Díaz welcomed the fact that, as of this Wednesday, Almendralejo now has a sculpture commemorating this historic milestone.

THE CULTURE OF WINE AND CAVA

“It is a great honor that the people of Almendralejo, led by their authorities, have named this roundabout after the pioneers of cava and erected a sculpture that will preserve our names for generations to come,” said Díaz, who believes the work will remind visitors that Almendralejo is the city of cava.

Díaz stated that cava is an “exceptional” beverage recognized and praised worldwide. He added that when Pablo Juárez, Aniceto Mesías, and he produced the first cavas of Extremadura, they gave Almendralejo an international character and reputation.

“This requires the people of Extremadura to develop the culture of cava at the highest level, as is already done in Catalonia, France, and Belgium,” said Marcelino Díaz. He added that events such as Wednesday’s ceremony are an example of this, because a city like Almendralejo cannot turn its back on wine culture.

A CHALLENGE TO FORGETFULNESS

For her part, the president of the Provincial Council of Badajoz, Raquel del Puerto, highlighted that the sculpture inaugurated on Wednesday is “a challenge to forgetfulness, an encouragement to remembrance, and a toast to memory.” She added that it is a way of honoring the work of three citizens of Almendralejo who devoted themselves to launching an industry that has now become an “important and strong” economic and social sector in the city.

Similarly, the mayor of Almendralejo and president of the Ribera del Guadiana Wine and Cava Route, José María Ramírez, stressed that the inauguration of this sculpture is a recognition of those who accomplished something as significant as cava production, which “forms part of Almendralejo’s identity.”