La Rioja raises agricultural insurance subsidy amid increase in hail damage to wine grapes

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Affairs and Environment of the Government of La Rioja has published Resolution 1425/2026, of 13 August, which amends the call for agricultural insurance subsidies of the 2026 Combined Agricultural Insurance Plan, increasing the subsidy rate to 65% for the wine grape policy with additional coverages. The measure appears in Official Gazette of La Rioja number 156, of 17 August 2026, with effects from its publication.

The decision responds to the agreement adopted on 22 July by the Working Group of the General Commission of ENESA (State Agricultural Insurance Agency), which noted a significant increase in hail rates in wine grape insurance: close to 10% in La Rioja Alta and over 20% in La Rioja Media. This increase translates into a 4% and 10% rise, respectively, in the price of policies for winegrowers, which could put insurance uptake at risk.

Regulatory framework and background

The amended regulation is Resolution 289/2026, of 13 February, published in Official Gazette of La Rioja number 32, of 17 February 2026, which approved the public call for subsidies for the 2026 financial year of the Combined Agricultural Insurance Plan. The new resolution alters the table of percentages in section four of the operative part.

• Amended insurance line: 312 – Basic insurance with additional coverages for wine grapes, Peninsula and Balearic Islands.
• Affected module: B+GA1+GA2+GA3 (with or without GA4).
• New subsidy: 65% of the policy cost.

According to the official text, the increase in the subsidy percentage is justified by the need to prevent Riojan winegrowers from reducing or eliminating agricultural insurance uptake in the face of rising rates, which would worsen the situation of the region’s wine sector.

Impact on winegrowers

The agreement of the ENESA Working Group established that the hail rate in wine grape insurance increases in the two wine-growing areas of La Rioja with different intensity: the rise is close to 10% in Rioja Alta, while in Rioja Media it exceeds 20%. In policy terms, this translates into a 4% increase in the first area and 10% in the second.

The 65% subsidy seeks to partially offset that additional cost. The subscription period for wine grape insurance under the 2026 Combined Agricultural Insurance Plan begins on 1 November 2026, so winegrowers will have a period from that date to formalise their policies with the new bonus.

Procedures and availability

The full text of Resolution 1425/2026 is available at the electronic office of the Government of La Rioja, at the address https://www.larioja.org/agricultura/es/gestion-explotaciones/seguros-agrarios. The full call for applications can be consulted in the National Database of Subsidies (BDNS) under number 887326.

The resolution was signed in Logroño on 13 August 2026 by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Affairs and the Environment, Noemí Manzanos Martínez, and takes effect from the day of its publication in the official bulletin.

The measure is particularly relevant for the approximately 5,000 Riojan winegrowers who take out agricultural insurance each campaign, since the increased subsidy could prevent a decline in coverage at a time when the sector is facing rising costs and meteorological uncertainty.

Source: Official Bulletin of La Rioja, No. 156, 17 August 2026, Section III.3216, p. 14394 (official reference: BOR-A-20260817-III–3216).