Grandes Pagos de Espana: In the Press (2023) by Grandes Pagos

IN THE PRESS 2023

Press Releases

118 Million Impressions total

108 Million Impressions / 666 listings

GRANDES PAGOS DE ESPAÑA NAMES MARÍA DEL YERRO AS NEW PRESIDENT OF LEADING CRUS OF SPAIN

MADRID (PRWEB) June 27, 2023 Grandes Pagos de España (GPE), the leading Spanish association of 36 renowned single estate vineyards known as the “Grands Crus of Spain,” has named María del Yerro as its new president, making her the first woman to lead the organization. Del Yerro will succeed former president Toni Sarrión, who following the conclusion of his term remains actively involved on GPE’s advisory team to support a seamless transition. A member of the GPE’s Board of Directors, del Yerro is a founder of Viñedos Alonso del Yerro in Ribera del Duero, which earned GPE membership in 2010.

“Under Toni Sarrión's presidency, Grandes Pagos de España strengthened the technical side of our association with many essential initiatives that demonstrate the proud integrity of our member wineries to the world,” del Yerro said. “As we enter our next stage of growth, my mission is to maximize this progress by promoting the value of Spanish pagos worldwide, and to selectively grow Grandes Pagos de España with new members that share our philosophy of making exceptional terroirdriven wines.”

Fluent in English and French, del Yerro has worked in wine for 30 years alongside her husband Javier Alonso. Together, they founded Viñedos Alonso del Yerro in 2002 in the Ribera del Duero region. Known for her collaborative and interdisciplinary approach, del Yerro is committed to the continuing success of GPE’s member wineries with a particular focus on constant interchange between members to advance the scientific and technical development of winemaking and cultivation techniques, as well as new ventures in wine tourism and global education.

Among new initiatives, GPE recently announced the launch of The Terroir Workshop by Grandes Pagos de España, a global education program that goes beyond traditional wine study to present terroir culture on a whole new level. As of August 2023, the program will debut in the U.S. and Mexico with comprehensive coursework designed for consumers and trade led by top Spanish wine experts. Classroom study and tasting will focus on the foremost Spanish “pagos,” a single vineyard designation equivalent to the term “cru” reserved for notable viticultural sites.

The 36 member wineries of GPE are highly representative of the single vineyard diversity of Spain with pagos selected from Green Spain, Meseta North, Ebro River Valley, Meseta Central, Catalonia, the Mediterranean, the South and the Islands. Membership in GPE is based on a rigorous and independent selection process that values the importance of quality viticulture and winemaking together with the influence of people, history, culture, geography and climate. To be eligible for membership, wines must come from an exceptional estate and single vineyard, have a track record of industry recognition for at least five years, and receive the highest ratings from established wine critics and competitions. Members are subject to continuing assessment by an independent tasting committee to ensure that quality standards are maintained.

For more information about recent news from Grandes Pagos de España and to request an interview with María del Yerro, please contact Claire Martin (claire@gregoryvine.com). Click here to view a complete bio and headshot for María del Yerro, and click here to download a Grandes Pagos de España Media Kit.

About Grandes Pagos de España

Founded in 2000, Grandes Pagos de España is a non-profit association of 36 prestigious wineries across Spain. Membership in Grandes Pagos is based on rigorous selection criteria for viticulture and winemaking excellence on the level of a pago, a delineated vineyard that is the ultimate terroir designation in Spain. Grandes Pagos de España aims to defend the unique, terroir-driven personality of single-estate wines, to uphold and promote the ethos of Spanish winemaking, and to produce wines of excellence in harmony with the soil, nature and climate of each vineyard. The organization has just launched The Terroir Workshop by Grandes Pagos de España (currently available in the U.S. and Mexico) to explore Spanish terroir in the context of history, science, geography, language and people. Click here for more information about Grandes Pagos de España.

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Claire Martin, Gregory + Vine, https://www.gregoryvine.com/, 1 913-687-6499, claire@gregoryvine.com

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GRANDES PAGOS DE ESPAÑA NAMES MARÍA DEL YERRO AS NEW PRESIDENT OF LEADING CRUS OF SPAIN

– Del Yerro is the first woman president to head Spain’s leading organization of 36 single-estate wineries –Grandes Pagos de España (GPE), the leading Spanish association of 36 renowned single estate vineyards known as the “Grands Crus of Spain,” has named María del Yerro as its new president, making her the first woman to lead the organization. Del Yerro will succeed former president Toni Sarrión, who following the conclusion of his term remains actively involved on GPE’s advisory team to support a seamless transition. A member of the GPE’s Board of Directors, del Yerro is a founder of Viñedos Alonso del Yerro in Ribera del Duero, which earned GPE membership in 2010.

“Under Toni Sarrión’s presidency, Grandes Pagos de España strengthened the technical side of our association with many essential initiatives that demonstrate the proud integrity of our member wineries to the world,” del Yerro said. “As we enter our next stage of growth, my mission is to maximize this progress by promoting the value of Spanish pagos worldwide, and to selectively grow Grandes Pagos de España with new members that share our philosophy of making exceptional terroirdriven wines.”

June 29, 2023

22,438 Digital

About Grandes Pagos de España

10 Million Impressions / 183 listings

GRANDES PAGOS DE ESPAÑA LAUNCHES SPANISH TERROIR WORKSHOP

– Immersive education program developed by Spain's "Grands Crus" goes beyond traditional wine study –

MADRID, March 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ Grandes Pagos de España (GPE), the leading Spanish association of 36 renowned single estate vineyards considered the "Grands Crus of Spain," has launched The Terroir Workshop by Grandes Pagos de España, a global education program that goes beyond traditional wine study to present terroir culture on a whole new level. The program will debut in the U.S. and Mexico with comprehensive coursework designed for consumers and trade led by top Wine Ambassadors. Classroom study and tasting will focus on the foremost Spanish "pagos," a single vineyard designation equivalent to the term "cru" reserved for exceptional viticultural sites. Membership in Grandes Pagos is based on a rigorous and independent selection process.

"Spain has one of the most dynamic and historic wine cultures in the world, which reflects many influences often overlooked by wine education that prioritizes varieties and geography over the complexity of terroir," says Toni Sarrión, President of Grandes Pagos de España. "The term pago is at the heart of who we are and what we hope to communicate through education. Each of our wineries has a singular identity based on their unique geography, culture, history and people. Working with top educators worldwide, we will explore the profound origins of Spanish wine from a perspective that places the highest value on terroir and human achievement."

The Terroir Workshop will launch in Miami, Los Angeles and Mexico as of August 2023, with additional locations worldwide to be announced. Classes will be led by notable Spanish wine experts, including Alessandra Esteves, Founder of Florida Wine Academy in Miami; Monica Marin dipWSET in Los Angeles; and Sandra Fernández Gaytán of SFG Estrategias in Mexico

GPE Wine Ambassadors will share a common syllabus and will set the length of their coursework estimated at 8 to 10 hours of guided education and tasting. Students will receive a pre-read digital study guide with background on Green Spain, Meseta North, Ebro River Valley, Catalonia, Mediterranean, Meseta Central, South and the Islands. Classes will be held in person with dynamic presentations, testing and tasting to reinforce learning. Students who successfully finish the course will receive a certificate of completion.

To learn more about Grandes Pagos de España and The Terroir Workshop click here or contact emily@gregoryvine.com

March 13, 2023

Circulation: 32,331

Digital

GRANDES PAGOS DE ESPAÑA LAUNCHES SPANISH TERROIR WORKSHOP

– Immersive education program developed by Spain’s “Grand Crus” goes beyond traditional wine study to explore the full impact of history, science, geography, language and people–

Grandes Pagos de España (GPE), the leading Spanish association of 36 renowned single estate vineyards known as the “Grands Crus of Spain,” has launched The Terroir Workshop by Grandes Pagos de España, a global education program that goes beyond traditional wine study to present terroir culture on a whole new level. The program will debut in the U.S. and Mexico with comprehensive coursework designed for consumers and trade led by top Wine Ambassadors. Classroom study and tasting will focus on the foremost Spanish “pagos,” a single vineyard designation equivalent to the term “cru” reserved for exceptional viticultural sites. Membership in Grandes Pagos is based on a rigorous and independent selection process that values the importance of quality viticulture and winemaking together with the influence of people, history, culture, geography and climate.

“Spain has one of the most dynamic and historic wine cultures in the world, which reflects many influences often overlooked by wine education that prioritizes varieties and geography. This can be to the detriment of a more holistic definition of terroir,” says Toni Sarrión, President of Grandes Pagos de España. “The term pago is at the heart of who we are as an organization and what we hope to communicate through our education program. Each of our wineries has a singular identity based on their unique geography, culture, history and perhaps most significantly, the people behind the wines today. Working with top educators worldwide, we will explore the profound complexity of Spanish wine from a perspective that places the highest value on terroir and human achievement.”

The Terroir Workshop by Grandes Pagos de España will launch in Miami, Los Angeles and Mexico as of August 2023, with additional locations worldwide to be announced. Classes will be led by notable Spanish wine experts, including: Alessandra Esteves, Founder of Florida Wine Academy in Miami; Monica Marin DipWSET in Los Angeles; and Sandra Fernández Gaytán, of SFG Estrategias in Mexico. Each educator will cover eight regions of Spain (Green Spain, Meseta North, Ebro River Valley, Catalonia, Mediterranean, Meseta Central, South and the Islands) with instruction to encompass the impact of history, culture, geography, climate and people on terroir.

Each GPE Wine Ambassador will share a common syllabus and will determine the length of the coursework over one or two days, estimated at eight to ten hours of guided education and tasting. Students will receive a pre-read digital study guide. Additionally, students will receive comprehensive profiles of GPE wineries to guide their immersion into Spanish pago and terroir culture. Classes will be held in person and will include a combination of dynamic presentations and testing to reinforce learning. Tasting will be a critical component, and as part of the exclusive curriculum, students will taste a wide selection of pagos from GPE member wineries. Students who successfully finish the course will receive a certificate of completion. For more information about upcoming classes, and to be notified of new course locations, please contact info@GrandesPagos.com.

To learn more about Grandes Pagos de España and The Terroir Workshop click here.

About Grandes Pagos de España

Founded in 2000, Grandes Pagos de España is a non-profit association of thirty-six prestigious wineries across Spain. Membership in Grandes Pagos is based on rigorous selection criteria for viticulture and winemaking excellence on the level of a pago, a delineated vineyard that is the ultimate terroir designation in Spain. Grandes Pagos de España aims to defend the unique, terroir-driven personality of single-estate wines, to uphold and promote the ethos of Spanish winemaking, and to produce wines of excellence in harmony with the soil, nature and climate of each vineyard. The organization has just launched The Terroir Workshop by Grandes Pagos de España (currently available in the U.S. and Mexico) to explore Spanish terroir in the context of history, science, geography, language and people. Click here for more information about Grandes Pagos de España or email info@grandespagos.com.

March 13, 2023

Circulation: 21,761,564

Press Release

GRANDES PAGOS DE ESPAÑA LAUNCHES SPANISH TERROIR WORKSHOP

– Immersive education program developed by Spain's "Grands Crus" goes beyond traditional wine study –

"Spain has one of the most dynamic and historic wine cultures in the world, which reflects many influences often o verlooked by wine education that prioritizes varieties and geography over the complexity of terroir," says Toni Sarrión, President of Grandes Pagos de España. "The term pago is at the heart of who we are and what we hope to communicate through education. Each of our wineries has a singular identity based on their unique geography, culture, history and people. Working with top educators worldwide, we will explore the profound origins of Spanish wine from a perspective that places the highest value on terroir and human achievement."

To learn more about Grandes Pagos de España and The Terroir Workshop click here or contact emily@gregoryvine.com.

March 13, 2023

Circulation: 46,342,962

Press Release

GRANDES PAGOS DE ESPAÑA LAUNCHES SPANISH TERROIR WORKSHOP

– Immersive education program developed by Spain's "Grands Crus" goes beyond traditional wine study –

"Spain has one of the most dynamic and historic wine cultures in the world, which reflects many influences often o verlooked by wine education that prioritizes varieties and geography over the complexity of terroir," says Toni Sarrión, President of Grandes Pagos de España. "The term pago is at the heart of who we are and what we hope to communicate through education. Each of our wineries has a singular identity based on their unique geography, culture, history and people. Working with top educators worldwide, we will explore the profound origins of Spanish wine from a perspective that places the highest value on terroir and human achievement."

To learn more about Grandes Pagos de España and The Terroir Workshop click here or contact emily@gregoryvine.com.

March 13, 2023

Circulation: 32,331 Press Release

Grandes Pagos de España Launches Spanish Terroir Workshop Led by Top Educators in U.S. and Mexico

- Immersive education program developed by Spain’s “Grand Crus” goes beyond traditional wine study to explore the full impact of history, science, geography, language and people -

(Madrid, Spain) March 13, 2023 – Grandes Pagos de España (GPE), the leading Spanish association of 36 renowned single estate vineyards known as the “Grands Crus of Spain,” has launched The Terroir Workshop by Grandes Pagos de España, a global education program that goes beyond traditional wine study to present terroir culture on a whole new level. The program will debut in the U.S. and Mexico with comprehensive coursework designed for consumers and trade led by top Wine Ambassadors. Classroom study and tasting will focus on the foremost Spanish “pagos,” a single vineyard designation equivalent to the term “cru” reserved for exceptional viticultural sites. Membership in Grandes Pagos is based on a rigorous and independent selection process that values the importance of quality viticulture and winemaking together with the influence of people, history, culture, geography and climate.

About Grandes Pagos de España

Founded in 2000, Grandes Pagos de España is a non-profit association of thirty-six prestigious wineries across Spain. Membership in Grandes Pagos is based on rigorous selection criteria for viticulture and winemaking excellence on the level of a pago, a delineated vineyard that is the ultimate terroir designation in Spain. Grandes Pagos de España aims to defend the unique, terroirdriven personality of single-estate wines, to uphold and promote the ethos of Spanish winemaking, and to produce wines of excellence in harmony with the soil, nature and climate of each vineyard. The organization has just launched The Terroir Workshop by Grandes Pagos de España (currently available in the U.S. and Mexico) to explore Spanish terroir in the context of history, science, geography, language and people. Click here for more information about Grandes Pagos de España or email info@grandespagos.com.

March 13, 2023

Circulation: 13,456

Press Release

Grandes Pagos de España Launches Spanish Terroir Workshop Led by Top Educators in U.S. and Mexico

- Immersive education program developed by Spain’s “Grand Crus” goes beyond traditional wine study to explore the full impact of history, science, geography, language and people -

About Grandes Pagos de España

Founded in 2000, Grandes Pagos de España is a non-profit association of thirty-six prestigious wineries across Spain. Membership in Grandes Pagos is based on rigorous selection criteria for viticulture and winemaking excellence on the level of a pago, a delineated vineyard that is the ultimate terroir designation in Spain. Grandes Pagos de España aims to defend the unique, terroirdriven personality of single-estate wines, to uphold and promote the ethos of Spanish winemaking, and to produce wines of excellence in harmony with the soil, nature and climate of each vineyard. The organization has just launched The Terroir Workshop by Grandes Pagos de España (currently available in the U.S. and Mexico) to explore Spanish terroir in the context of history, science, geography, language and people. Click here for more information about Grandes Pagos de España or email info@grandespagos.com.

GREGORY{'VINE

Webinars

WEBINAR #1 APRIL 3, 2023

TOP MEDIA ATTENDEES

Rick Fisher Spanish Wine Guy

Regine Rousseau Shall We Wine

Lori Budd Exploring the Wine Glass

Brooke Martin The Brooke Blend

Nelson Gerena The Vintner Project

Devin Parr The Vintner Project

Melanie Young and David Ransom

The Connected Table David Crowley Cooking Chat

Brianne Cohen Decanter, Monarch Wine

Samantha Maxwell Paste Magazine

Total live Audience:120 plus additional streaming video hosted on website

The Grands Crus of Spain: Grandes Pagos de España and the Importance of Terroir

Summary:

Join the leading Spanish wine association of 35 wineries known as the “Grands Crus of Spain,” Grandes Pagos de España (GPE), for an exclusive webinar with the Spanish Wine Scholar Guild. GPE representatives Valentí Llagostera (Co-Owner & Co-Founder, Mas Doix) and Marta S. Martinez Bujanda (Director of Exports, Familia Martínez Bujanda) will discuss GPE’s mission to uphold the highest quality of Spanish terroir and GPE’s newest educational initiative, The Terroir Workshop.

Valentí Llagostera, Co-Owner & Co-Founder, Mas Doix

Valentí Llagostera founded Mas Doix with his brother Ramon in 1998. Born in Barcelona in 1961, Valentí spent his childhood enjoying summers and harvests with his family in Poboleda. While harvesting the old vineyards in 1998, Valentí proposed the idea of a new winery, founded on the grapes going to the Poboleda Cooperative. Mas Doix celebrated its first vintage in 1999. Since 2012, Valentí has worked full-time on consolidating and growing Mas Doix’s brand, wines and winery. Mas Doix has been a proud member of GPE since 2004.

Marta S. Martinez Bujanda, Director of Exports, Familia Martínez Bujanda

Marta Santander represents the fifth generation of the Martínez Bujanda Family, a family business dedicated to winemaking in the main Spanish regions (Rioja, La Mancha and Rueda) for more than 130 years. They are GPE members twice-over, both Finca Valpiedra (DOCa La Rioja) and Finca Montepedroso (DO Rueda). Born in 1977, she Marta has overseen exports for Familia Martínez Bujanda for 20 years, and she was appointed president of the Ruta del Vino de Rueda in November 2021. Finca Valpiedra has been a GPE member since 2004 and Finca Montepedroso since 2022.

WEBINAR #2 SEPTEMBER 5, 2023

GRANDES PAGOS DE ESPAÑA AND THE IMPORTANCE OF TERROIR

With Marta Santander, Rick Fisher, Valentí Llagostera Tuesday Aug 8 2023

Summary:

Join the leading Spanish wine association of 35 wineries known as the “Grands Crus of Spain,” Grandes Pagos de España (GPE), for an exclusive webinar with the Spanish Wine Scholar Guild.

GPE representatives Valentí Llagostera (Co-Owner & Co-Founder, Mas Doix) and Marta Santander (Director of Exports, Familia Martínez Bujanda) will discuss GPE’s mission to uphold the highest quality of Spanish terroir and GPE’s newest educational initiative, The Terroir Workshop.

Speaker Bios:

Valentí Llagostera, Co-Owner & Co-Founder, Mas Doix

Marta Santander, Director of Exports, Familia Martínez Bujanda

Marta Santander is the Director of Exports for Familia Martínez Bujanda, which oversees the GPE member wineries Finca Valpiedra and Finca Montepedroso. Born in 1977, she represents the fifth generation of the Martínez Bujanda Family, a family business dedicated to winemaking in the main Spanish regions (Rioja, La Mancha and Rueda) for more than 130 years. Marta has overseen exports for Familia Martínez Bujanda for 20 years, and she was appointed president of the Ruta del Vino de Rueda in November 2021. Finca Valpiedra has been a GPE member since 2004 and Finca Montepedroso since 2022.

Sept 5, 2023

16,000 Members

WEBINAR #3 OCTOBER 30, 2023

TOP MEDIA ATTENDEES

Roger Morris

The Drinks Business, Santé Magazine

Kathleen Willcox Paste Magazine, SevenFifty

Jason Wilson Wine Enthusiast, Everyday Drinks

Shana Clarke SevenFifty, VinePair, Falstaff

John Sporing American Wine Society Wine Journal

Tom Marquardt Capital Gazette

Sara Lehman Somm in the City

Ari Bendersky Huffington Post, Chicago Magazine

May Matta-Aliah In the Grape

David Jacobs Food & Beverage

Jonathon Alsop Boston Wine School

Dan Marsteller Shanken/Impact

Lana Bortolot Forbes, Wall Street Journal

Robert HaynesPeterson VinePair

Corin Hirsch Wine Enthusiast

Hayley Hamilton Cogill Dallas Uncorked, Tasting Table, Red Wine With Breakfast

Aaron Kiel Bar & Restaurant

Rachel DelRocco Terrazas Eater, Wine & Spirits

Lori Budd Exploring the Wine Glass

Master Classes

GREGORY{'VINE MASTER CLASS #1 APRIL 3, 2023

GREGORY{'VINE MASTER CLASS #2 MAY 15, 2023

GREGORY{'VINE MASTER CLASS #3 MAY 17, 2023

Select Media

Circulation: 2,708,000 Digital

Wine, etc.: Masciarelli from Italy’s Abruzzo region raises the bar | COMMENTARY

Tom Marquardt

We were impressed with the quality-price ratio of these wines:

Grandes Pagos de Espana

Spanish winemakers are making a genuine effort to separate top producers from average producers. Although the Spanish government created the Vin de Pago classification in 2003, it was focused more on soil composition.

However, a few years earlier winemakers in Castilla-La Mancha and Castilla y Leon set additional criteria the includes a track record of quality. That organization morphed into today’s Grandes Pagos de Espana.

Thirty-five wineries in eight regions of Spain make up the new organization. To be admitted, a producer has to have an exceptional and single-vineyard estate, subject themselves to inspections and blind tasting and be accepted by a unanimous vote of current members. It is primarily focused on terroir.

We recently tasted a couple of wines from GPE producers.

We enjoyed the 2017 Alonso del Yerro from the Ribera del Duero region. It is a full-bodied tempranillo with forward red fruit character and fine tannins.

We also enjoyed the Fillaboa Albarino ($25) from Rias Biaxas region of northern Spain.

January 8, 2024

January 1, 2024 - ESTIMATED IMPRESSIONS: 7,588

Grandes Pagos de España

Nestled amidst the sun-drenched vineyards and rugged landscapes of Spain lies a prestigious consortium of wineries known as Grandes Pagos de España (GPE). These aren't your average wine producers; they are the crème de la crème, the "Grand Crus" of Spain, dedicated to crafting exceptional single-estate wines that embody the unique terroir of their origin.

Perhaps the most well-known Grand Crus in the world are from the left bank of Bordeaux. These were selected in 1855 for the World’s Fair in Paris, when Emperor Napoleon III wanted a list of wines to show the world. The wine brokers created a list on prices of the wines, and listed the top wineries (chiefly red wines). Thus, the Grand Cru wines of Bordeaux were based on a winery. In contrast, Grand Crus in Bourgogne are based on specific vineyards.

It is the latter method that the consortium in Spain have followed to create the Spanish Grand Crus.

A Passion for Place

Founded in 2000 by five estates, GPE now brings together 35 wineries spread across diverse regions like Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Priorat, and Toro. Each member boasts a distinct "Pago," a meticulously defined vineyard possessing exceptional soil, climate, and cultural heritage. These Pagos are treated with reverence, cultivated with sustainable practices, and vinified with meticulous attention to detail, allowing the true essence of the land to shine through in every bottle.

In 2003, the Spanish government created the Vio de Pago allows select estates to be recognized. The requirements for based primarily on soil composition. Many of the founding members of GPE aided

in the passing of the legislation that created the Vino de Pago classification. However, if a winery receives the Vino de Pago classification, that does not mean membership into GPE.

In order to become a member of GPE, wineries must submit wines from a single vineyard that have a record of industry recognition of at least five years and consistently receive high ratings from established wine critics and competitions. Each wine is subject to blind tasting evaluations annually to ensure that the quality meets the standards of GPE. If the External Expert Tasting Committee determines that the wine no longer meets the highest standards, GPE membership can be revoked. For a new winery to get voted into the organization, all existing members have to unanimously agree.

Beyond Grapes, a Celebration of Terroir

GPE philosophy goes beyond just producing great wines; it's about celebrating the profound connection between wine and place. Each Pago tells a story through the vines, etched in the sun-baked earth, and whispered on the warm Spanish breeze. GPE wines are living expressions of this terroir, capturing the soul of the land in their complex aromas, vibrant flavors, and lingering finishes.

A Symphony of Diversity

While united by their pursuit of excellence, Grandes Pagos de España wineries offer a captivating symphony of diversity. From the elegant tempranillo-based Riojas to grenache-driven Priorats, each Pago unveils a unique personality. No matter what kind of wine you enjoy, wine lovers can embark on a captivating journey, savoring the nuanced differences born from distinct soils, grape varietals, and winemaking styles.

Of the 35 current member wineries, most make less than 16,000 cases of wines

total, 25 practice organic viticulture and six practice biodynamic viticulture. In total,

Grandes Pagos de España members harvest 60 different grape varieties (28 red and 32 white).

Beyond the Bottle

GPE experience extends far beyond the tasting glass. Many member wineries offer immersive vineyard tours and tastings, inviting guests to delve into the heart of their Pagos and connect with the land that nourishes their vines. These experiences are a testament to GPE's commitment to sharing their passion for terroir and fostering a deeper appreciation for the art of winemaking.

A Toast to the Future

Grandes Pagos de España represent the pinnacle of Spanish winemaking. They are guardians of tradition, yet constantly pushing boundaries with innovative approaches and unwavering dedication to quality. As they continue to elevate the global perception of Spanish wines, GPE promises to offer discerning palates a never-ending journey of discovery, one sip at a time.

So, raise a glass to Grandes Pagos de España, a toast to the land, the passion, and the unwavering pursuit of excellence that defines every bottle. With each sip, you embark on a captivating adventure, savoring the soul of Spain, one exquisite terroir at a time.

Be sure and visit https://grandespagos.com/ to see all the member wineries and experiences that can be had across Spain.

is the CEO of A Life Well Drunk, an enotourism and education John Sporing company based in the Washington, DC region, that provides bespoke experiences across the globe.

SPAIN

Report 2023

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Circulation: 650,000 Print/Digital

December 2023

ALL THE single ladies

Spain is upping its single-vineyard credentials under the Vinos de Pago DOP and Grandes Pagos bodies, reports Roger Morris

spain report 2023 44-49 Pagos feature_RW.qxp_Layout 1 29/11/2023 15:02 Page 44

AT FIRST glance, these six wineries have little in common, other than being Spanish. Bodegas Fillaboa makes white wines along the Miño River in rainy Rías Baixas. Mas Doix cultivates mainly old vines in Priorat, while Cortijo Los Aguilares is still trying to discover which grapes grow best along the Mediterranean coast near Málaga. The Alonso del Yerro and Abadía Retuerta wineries are not that far apart in terms of kilometres, but the former sits within Ribera del Duero, while the latter falls just outside that appellation – but recently received its own DOP. Vallegarcía is tucked away in the Montes de Toledo.

However, one thing they all have in common is Spain’s new-found love of vineyard-specific wines, as the country has begun to viticulturally diversify away from blending wines from multiple

creating a countywide appellation dedicated exclusively to single-vineyard winemaking, within its DOP system of qualifying wines. At the top of Spain’s appellation pyramid are a handful of wines designated as Vinos de Pago, regardless of where in Spain that singlevineyard winery is located. This new designation was put into law in 2003, but the concept originated with a small group of serious wine producers who found themselves isolated in Castilla-La Mancha, the huge winegrowing region in the centre of Spain, because all of them were located outside major winegrowing appellations.

GREATER RECOGNITION

For those wine lovers who consider the concept of terroir almost like a religion, nothing is more sacred than a single, discernible plot of ground

locations. The driving instrument behind this movement is represented by a single, short word – “pago” – but the process has not been without confusion, complications and indeed limitations.

For those wine lovers who consider the concept of terroir almost like a religion, nothing is more sacred than a single, discernible plot of ground planted to vines.

Whether we call it a “cru”, a “clos”, an “estate” or something else, it refers to a solo plot of land where grapes are grown.

Spain in recent years has taken this single-vineyard concept to a new level by

“In the beginning, we were five wineries that were recognised for great quality within our regions, but we weren’t located within any particular appellation,” says Adolfo Hornos, winemaker at Vallegarcía, a 40-hectare estate in the Montes de Toledo that annually produces about 100,000 bottles, mainly blends of Bordeaux varieties. This meant that the wines were classified as ordinary table wines. So, in 2000, the five producers (the others are Marqués de Griñón Pagos de Familia, Finca Élez, Calzadilla and Dehesa del Carrizal) banded together to form a private group called the Grandes Pagos de Castilla as a way of gaining greater recognition and better market prices.

“We also worked with the government to promote a new law,” Hornos says and, two years later in 2003, Spanish regulators placed the single-estate category, Vino de Pago, at the highest level of the DOP (Denominación de Origen Protegida) classification. The legislation also contained a provision which allowed wineries which included the word “pago” in their names before 2003 to continue to

Feature findings

pagos

• The Vinos de Pago DOP was established in 2003 to denote quality single vineyards that happened to fall outside existing appellations.

• There are currently 23 official DOP Pago-classified producers located in four regions across Spain – 12 in Castilla-La Mancha, four each in Valencia and Navarra, and three in Castilla y León.

• A separate organisation by the name of Grandes Pagos has 35 member wineries across Spain. These are 100% single estate producers with relatively low production levels. Collectively, these wineries farm 5,357 hectares of vines.

• In both cases, the application process is rigorous, and producers must have unanimous approval from existing members before they can join either body.

do so. This development presented members of the original Castilla group with a choice – become individual Vinos de Pago wineries within the official designation, or continue operating as an organisation of single-vineyard sites, honouring the group’s existing quality standards. Grandes Pagos de Castilla decided to go nationwide, even though some of its new members would be limited in how far they could officially describe themselves as “pagos”, despite being so by definition.

One year later, in 2004, the organisation renamed itself Grandes Pagos de España and quickly expanded its membership to 12 wineries, with the lion’s share located outside Castilla.

Understandably, having an elite group of wineries that are officially designated as Vinos de Pago, and having a smattering of other wineries, some of them not Vinos de Pago, that are claiming membership of a separate private organisation, Grandes Pagos de España, 45

44-49 Pagos feature_RW.qxp_Layout 1 29/11/2023 15:02 Page 45

has caused some confusion. As Grandes Pagos president María del Yerro says:

“Not every Vino de Pago is a member of Grandes Pagos, and vice versa.” As a result, those Grandes Pagos members who have not attained the official Vino de Pago designation stamp must officially identify themselves according to a traditional Spanish DOP designation. For example, del Yerro’s own winery, Viñedos Alonso del Yerro, on its label lists its origin as Ribera del Duero, where it is physically located.

At the moment, there are 23 official DOP Pagos located in four regions – 12 in Castilla-La Mancha, four each in Valencia and Navarra, and three in Castilla y León.

Eight of these 23 are also members of Grandes Pagos, which currently has 35 member wineries across Spain that are 100% single estate and are relatively small producers. Three of these make 3,500 cases of wine (or less) annually, 17 produce less than 16,000 cases, and 15 make upwards of 16,500 cases annually. Collectively, the 35 member wineries farm around 5,357 hectares and produce about 5.4 million bottles of wine per year. There are 60 different grape varieties – 28 red and 32 white – planted among the vineyards of the 35 wineries, which gives some idea of the enormous scope and diversity of winemaking involved.

‘Our members have to have been on the market for at least five years and have received high scores from the critics’

spain report 2023

Grandes Pagos insists that its requirements are more rigorous than those of the official DOP. “Our members have to have

been on the market for at least five years and have received high scores from the critics,” says del Yerro. For membership, they must also create a dossier including soil analysis and have their wines pass a blind tasting by experts.

Abadía Retuerta is one of the best-known of the organisation’s unofficial pagos, both for the quality of its wine and for its luxury spa and hotel. As was the case with Vallegarcía, Abadía’s frustration at being just outside Ribera del Duero led it to seek membership of Grandes Pagos, according to education director Álvaro Pérez.

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Single and ready to mingle: Fillaboa’s vineyard in Rías Baixas

pagos

“We have a 700ha property that I describe as a forest with some vineyards,” Pérez says. The estate grows Tempranillo, just as wineries do in Ribera. “We asked if they could extend their border for us,” he adds, “and they told us gently that they couldn’t do that.” So, not only did Abadía join Grandes Pagos, but last year it also became a DOP Vino de Pago, an achievement some other Grandes Pagos members would like to duplicate.

When it made its decision to grow countrywide, Grandes Pagos began

actively seeking qualified new members.

In 2010, it approached Mas Doix, which harvests about 100,000kg of mainly oldvine Garnacha in Priorat, according to cofounder Valentí Llagostera. “We had been making wine since 1995 and were known for our quality,” he says, “so we really didn’t have to make any changes to join.

Of course, at that time they were looking for people to come in. Now, it is much tougher, and there are lots of people who would like to join us.” Still, Mas Doix was happy to seek membership. “The benefit for us,” Llagostera continues, “is that we are part of an organisation known for putting quality and terroir first.”

‘The benefit for us is that we are part of an organisation known for putting quality and terroir first’

For Bibi García, attaining membership of Grandes Pagos for her winery was a bit more rigorous. In 2007, she arrived as technical director at Cortijo los Aguilares, located in Serranía de Ronda near Málaga, having previously worked with very old vines in Priorat.

“Phylloxera came to the region early through the Málaga port,” she says, and the region was slow to rebound, for years making primarily sweet wines. “We were like a New World region on the coast of the Mediterranean,” García adds.

Founded about two decades ago, the winery originally included a number of grape varieties in its vineyards and, surprisingly for such a warm region, made its initial reputation with prizewinning Pinot Noir. “We were invited to join Grandes Pagos,” Garcia says, “but it took us three years before we qualified to

44-49 Pagos feature_RW.qxp_Layout 1 29/11/2023 15:02 Page 47

Choice pick: Viognier at Vallegarcía, Montes de Toledo

get in.” This was the case even though, she says, the winery’s standards are perhaps higher than either Grandes Pagos or Vinos de Pago.

Vallegarcía’s Hornos explains that, while the organisation has actively recruited potential members, “we’ve had to turn some of them down”. After a winery goes through the rigorous application process, it still has to receive unanimous approval from existing members before it can join. Even current members are required to submit wines annually for blind tastings

conducted by a board of sommeliers, wine media and other experienced judges.

“If a member’s wine is found to not be of sufficient quality because of an accident or a poor vintage, we give them the chance to make changes and reapply the following year,” Hornos says. He also notes that Grandes Pagos members participate in twice-per-year technical conferences, in subjects ranging from advancing wine tourism to fostering trade and consumer education. At the time of writing, Grandes Pagos is conducting a multi-city “Terroir Workshop” in the US to explain its singlevineyard approach.

Membership does not, however, serve as a guarantee for members to charge high prices for their wines

spain report 2023

At the same time, García and her colleagues emphasise that Grandes Pagos is not a sales and marketing body, although it uses education to raise its profile in the marketplace. “There is great synergy among the members,” García says, referencing a networking system that allows members to

share information about all aspects of winegrowing and wine marketing.

Membership does not, however, serve as a guarantee for members to charge high prices for their wines. While wines from Abadía Retuerta and Mas Doix retail for more than US$100, even selling for as much as US$200 per bottle, Vallegarcía, with its added Vino de Pago ranking, sells its wines for around US$40 or less per bottle – a good price in Spain but a relative bargain in export terms.

Yet the desire to be a quality singlevineyard producer remains strong. In 2004, Isabel Salgado, the winemaker at Fillaboa in Rías Baixas, claimed that in

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Club members: Mas Doix co-founders Valentí and Ramon Llagostera

pagos

terms of quality, Fillaboa was “a true clos” that used only grapes from its own 54ha of vines. Almost 20 years later, has membership to Grandes Pagos helped to justify that evaluation? “Yes,” Salgado says, “because we all believe in quality and in single vineyards. We all have a lot in common and do tastings together in Madrid and elsewhere.”

But Salgado points to a frustration that Fillaboa and others have with the official Vinos de Pago classification. “I would love to have Fillaboa become a Vino de

Pago, but the government of Galicia will not allow wineries here to become one.”

Indeed, as noted earlier, at present only four regions of Spain have wineries holding the official Vinos de Pago designation. Moreover, Salgado says, she cannot even mention membership of Grandes Pagos on her wine labels.

CHANGING FOR THE BETTER

But, in spite of these variations and prohibitions on the use of the Pago designation, Grandes Pagos members believe that Spain’s attitude to fine wine is changing for the better, and that the organisation will continue to be a key part of that change.

‘We don’t have a limit on the number of members we can have. Now we have 35 members, but 50 would be even better’

“We want to attract other wineries in Spain who will benefit, like we have, from the exchange of knowledge about vineyards, oenology, everything,” del Yerro says.

“We don’t have a limit on the number of members we can

Grandes Pagos by numbers

• 35 wineries spanning eight regions across Spain

• 5.4 million bottles of Grandes Pagos wine produced per year

• 2,168 hectares of single vineyards

• 60 grape varieties permitted

• 100% single-vineyard estates

have. Now we have 35 members, but 50 would be even better.”

Mas Doix’s Llagostera declares: “We have been one of the engines of change in Spanish wine drinking.” Holding up a clear tumbler of water, he continues: “Twenty-five years ago, wine drinking was about just swallowing what you have in your glass.” Next he brandishes a modern, stemmed wine glass before adding: “Now, when we drink wine, we are thinking about the concept of place.”

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Sense of place: Vallegarcía mainly produces blends of Bordeaux varieties

The Slow, Steady Rise of Spanish Wine

Kathleen Willcox

November 24, 2023

Circulation: 1,882,531

Digital

Spain has a rich history of viticulture dating back to 4000 B.C.E., with more than 135 official wine regions and more acres under vine than any other country in Europe, according to the latest State of the World Vine and Wine Sector from the International Organisation of Vine and Wine.

And yet, if you’re like most people, you can name one wine region from Spain (Rioja) and maybe a few more if you’ve done your homework. But when it comes to Italy or France, place names roll off your tongue much more easily: Tuscany, Sicily, Abruzzo, Veneto, Provence, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhône Valley… What’s so different about Spain?

Serranía de Ronda: A Progressive Powerhouse

Serranía de Ronda has a winemaking tradition that dates back to when the Phoenicians arrived in Cádiz in the eight century B.C., bringing the practice of viticulture to the region, which is set in southern Spain’s Andalucia region, which hugs the Mediterranean Sea.

The mountainous region of Serranía de Ronda boasts altitudes of 675 to 950 meters above sea level. Hot days and cool nights, along with the altitude, mean that grapes get long days of ripening with colder nights that ensure wines retain their acidity and develop complex flavors. That varied terrain, rich array of soils and Mediterranean climate create outstanding conditions for viticulture.

But like most other regions in Spain, phylloxera, world wars and general economic malaise suppressed production and innovation. In recent decades, though, producers like La Melonera and Cortijo de los Aguilares have set out to leverage the region’s history and infuse it with new life.

In 2003, La Melonera embarked on an extensive research project to recover a native grape variety, Andalusian Melonera, that was essentially wiped out by phylloxera. While they only have about 2.5 acres of the grape under vine, it constitutes the largest surface area in the world dedicated to the grape.

At Cortijo de los Aguilares, meanwhile, winemaker and technical director Bibi Garcia says that she and her team have spent the past 20 years nurturing vineyards in a region decimated by phylloxera, growing a mix of French and Spanish grapes.

The experimentation and investment has not gone unnoticed, and tourists visiting the broader region are finally dipping into the region’s unexplored wineries, most of which are increasingly investing in sophisticated hospitality programs.

“The number of visitors we’re getting, especially from the U.S., is growing in an extraordinary way,” she says. “They are drawn to the hiking, picnics in the vineyard and local food pairings we offer.”

Hope for the Future of Spanish Wine

While Spanish wine is still not nearly as familiar to U.S. consumers as French or Italian wine is, many say we are turning a corner.

“We have only just begun to tap into Americans’ interest in Spanish wines,” says Nevin-Giannini. “A few years ago, only the major U.S. cities had Spanish restaurants, and you could count on one hand how many they had. Now, you can find a tapas bar or Spanish cuisine restaurant in just about every medium to large city. I think over the next few decades, this will evolve into more regionally focused Spanish restaurants, just like you can commonly find with Italian food, so the thirst for Spanish wine will follow that lead.”

Monica Marin, director of The Wine House in L.A., concurs.

“The image of Spanish wine in the U.S. is really improving,” she says. “The average price per bottle is up, and the availability of a broad range of high-quality wines is way up.”

Marin also serves as a Spanish wine ambassador and is working with Grandos Pagos de España, a collection of 35 wineries across eight wine-growing regions in Spain, all of which are committed to creating single-vineyard wines à la Grand Cru wines.

“Americans embrace the Grand Cru concept, especially because the single-vineyard winemaking movement has really taken hold in Napa,” Marin explains. “They understand that it signifies top-notch quality and a commitment to excellence and terroir.”

In a bid to broadcast their group’s but more importantly, Spain’s excellence, Grandos Pagos has created a global education program that debuted in the U.S. this year, called The Terroir Workshop.

The crash course in Spanish wine will focus on the leading single-vineyard designate wines, and will include discussions about viticulture, history, geography and people. There will, of course, be plenty of tasting. Classes will be held in person with notable Spanish wine experts, including Marin, leading them in major cities.

“I’m happy to see more sommeliers, restaurants and stores highlighting and offering some of Spain’s more obscure grapes and regions,” Marin says. “I hope the Terroir Workshop will draw even more wine lovers who are curious to learn more.”

November 2023

Circulation: 9,850

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November Reviews

Michael Franz

Fillaboa, Rias Baixas (Galicia, Spain) Albariño Estate Grown 2022 ($21, Monsièur Touton Selection): For those of you who have wine shipped to you, beware that what arrives may not be up to what was sent. I first tasted a press sample of this about two weeks ago that was sent to me for a webinar that I couldn’t sit in on, and the wine seemed amiss. It was almost amber in appearance and showed more oxidation and less freshness than I expected, based on many previous vintages as well as a couple of site visits to the property. So, I bought another bottle from a DC-based retailer, and sure enough was treated to vastly better results. The color was still a deeper yellow/gold than I remember from past years, but the vibrancy of the wine was vastly improved (and, indeed, excellent). Quite ripe and rich, with orchard fruit notes recalling late summer peaches and ripe apricots along with baked apples, this never turns ponderous or heavy, as a beam of bright acidity runs through the mid-palate and offers excellent energy through the beautifully balanced finish. The wine market in the USA offers a lot of Albariño that is tasty but still just “pretty good” by comparison to the releases of the best producers. Fillaboa is definitely one of the best producers in Rías Baixas, and if you worry about whether you’ve not yet tasted “the really good stuff,” this will let you know provided that you taste a good bottle of it.

93 Michael Franz Nov 21, 2023

Fillaboa, Rias Baixas (Spain) Albariño 2022 ($21, Monsièur Touton Selection): Although Fillaboa is a member of the Grandes Pagos de España organization, Galicia does not permit its wineries to apply for the official Vin de Pago designation that tops Spain’s DOP categorization. Which is a shame, for this property along the Minho River and the wines made here would certainly make the cut. This sparkles on the palate with freshness, fruitiness and minerality and has flavors on quince, apple, baking spices and a coda of lemon. With a medium body, it finishes clean and crisp.

92 Roger Morris Nov 14, 2023

March 14, 2023

Circulation: 68,122

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GRANDES PAGOS DE ESPAÑA LAUNCHES GLOBAL TERROIR WORKSHOP

Joe Gilbert

Leading Spanish producer association, Grandes Pagos de España (GPE), has launched a global education program which puts the country’s ‘grand crus’ front and centre.

The ‘immersive education program’ has been developed with the aim of going beyond the realm of traditional wine study and promises to explore the full impact of history, science, geography, language and people on terroir, according to the organsation.

The program will debut in the US and Mexico, with plans to broaden to other markets in due course. GPE is a high profile Spanish association and represents 36 renowned single estate vineyards.

The course, dubbed The Terroir Workshop by GPE, aims to broaden knowledge of these estates, therefore taking the notion of the country’s terroir and wine culture to a new level.

“Spain has one of the most dynamic and historic wine cultures in the world, which reflects many influences often overlooked by wine education that prioritises varieties and geography. This can be to the detriment of a more holistic definition of terroir,” says Toni Sarrión, president of Grandes Pagos de España.

“The term pago is at the heart of who we are as an organisation and what we hope to communicate through our education program. Each of our wineries has a singular identity based on their unique geography, culture, history and perhaps most significantly, the people behind the wines today. Working with top educators worldwide, we will explore the profound complexity of Spanish wine from a perspective that places the highest value on terroir and human achievement.”

Classroom study and tasting will focus on Spanish ‘pagos’, a single vineyard designation reserved for exceptional viticultural sites.

Each educator will cover eight regions of Spain (Green Spain, Meseta North, Ebro River Valley, Catalonia, Mediterranean, Meseta Central, South and the Islands), each sharing a common syllabus. Tasting will form a key component of the course too, featuring an ‘exclusive curriculum’ of wine from selection of pagos from GPE member wineries. For more information about the courses click here

June 28, 2023

Circulation: 68,122

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DRINKS TRADE WELCOMES NEW PERSONNEL IN SUMMER RESHUFFLE

James Lawrence

Grandes Pagos de España (GPE), a Spanish association of 36 single-estate vineyards, has announced the appointment of its new president María del Yerro (pictured) with immediate effect.

Del Yerro is the first female president to steer GPE and the co-founder of Viñedos Alonso del Yerro in Ribera del Duero, a member of Grandes Pagos. In her presidential role, del Yerro’s goal is to advance the scientific and technical development of Spanish winemaking and cultivation techniques, as well as to maximise new ventures in wine tourism and global education.

Among its new initiatives, GPE recently announced the launch of The Terroir Workshop by Grandes Pagos de España, a global education program that goes beyond traditional wine study to present terroir culture on a whole new level. As of August 2023, the program will debut in the US and Mexico with comprehensive coursework designed for consumers and trade led by top Spanish wine experts.

May 23, 2023

Circulation: 226,193

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THE TERROIR WORKSHOP: UN NUEVO TALLER POR GRANDES PAGOS DE ESPAÑA Y SANDRA FERNÁNDEZ

El programa va más allá del estudio tradicional del vino.

Staff

Grandes Pagos de España es una asociación que cuenta con 36 viñedos que comúnmente se les conoce como los “Grands Crus de España“. Recientemente ellos, junto a la reconocida sommelier Sandra Fernández, decidieron lanzar The Terroir Workshop by Grandes Pagos de España. Un curso enfocado en dar a conocer la cultura del terroir español (ya sea a nivel ameteur o profesional) en México y Estados Unidos También te puede interesar: ¿Cómo almacenar alcohol correctamente?

Tips for Selecting Premium Spanish Wines

Jacqueline Coleman

For those who may not have a bottomless bank account to travel the world seeking out the best of the best, there are classification and ranking systems to help guide consumers to bottles that are produced under certain requirements.

Grape varieties, winemaking styles and viticultural practices are included among them, and these classifications, while not perfect, are there to ensure that quality, style and tradition are respected and that what you get in the bottle is a proper reflection of the land and winemaking of that area.

Quality Levels in Spain

In Spain, the “denominación de origen” (DO) designation guarantees a certain level of quality and specifications for grape varieties and regional boundaries. The “denominación de origen calificado” (DOCa) goes a step further, requiring DOs to have standing of at least 10 years and apply to be approved to use the higher label. So far, only two DOCas exist: Rioja and Priorat.

Another classification in Spain includes the Vino de Pago (VP) designation, which applies to a small number of single estates with top reputations using only estate-grown grapes from unique “pagos” or single vineyards. Beyond that, there’s the Grandes Pagos de España (GPE), requiring a consistent track record of the highest quality wines from those estates that are accepted as members.

Grandes Pagos de España is a nonprofit association of just 36 wineries as of 2023, though the number has been steadily increasing since its beginning in 2000 with five founding wineries. These wineries are spread across Spain in 20 different viticultural zones. The members of the association share a commitment to preserve the single vineyard personality of Spanish terroir and produce wines of excellence. In other words, these wineries represent the “Grand Crus” of Spain.

Part of the organization’s mission is to educate the wine trade and curious consumers about Spanish terroir in the context of history, science, geography, language and people. This is achieved through special terroir workshops that are taking place in Miami, Los Angeles and Mexico. In Miami, the first GPE workshop was led by Alessandra Esteves, co-founder and director of wine education at Florida Wine Academy. Those who attended the event earlier this year received guided classroom study and in-person tastings of wines from these grand estates, as well as the opportunity to hear from several guest speakers from member wineries.

In Miami, the first GPE workshop was led by Alessandra Esteves, co-founder and director of wine education at Florida Wine Academy. Those who attended the event earlier this year received guided classroom study and in-person tastings of wines from these grand estates, as well as the opportunity to hear from several guest speakers from member wineries. One of those member wineries presented in Miami was sparkling wine producer Gramona.

September 1, 2023

Grandes Pagos de España

Gramona is a historic grand estate cultivating premium wines in Spain through generations of family winemaking practices. This winery’s long-aging method for producing its highest-level sparkling wine from the best vineyards makes it an ideal member of the Grandes Pagos family.

The Gramona brand grew from uniting two major wine industry families in Catalonia. The Batlle and Gramona families were joined through marriage and began making Spanish sparkling wine as a family winery by the early 20th century. One hundred years later, the Gramona family and brand have become leaders in Spain’s top-level sparkling wines as part of the Grandes Pagos de España, as well as a new classification called Corpinnat.

As part of its commitment as a member of GPE, respect for the land is one of the top philosophies at Gramona, with biodynamic farming at the heart of its agricultural practices.

Biodynamics supports the self-sufficiency of the land through regenerative practices. This means that the family farms organically, without the use of chemicals, and prioritizes the increase of biodiversity on the property – an important component of healthy, regenerative land. This natural approach to viticulture ensures that the wines produced from the grapes of these vineyards truly showcase tradition and unique characteristics.

Though located in the traditional Cava-producing region of Spain, Gramona classifies its wines under the new Corpinnat designation. The Corpinnat brand is recognized by the European Union as an official designation for Spanish sparkling wine producers who adhere to certain practices. es include a commitment to historic grape varieties and production in the traditional sparkling wine region of Penedès. Producers must use only 100% organic grapes that are harvested manually and must vinify their wines on their estate properties.

Corpinnat producers also commit to long aging practices and using grapes from their own vineyards, or through long-term purchasing agreements that are carefully observed. As a result, consumers can be assured that bottles carrying the Corpinnat designation are from producers who care not only about top-quality winemaking practices, but also about the history and tradition of these methods. It’s safe to say that as a member of both Grandes Pagos de España and the Corpinnat brand, Gramona is one producer that is leading the way in showcasing the best wines of Spain. Interested consumers and industry members can learn more at another in-person terroir workshop with Grandes Pagos de España in Miami this fall.

TipsforSelectingPremiumSpanishWines

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In Person Event: Miami

September 2023

Jacqueline Coleman @HlstoryandWlne

Reppingthe305intheworldofwine1f' Writing-Podcast-ContentWlneGuideM·aml.com

® Miami,FL 0

msha.ke/historyandwine 0 JoinedMarch2013

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Jacqueline Coleman @HistoryandWine

MySeptemberVinocolumnfor@BiscayneTimeshighlightsSpanish winesthrough@GrandesPagos,profilingoneparticularCorpinnat producerthatispartofthisexclusiveorganization. @Gramona1881

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THE EVOLUTION OF GRANDES PAGOS DE ESPAÑA

Amaya Cervera

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At a recent meeting of winemakers from Grandes Pagos de España, Víctor de la Serna, the veteran wine and food writer who founded Finca Sandoval, pointed out that he was the sole remaining member among the producers from Castilla-La Mancha who created this association.

Producer and theatre entrepreneur Manuel Manzaneque of Finca Élez passed away in 2016, four years before Carlos Falcó (Dominio de Valdepusa), the driving force behind the group and its leading figure for almost two decades, and businessman Alfonso Cortina (Vallegracía) died a few days later of Covid. In 2021, Francisco Uribes of Pago de Calzadilla also died. Before that, in 2010, Marcial Gómez Sequeira sold Dehesa del Carrizal to the Villar Mir family, although the winery remained in the association. Víctor de la Serna himself sold his property in 2019 but maintains links with both his former winery and Grandes Pagos.

The association was officially launched in September 2000 under the name Grandes Pagos de Castilla bringing together eight producers from Castilla-La Mancha and Castilla y León. The latter was represented by the two wineries owned by the García family at that moment: Mauro (VT Castilla) and San Román (Toro); and Aalto in Ribera del Duero, in which Mariano García is also a partner. The group's philosophy was expressed by Carlos Falcó at the time: "It's not enough to make a good wine; you have to make a different wine, with its own personality, and that's what a pago [a Spanish term for a cru] probably does better than any other". It was a time when international varieties were flourishing in certain Spanish regions, and Richard Smart was successfully spreading his sunlight approach to winegrowing.

Today, Grandes Pagos has 36 members in 20 wine regions. The presentations at the association's meeting, with the presence of their technical teams in Mallorca, revealed a paradigm shift and new paths towards the terroir. Francesca Fort Marçal, a researcher at the Rovira i Virgili University in Tarragona, spoke about local varieties and their greater ability to cope with climate change.

The other focus was on the measurement of viticultural variables. This was the subject of presentations by Gonzaga Santesteban, Professor of Viticulture at the University of Navarra, and Martín di Stefano, head of viticulture at ZuccardiValle de Uco. Di Stefano explained Zuccardi's very detailed zoning experience and how they moved from explaining wine in terms of time in barrel to exploring the many factors (flora, elevation, microclimate, geology, topography...) behind terroir. Their new approach is also reflected in the language they use, as they now speak of "natural environments" and the need to adapt grapegrowing to each of them.

Strengthening the technical side

During the meeting in Mallorca, the Grandes Pagos board approved a new presidency after eight years under Toni Sarrión (Mustiguillo, Valencia). During Sarrión's tenure, particular attention was paid to technical and quality issues. "One of the first steps was to set up an external tasting committee to evaluate the wines in blind tastings. Under the 20-point

June 20, 2023

system, all wines must score 14 points and we also ask members to have at least one wine with a score of 16," explains the outgoing president.

Moving away from big PR events to a series of small actions (Sarrión calls them "thin rain") to reach out to wine schools, sommeliers and prescribers is another major change. "When I arrived, I found an association in transition, with a really strong presidency led by Carlos Falcó. Sometimes it seemed that we were a group of producers gathered around him," recalls Sarrión.

So while Falcó was a great ambassador for Grandes Pagos in the world and the man who put the association on the map, Sarrión focused on promoting quality at a time when stagnation was synonymous with regression. The Valencian producer also promoted ongoing training, experience exchanges and frequent updates through the "Network of Knowledge", which consists of two annual meetings for winemakers. The one hosted by Bodega Ribas in Mallorca earlier this month included a tasting with local producers of recovered grapes and another of Mediterranean wines, from Lebanon and Greece to Italy and the French coast. These are the kind of experiences wine lovers dream of.

María del Yerro, owner of Bodegas Alonso del Yerro in Ribera del Duero and a member since 2009, is the third president to hold the post. She believes that the greatest asset of Grandes Pagos nowadays is its diversity.

Communication and the recruitment of new members will be her main goals. "We have not yet reached the point where a winery is better known because it belongs to Grandes Pagos. We want to spread the word both in Spain and abroad," she explains. In terms of the international market, the group has just launched The Terroir Workshop in the United States and Mexico. This is an educational wine course that provides general content on different wine regions and focuses on the distinctive terroirs of its members to explain Spain through its wines. They are working with brand ambassadors in both countries to bring the course to wine schools offering WSET courses and other wine qualifications.

The diverse origins of its members allow the group to represent the most important Spanish DOs (Rías Baixas, Rueda, Rioja, Ribera, Priorat, Jerez), as well as many other interesting areas: Montilla, Ronda, Extremadura, Toro, Txakoli, Navarra, Somontano, Penedès, fine sparkling wines thanks to Gramona, Valencia or the Balearic Islands. With the two Castillas and other Catalan areas covered, it would be great to see more producers from Aragón and Galicia. Bierzo is missing (although Mencía is present thanks to Fuentes del Silencio, a winery in the Jamuz valley, south of Bierzo), as are the Canary Islands. In total, 60 different varieties are represented: 28 reds and 32 whites.

Another of María del Yerro's goals is to recruit "small artisanal producers" who produce less than 40,000 bottles. "But whoever joins must share the group's philosophy and have a strong focus on terroir. The new membership policy is very important to us," she explains. "First, the executive committee examines the applications, then the winery and vineyard are visited - soil studies are of great importance to us - and the tasting committee evaluates the wines. Finally, the application has to be approved unanimously. In addition, members from the applicant's region can have their say beforehand," explains the new president. Membership fees are based on the size of the winery and the number of bottles produced.

Under Del Yerro's presidency, women will have more representation on the board. Things have definitely changed since the days when María was the only woman at the meetings.

The Pago confusion

The name of the association remains the same, despite being considered pompous and confusing by some -it uses the same term (pago) as the growing number of DO Vino de Pago in Spain.

The issue dates back to past lobbying efforts by Carlos Falcó and other producers from Castilla-La Mancha to find a figure that would unite quality-driven projects in an area whose DOs were synonymous with volume and cheap wines. In the end, the Regional Council of Agriculture created the DO Vino de Pago de Castilla-La Mancha with Decree 127/2000. The legal basis was provided by the Spanish Wine Law of 1970, which established that an individual estate could become a DO in its own right.

Just one month after the decree was approved, the Grandes Pagos de Castilla Association was formally established and in 2002 Dominio de Valdepusa became the first property to be awarded the DO Vino de Pago. Eventually, all the founders of Grandes Pagos from Castilla-La Mancha, with the exception of Finca Sandoval, would obtain their own DO Vino de Pago. With this initiative in place, the Spanish Wine Law of 2003 authorised and developed the DO Vino de Pago for the whole country, leaving it to each autonomous community to determine the minimum size of the "pago". Since then, the use of the term "pago" has been restricted to the DOs of the same name. However, existing brands such as Pago de Carraovejas or Pago de los Capellanes were allowed to keep the word in their names. The same applied to the association, which in 2004 extended its membership to non-Castilian regions and changed its name to Grandes Pagos de España.

The coexistence of all these "pagos" (existing brands that include the term as part of their name, the DOs Vino de Pago and the producers' association, which places great emphasis on the term) can be confusing. In fact Grandes Pagos points out that its members include producers who are a DO Vino de Pago (in addition to those already mentioned, Abadía Retuerta in Castilla y León, Arínzano in Navarra and El Terrerazo in Valencia) and others with DOs, PGIs or even without any geographical designation. Most of the articles written about Grandes Pagos in specialist wine magazines contain some sort of clarification in this regard.

Grandes Pagos defines pago as "a vineyard whose characteristics set it apart from the surrounding vineyards" (because of its soil structure, exposure, plant material...) and which produces "an exceptional quality of fruit".

María del Yerro believes that the next presidency, which will be elected in for four years, should take account of the generational change in the member wineries. Perhaps the younger ones will be able to address this issue.

El estudio y la cata se centrarán en los pagos españoles más importantes, una designación de un viñedo delimitado equivalente al término “cru” reservado a terrenos vitivinícolas considerados excepcionales

También puedes leer: Bodegas Domecq, 50 años liderando el vino mexicano

“España tiene una de las culturas vinícolas más dinámicas e históricas del mundo, que refleja muchas influencias a menudo pasadas por alto por la enseñanza del vino que prioriza las variedades y la geografía. Esto puede ir en detrimento de una definición más holística del terroir“, afirma en un comunicado Toni Sarrión, Presidente de Grandes Pagos de España.

También te puede interesar: 425 año de Casa Madero

The Terroir Workshop de Grandes Pagos de España debutará en México a partir del mes de septiembre 2023 (fecha exacta por confirmar) y durará de 2 a 3 días.

El taller cubrirá ocho regiones de España y tendrán charlas a profundidad acerca del impacto de la historia, la cultura, la geografía y el clima en cada una de ellas.

Para más información da click aquí

Understanding the Spanish Terroir; Grandes Pagos de España

Lori Budd

November 11, 2023 Digital

Grandes Pagos de Espana x Fall Press Webinar

November 1, 2023

Promoting Diversity & Personality w/ María del Yerro and Enrique Valero, Grandes Pagos de España

Peter Yeung, Robert Vernick

With the aim of safeguarding the wines of personality from special vineyards (or “pagos”) from across Spain, the Grandes Pagos de España President María del Yerro, of Alonso del Yerro, and VP Enrique Valero, CEO of Abadía Retuerta, discuss the history, objectives, how to join, and their new Terroir Workshop Series.

30, 2023 Digital

September

Sep 30, 2023

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How do you get the world to know and dig into the special terroirs around Spain? Maria del Yerro San Román and Enrique Valero, leaders of the Grand Pagos de Espana tell Robert V. and Peter Yeung about how the Grand Pagos organization has banded together 35 wineries that uniquely represent a single terroir across Spain to send this message.

Listen in (and don't forget to rate and review!): Apple - https://lnkd.in/geTzdfDN Spotify – https://lnkd.in/gd9fkR7D gXChateau - https://lnkd.in/g5H6qXrH hashtag#spain hashtag#wine hashtag#winemarketing hashtag#luxurywinemarketing hashtag#wineinvesting hashtag#spanishwine

July 5, 2023

MARÍA DEL YERRO IS NAMED PRESIDENT OF GRANDES PAGOS DE ESPAÑA

Del Yerro is the cofounder of Viñedos Alonso del Yerro in Ribera del Duero, a member winery of Grandes Pagos de España. She will be the first woman to lead the Spanish association of 36 renowned single-estate vineyards. In her new role, del Yerro will be responsible for advancing the scientific and technical development of Spanish winemaking, and maximizing new ventures in tourism and education. (Press release)

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INTRODUCING THE GRANDES PAGOS DE ESPANA

Lori Budd

I recently attended a virtual workshop that introduced me to the association consisting of thirty-six single estate vineyards that are recognized as the “Grands Crus of Spain.” The members of the Crus require a minimum of five years track record of quality in the vineyard and glass, as well as pass an annual blind tasting evaluation.

The Grandes Pagos de España was founded in 2000 and is a non-profit association in which the members have passed rigorous criteria from vineyard to bottle; it is the “ultimate terroir designation” in Spain. As an association, the members aim to “defend the unique, terroir-driven personality of single-estate wines, to uphold and promote the ethos of Spanish winemaking, and to produce wines of excellence in harmony with the soil, nature and climate of each vineyard.”

May 3, 2023 Digital

The vineyards included in the consortium represent only .23% of total hectares under vine in Spain. Sixty grape varieties are approved (28 red and 32 white.) Fifteen of the wineries are certified using ecological viticulture and three are biodynamically certified.

The alliance currently is preparing to launch an educational program that focuses on terroir. At this time, the program is still being tweaked in order to provide the best overall experience, but it will include both classroom study and tastings. Currently the classes are slated for Miami, Los Angeles and Mexico beginning in August 2023, with additional locations to be announced in the future. The program has acquired the expertise of Alessandra Esteves, Founder of Florida Wine Academy in Miami; Monica Marin DipWSET in Los Angeles; and Sandra Fernández Gaytán, of SFG Estrategias in Mexico.

The program will cover eight regions of Spain (Green Spain, Meseta North, Ebro River Valley, Catalonia, Mediterranean, Meseta Central, South and the Islands) and will take a deep dive into the history, culture, geography, climate and people on terroir. It will detail the differences between the Vino de Pago system which is based on soil composition and the Grandes de Pagos (GPE) in which the wineries have the ability to bottle under any designation since it is based on the track record of quality, not a specific location.

For more information about upcoming classes, and to be notified of new course locations, please contact info@GrandesPagos.com

~Slàinte!

October 28, 2023

Grandes Pagos x Rick Fisher

Criteria for joining

• Most wineries apply to be a member

• Criteria - single vineyard, 100% estate fruit, min 5 years of internationally recognized quality, must pass internal tasting committee that assesses the personality of the vineyard

• Most vineyards ~50-75ha

• Some wineries may produce wines that are not Grand Pagos

Member benefits and requirements

• Fees based on quota system by # of bottles produced (3 levels - <40k, 40-150k, >150k bottles), no winery is >500k bottles

• Networking w/ other wineries; e.g. - winemakers meet 2x / year to share learnings

• Promotion of wines domestically & internationally (e.g. - wine fairs, education)

• No logo on label

Priority markets

• Spain is the primary market

• 4 international focuses - USA (include for broader influence of press and blogs), Mexico, UK, Switzerland

GPE wines at least 4-5x more expensive than avg price of Spanish wine (~$40-300/bottle in the US)

Wine tourism program - many GPE wineries will showcase other GPE wineries in their tastings

KPIs for GPE include # of people at events, PR/comms results, results of last 10 years of new applicant tastings

Marketing GPE

• Building CRM of trade / sommeliers from tastings to keep in touch

• Partner w/ wine influencers, somms, other associations

• Highest impact initiatives: US - big tastings; Spain - tastings w/ somms

Launching a new Terroir Workshop Series

• Main push for the next 3-5 years

• Global education program for concept of pagos and 35 GPE wineries

• Starting in US, Mexico

• 3 brand ambassadors chosen and trained - help bring a 3rd party voice and local perspective on GPE

• Partnered w/ Gregory + Vine - helped clarify messaging and identified brand ambassadors

• Designed primarily for wine trade

Next priorities for GPE

• Climate change

• Global competition - need to maintain a high reputation

• Sustainability and social responsibility

1. AALTO 2020

Who makes it: Bodegas Aalto

Who distributes it: Justerini & Brooks, City Wine Collection

RRP: £33.20

Why we like it: The newest vintage from winemaker Mariano García showcases just how much Ribera del Duero can pack a (flavour- lled) punch. On the nose, well-ripened fruits, spices, freshness and minerality highlight the aromatic complexity of the 2020 vintage. The palate is full of personality, too. A rm, but attractive structure is underpinned by smooth and silky tannins, which o er up a streak of balanced acidity, leading towards a long, fresh nish.

2. KURTATSCH CALIZ CHARDONNAY 2022

Who makes it: Cantina Kurtatsch

Who distributes it: Haynes Hanson & Clark

RRP: £17.55

Why we like it: Characteristic Mediterranean fruitiness is o ered up in a bottle, courtesy of Cantina Kurtatsch, which is nestled in Trentino-Alto Adige between the Dolomites. On the nose, the wine is delicate, recalling ripe pineapples, bananas and lime zest; while a helping of racy acidity comes via a selection of lots from the winery’s higher-lying vineyards.

Longer ageing on the lees and big diurnal shifts help too, resulting in a wine that is both complex and persistent.

3. RIDGEVIEW BLANC DE BLANCS 2018

Who makes it: Ridgeview

Who distributes it: Ridgeview, Bibendum, Berkmann

RRP: £75

Why we like it: Single vineyard and only produced in tiny volumes in top years, this Blanc de Blancs is not to be missed. As usual for these one-o s, Ridgeview selects the nest parcels of its singleestate Chardonnay, where the grapes are gently pressed in whole bunches before being fermented in stainless steel. The result is a mouthwatering addition to the Ridgeview stable: layers of ripe greengage overlap with and soft peach, with shortbread and creamy biscuit notes too.. Ideal as an aperitif wine or as a pairing for food by the sea, particularly sh and chips on the beach.

4. CHÂTEAU KSARA CUVÉE DE PRINTEMPS

Who makes it: Château Ksara

Who distributes it: Berkmann Wine Cellars

RRP: £13.50

Why we like it: Château Ksara’s Beaujolais-style ‘spring/summer red’ Cuvée de Printempsis a

HARPERS’ CHOICE

welcome addition to the range, o ering up a rounded, light-tomedium bodied wine via Gamay and Tempranillo grapes. The short winemaking process gives this wine its vivid red colour, and nose of violets and red fruits, with round supple, mellow tannins. Designed to be versatile, the wine can be drunk alone or with food, room temperature or chilled – the latter to reveal the full gamut of fruity flavours.

5. M DE MINUTY PROVENCE ROSÉ 2022

Who makes it: Minuty

Who distributes it: Exclusively at Waitrose

RRP: £14.99

Why we like it: A new collaboration from Minuty and Swedish visual artist Hanna KL, this wine recalls the sun-slaked terraces of the French Riviera. Minuty M is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah from Côtes de Provence, with appealing citrus and herbaceous notes that yield aromas of whitefleshed fruits. A highly drinkable and refreshing rosé.

6. LANGHAM CORALLIAN CLASSIC CUVÉE NV

Who makes it: The Langham Wine Estate in Dorset

Who distributes it: Lea & Sandeman RRP: £30.95

Why we like it: Predominantly Chardonnay and based on the 2020 vintage, this wine reflects the welcome warmth of that year’s turbulent summer while expressing the characteristic traits of the estate’s Corallian vineyard. Corallian is one of Langham’s most complex and mineral sites, with less fruit, but more minerality, adding plenty of ageability. The wine is focused, with lots of salinity and elegance. A nose of wild gorse and candied oranges lead to a full-bodied wine, with plenty of ripe fruit. Mango, quince and lemon peel are all in evidence here, making for a complex tasting experience.

↘ SEND NEW PRODUCTS TO THE HARPERS TASTING PANEL FOR CONSIDERATION VIA JO.GILBERT@ AGILEMEDIA.CO.UK

2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

August 2, 2023

22 Fillaboa named as one of "Bri's Best Bottles" for August

Del Terroir a la copa, un viaje por los grandes Pagos de España Aura Toledo

¿Qué son los Grandes Pagos de España?

Es una asociación que fue fundada en el año 2000 y representa a 36 viñedos singulares conocidos como los: "Grands Crus de España". Cabe mencionar, que la pertenencia a Grandes Pagos España se basa en rigurosos criterios de selección de la excelencia vitivinícola a nivel de pago, un viñedo delimitado que constituye la máxima designación de terruño en España.

De acuerdo con Adolfo Hornos: “Los Grandes Pagos de España, representan la filosofía de trabajar con el terroir y su principal objetivo es promover y preservar la identidad del terruño español a través de la producción de vinos de finca de gran calidad”. Además de defender la personalidad única de los vinos de pago, mantener y promover el espíritu de la viticultura española y producir excelentes vinos en armonía con el suelo, la naturaleza y el clima de cada viñedo.

The Terroir Workshop by Grandes Pagos de España

El pasado 17 de mayo, nos dimos cita en Domecq Academy, para participar en una clase muestra de lo que Sandra Fernández y Adolfo Hornos Prado enólogo de Pago de Vallegarcía, han preparado como Workshop de los Grandes Pagos de España

Este workshop, será dirigido por Sandra Fernández, embajadora y representante de Grandes Pagos de España en México y no perdimos la oportunidad de preguntarle más detalles sobre lo que vamos a encontrar en este taller, aquí les compartimos la entrevista:

ECyC: ¿Por qué consideras que es importante especializarse en los Grandes Vinos de Pago?

Sandra: “Es un curso de vinos diferente que además va a tener un examen final que es una parte también divertida porque creo que el examen te obliga a tener expectativas y te obliga a estudiar. Sin embargo, uno de los principales diferenciadores es la calidad de vinos que vamos a probar, ya que vamos a degustar vinos de una calidad tan excepcional que están previamente seleccionados por la asociación Grandes Pagos de España, y que se caracterizan por ser bodegas que han sido aceptadas como parte de esta agrupación por tener un nivel de calidad excepcional.

Además, vamos a poder probar un vino de cada una de las 36 bodegas lo cual es mandatorio, pues a través de ellos vamos a poder identificar todo lo que veamos en la parte teórica. Por otro lado, en este curso vamos a conocer a una España diferente a través de sus vinos en México sabemos que hay 2 regiones que queremos muchísimo que son: Rioja y Ribera del Duero, la región de los blancos es Rías Baixas, pero queremos darle a conocer al consumidor mexicano al que le gusta el tema del vino que hay definitivamente una España diferente que hay uvas que no tienes en el radar y que son parte de España, es decir que hay elaboraciones con Viogner, que hay elaboraciones como una Merseguera que es una uva autóctona de Valencia que hay elaboraciones de Bobal que es otra uva autóctona de España y que vas a poder probar uvas vinos y regiones que a veces es muy difícil que tú como consumidor salgas de tu estado de confort y las compres nada más por probar, pues aquí vas a poder tener una probadita de todas esas regiones que nunca te has atrevido a comprar porque no sabes si te va a gustar.

Sin embargo, son vinos de muy alta calidad que a veces tienen presupuestos altos y por esa razón creemos que esta es una magnífica manera de darle a probar a la gente un poquito de España.

ECyC: ¿Podremos encontrar estos vinos en restaurantes y tiendas especializadas?

Sandra: ¡Claro! Es una puerta para nuevas etiquetas, definitivamente lo que queremos es que siga creciendo la presencia de Grandes Pagos en México hoy tenemos entre 18 y 19 bodegas de las 36 ya representadas en México con un importador y se pueden conseguir algunas en tiendas especializadas y algunas también haciendo labor en restaurantes. Pero hay más de 16 vinos y bodegas que todavía no, entonces creo que también es un foro bien interesante para importadores que ya tienen alguna bodega de Grandes Pagos para incorporar otra en su portafolio o para otros importadores que no tiene ninguna bodega de Grandes Pagos, para animarse a importar.

En mi opinión, es como allanar el camino de lo que hace 12 años no teníamos en México y que importadores se animen a buscar una bodega; hoy por ejemplo me comentó un importador que ya tenía una bodega de Grandes Pagos de España, que ya tiene 2 más. Esto es una apuesta por vinos que la gente no te va a pedir, porque no los conoce entonces este taller es una voz, para todas estas bodegas, elaboradores y propietarios que hacen vinos extraordinarios.

ECyC: ¿Qué pueden esperar los restauranteros con esta calidad de vinos? andra: Actualmente, un sommelier de sala de un restaurante de quiere hablar de esto, qui quiere emocionar a sus clientes y tú emocionas a través de brindarles cosas diferentes que sabes que van a apreciar y que van funcionar con tu gastronomía entonces poderle dar a todos los familiares de piso de restaurantes y de hoteles una opción para que se diviertan para que sorprendan a sus clientes y para que sus clientes regresen con ellos a pedirle ese vino que les fascinó de la última vez que fueron, creo que sería una experiencia extraordinaria.

En resumen, el programa se enfoca en los pagos españoles más destacados, que son viñedos delimitados equivalentes a los "Cru" en Francia, y que han sido seleccionados por su viticultura y vinificación de calidad, así como por su influencia cultural, histórica, geográfica y climática. En México se impartirá el programa de 8 horas de duración distribuido en 2 días de 4 horas por sesión. Los estudiantes recibirán una guía de estudio digital para leer antes del curso, perfiles completos de las bodegas de Grandes Pagos de España como referencia y guía de su inmersión en la cultura española del pago.

El programa, que se imparte en modalidad presencial, incluirá presentaciones dinámicas, pruebas de aprendizaje y una cata de una amplia selección de vinos. La primera certificación se impartirá en Domecq Academy ubicada en Presidente Masaryk 275, Col. Polanco los días 26 y 27 de septiembre del 2023. La cual, cubrirá 8 regiones de España y contará con la participación de estudiantes que analizarán 36 vinos distintos que representan a las bodegas que forman parte de Grandes Pagos de España. Finalmente, al completar el curso con éxito, los participantes recibirán un certificado emitido por Grandes Pagos de España.

Si te gusta el vino, seguro que has escuchado de los “Pagos” de España, así como de los “Grandes Pagos”, y probablemente hayas cometido el error de creer que son lo mismo. Si quieres saber cuál es la diferencia, sigue leyendo,

La singularidad de la tierra

Seguramente sabes que el sabor de un vino depende, sobre todo, del varietal que se utilice, así el merlot suele ser un vino muy elegante, equilibrado y de taninos bien definidos, mientras que la uva syrah suele ser un poco más salvaje, con un sabor más fuerte y complejo. ¿Pero sabías que el terreno en el que se siembran también influye en el resultado?

Así es, las condiciones únicas de un terruño -que es como se le llama al espacio en el que se ubica el viñedo- tiene sus consecuencias en el resultado final. Las características del suelo, el clima y el trabajo humano se traducen de forma sutil pero indescartable en los perfiles aromáticos y sabores de cada vino. Es por eso que dos vinos de la misma variedad de uva pero de distintas regiones pueden tener sabores tan diferentes.

¿Y qué tiene que ver esto con los términos de “Pagos” y “Grandes Pagos”? Bueno, pues resulta que así como hay vinos de mesa, vinos de la tierra, vinos con D.O. y vinos con D.O.P., que se distinguen por diversas características de calidad, como la región en la que se producen, así también está el distintivo de “Pagos”, que se otorga en función del terroir o terruño.

Dentro de la legislación de vinos en España, que es una de las regiones vinícolas más importantes del mundo, existe desde 2003 una serie de características que, de cumplir con ellas, permiten a un vino portar el título de “Pago”.

Pertenecer a esta categoría no es cosa fácil, ya que han de cumplirse requisitos muy exigentes, como que el vino debe producirse en su totalidad, desde la siembra hasta el embotellado, dentro del mismo terreno. También deben contar con una trayectoria intachable en términos de calidad de al menos diez años. Estas normas de certificación son tan estrictas que hoy, en toda España, existen solo 20 Pagos.

June 18, 2023 Digital

Un club muy especial

¿Y los “Grandes Pagos de España”? Pese a que tienen mucho que ver en el sentido de que se otorga este título en función del terruño, se trata de dos cosas completamente diferentes. Mientras que los Pagos se determinan por una legislación oficial, Grandes Pagos de España es, en realidad, una asociación de fincas vinícolas, con vinos de Pagos o no, que velan por la promoción del concepto de vino de Pago.

En otras palabras, se trata de un club muy selecto de 36 bodegas cuyo interés está en impulsar y fomentar el consumo de vinos de la mejor calidad en base a su terroir. Así, para formar parte de este grupo, también se debe de contar con ciertas características similares a las de la legislación, si acaso menos específicas, pero más rigurosas.

Así en esta selecta asociación hay tanto vinos con la distinción de Pagos como vinos sin ella, pero que de igual forma prestan especial atención a la calidad de su terruño.

Un taller de apreciación

Si hay algo que distingue a los Grandes Pagos de España, es su excelente calidad que habla de todas las características del terroir como la altitud, el clima y las personas detrás de su elaboración.

Por eso, la asociación española ha lanzado “The Terroir Workshop”, un espacio de formación y aprendizaje que no solo pretende promover la cultura vitivinícola desde la perspectiva tradicional, sino con un enfoque profundo en las condiciones del terreno, con base tanto en lo técnico, como en la cultura y las historias detrás de cada etiqueta. Este taller, será impartido en México por la renombrada sommelier Sandra Fernandez Gaytán, incluye material audiovisual y por supuesto cata, y lleva un trabajo de investigación exhaustivo y profundo que permitirá descubrir características de distintas áreas geográficas que conforman España y de las razones que hacen especiales a las etiquetas que son parte de los Grandes Pagos de España, además se otorgará un reconocimiento de participación que avala el conocimiento obtenido en este evento.

Aunque se pretende que este taller alcance muchos rincones del mundo, por lo pronto comenzará, este otoño, en Miami, e México, donde expertos embajadores del vino serán los encargados de compartir con profesionales y aficionados, todo sobre los Pagos y las regiones vinícolas de España. Si te interesa esta experiencia única

May 17, 2023

Grandes Pagos x Monica Marin

historyandwine l#ihfi Message

1,897 posts 9,946 followers 4,161 following

Jacqueline Coleman Writer

Contributor-> @biscaynetimes

Host-> Food, News, & Views

Co-Founder -> @wineguidemiami Fr eelance-> allover , Miami + on the road

historyandwine In my element... •

It was a pleasure to visit @gramona1881 in the Penedes region o Spain this week. Gramona is part of the @grandespagos and a producerunder the Corpin at designationof spa ling wine.

Corpinnat wines are spar ing wines of excellence made in he Penedes region by prod cers who use only organic grapes, harvest by hand, and produce their own wine at their facilities, amongst other quality and heritage standards.

Wineries within the Grandes Pagos de Espana are a the highest level of Spanish wine classification and also promote heritage, quality standards, and single estate production as some of their classifica ion requirements.

Gramona represents the joining of two families, and recognizes wine produc ion dating back o 1881. It is still a amily owned and run company w· h the 6th generation now ta ing par inoperations.

The sparkling wines in the historicor"ginalcellar, which descends three levels into the ground and includes a solera dating back to 1910, are aged a minimum o 60 months (way more than t e Cava requirementof 9 mos). Additio lly, the wines inthe original cellar are riddled and disgorged by hand. Tai about heritage in this region!

In this series is aphoto of their still rose, Mart, made from he red Xarel-lo Vcrmell grape. A refreshing summertime treat

Much more to say about this beautiful place in the world, but I really just think you should try the wines for yourself. @

#gramona #penedes #spanishwine #spain #penedeswineregion #grandespagosdeespaiia #corpinnat #sparklingwine #winelover #winewriter

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Women's History Month: Women Making History in Wine: Sipping Albariños w/Isabel Salgado, Bodegas Fillaboa

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The Terroir Workshop by Grandes Pagos de España to Launch in Mexico and the

US in Summer 2023

- This project seeks to teach students about the impact of geography, culture, people, and history on wines’ identity -

Wine lovers are going to be able to get a crash course in terroir culture, thanks to a new initiative from Grandes Pagos de España, a top association in Spain comprising 36 single estate vineyards. Members are carefully chosen and there’s a large focus on quality winemaking and viticulture, among other aspects.

Grandes Pagos de España will be offering The Terroir Workshop, the goal of which is to go beyond traditional wine topics and teach students all about the importance and role of terroir in winemaking.

The course will be launched initially in Mexico and Miami and Los Angeles to industry professionals as well as consumers in August 2023, and there are plans to expand to other locations in the future. It will be led by top wine ambassadors/educators and will spotlight the best pagos in Spain, a single vineyard designation. The educators will talk about the impact of culture, geography, climate, people, and history on terroir in 8 different regions, among them the Mediterranean, Meseta Central, Green Spain, and the Ebro River Valley.

The course will include about 8 to 10 hours of guided education and tasting, the latter being an especially critical component. Ultimately, the goal is to cover how the wineries in the Grandes Pagos de España have unique and singular identities based not only on their culture, history, and geography, but also on the people who are making their wines today.

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Recién llegué de Croacia tuve la oportunidad de participar en la presentación del programa “Terroir Workshop de Grandes Pagos de España (GPE)”, presentado por mi querida Sandra Fernández, embajadora de Grandes Pagos de España en México, y Adolfo Hornos, enólogo de Pago de Vallegarcía.

Por primera vez, la asociación española impartirá un programa de formación internacional presentando la cultura del terroir español como eje central, valorando la importancia de la viticultura y la vinificación de calidad junto con la influencia de las personas, la historia,

la cultura, la geografía y el clima. El tema es relevante, primero, porque México será punto de partida en paralelo con España y Estados Unidos. Segundo, porque el programa académico estará dirigido a comunicadores y profesionales del sector, pero también a entusiastas y amantes del vino

Los grandes de España

“Carlos, ¿vinos de Pago?”. Ese es el primer paradigma a romper… La asociación Grandes Pagos de España no solo se dedica a la promoción de los vinos de pago definidos en el marco regulatorio español, ¡no!, sino a la defensa y fomento de la máxima expresión del terroir en vinos únicos y de muy alta calidad que sean capaces de reflejar fielmente el lugar de donde proceden. ¡Punto!

De hecho, no basta con que los vinos procedan de un viñedo cuyas características físicas (composición de suelo, orientación, clones de cepas, etcétera) puedan diferenciarlo del resto. Para que una bodega pueda formar parte de la asociación GPE debe cumplir con varios requisitos: que el vino proceda de un pago excepcional, que la bodega alcance una notoriedad demostrable y al menos cinco años de prestigio en el mercado, además de altas puntuaciones en guías nacionales e internacionales.

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La bodega también debe superar una inspección por parte del comité de auditoría técnica y sus vinos, destacar en una cata vertical a cargo de la junta general de la asociación.

Hoy, GPE reúne a 36 bodegas de todos los rincones de España, las cuales representan una superficie total de viñedo cercana a las 2 mil 180 hectáreas. Las cepas cultivadas son tan variadas como sorprend 60 variedades, dominantemente Tempranillo, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha y Chardonnay, pero también Ondarrabi Zuri, Viognier, Monastrell, Graciano e incluso Maturana Tinta.

¿Los vinos? Tuve la oportunidad de probar siete de las excepcionales etiquetas que formarán parte del programa: Astobiza, Malkoa 2016, DO Txakolí de Álava; Secastilla, La Miranda de Secastilla 2020, DO Somontano; Pago de Vallegarcía, Viognier 2020, DOP Pago de Vallegarcía; Enrique Mendoza, Finca Xaconero 2018, DO Alicante; Finca Valpiedra, Finca Valpiedra 2015, DOCa Rioja; Alonso del Yerro, Alonso del Yerro 2018, DO Ribera del Duero, y Aalto, Aalto 2019, DO Ribera del Duero.

¡Anótelo!, el “Terroir Workshop de Grandes Pagos de España” arrancará en el último trimestre del 2023, únicamente cuando los 36 exponentes asociados a GPE logren aterrizar de la mano de importadores nacionales.

Los grandes de España

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La bodega también debe superar una inspección por parte del comité de auditoría técnica y sus vinos, destacar en una cata vertical a cargo de la junta general de la asociación.

Hoy, GPE reúne a 36 bodegas de todos los rincones de España, las cuales representan una superficie total de viñedo cercana a las 2 mil 180 hectáreas. Las cepas cultivadas son tan variadas como sorprendentes; 60 variedades, dominantemente Tempranillo, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha y Chardonnay, pero también Ondarrabi Zuri, Viognier, Monastrell, Graciano e incluso Maturana Tinta.

The Terroir Workshop: un curso de vinos Grandes Pagos de España

Cynthia Benítez

La sommelier Sandra Fernández presentó el curso The Terroir Workshop, un programa de formación para consumidores aficionados y profesionales sobre los vinos más especiales de toda la penínsuloa Ibérica: los Grandes Pagos de España. Treinta y seis bodegas que pertenecen a esta, la denominación más alta y compleja para los vinos en este país. Existen en todas las regiones, con tintos, blancos, rosados y espumosos.

Hablar de los Grandes Pagos de España es, en términos de calidad, como los Grand Cru franceses: aquellas botellas tan especiales que se producen en pequeñas cantidades y saben a su territorio. También involucra a las personas que lo hacen y cuenta historias de familias, generaciones enteras que han crecido en la vitivinicultura.

Un mundo que aprender en The Terroir Workshop

El estudio y la cata se centrarán en los pagos españoles más importantes cultivados en terrenos vitícolas excepcionales. El taller cubrirá ocho regiones de España y su historia, cultura, geografía, clima y la gente en el terroir. Se catarán 36 vinos distintos que representan cada una de las bodegas que forman parte del colectivo.

Las clases serán cien por ciento presenciales; la primera certificación se impartirá en Domecq Academy ubicada en Presidente Masaryk 275, Col. Polanco los días 26 y 27 de septiembre e incluirán una combinación de presentaciones dinámicas, pruebas para reforzar el aprendizaje, y una cata de una amplia selección de pagos de GPE. Los alumnos que finalicen con éxito el curso recibirán un certificado con valor curricular.

Ser miembro de Grandes Pagos de España se basa en un proceso de selección riguroso e independiente que valora la importancia de la viticultura y la vinificación de calidad. También se toma en cuenta el saber hacer: la influencia de las personas, la historia, la cultura, la geografía y el clima.

La pertenencia a esta denominación se basa en rigurosos criterios de selección que buscan la excelencia vitivinícola a nivel de pago. Esto se refiere a un viñedo delimitado que constituye la máxima designación de terruño en España. Tiene como objetivo salvaguardar la personalidad de cada una de estas botellas, promover el espíritu de la viticultura española y producir vinos sobresalientes.

May 23, 2023

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May 23, 2023

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Sandra Fernández impartirá la certificación The Terroir Workshop by Grandes Pagos de España Cynthia Benítez

Si las botellas de vino tuvieran la capacidad de hablar, te contarían la historia de su terroir, sus lugares de origen, las diversas genéticas de las plantas de las que proceden, las características climáticas a las que se tienen que enfrentar las viñas para crecer, las técnicas que implementan para cosechar las uvas, sus otras de sus especificaciones.

Para darle voz y compartir las cualidades de cada uno de estos vinos surgió The Terroir Workshop by Grandes Pagos de España, creado por Grandes Pagos de España (GPE). Esta asociación de productores españoles, fundada en el año 2000, que se dedica a defender y promover la expresión del terrior en vinos capaces de reflejar su lugar de procedencia.

The Terroir Workshop by Grandes Pagos de España es un programa de formación internacional que se ingenió durante la pandemia. Hasta el momento, certificación se hará en Estados Unidos y México. nuestro país, la embajadora del curso es la sommelier Sandra Fernández, ella guiará a

España Verde, Meseta Norte, Valle del Ebro, Cataluña, en y

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El principal objetivo es promover y enseñar que en España se hacen grandes vinos con una excepcional calidad; se Una cuestión por destacar es que las bodegas que conforman este técnicas

Más razones para asistir al taller

Al ser una certificación 100% presencial podrás catar los 36 vinos. Además, contarán con estupendo material gráfico para complementar tu aprendizaje:

• Recibirás una guía de estudio digital para leer antes del curso.

• Conocerás los perfiles completos de las bodegas de GPE, tal como: Viñedos Alonso del Yerro, Aalto Bodegas y Viñedos, Astobiza Wines, Secastilla: El Valle, Bodegas Enrique Mendoza, Bodegas Finca Valpiedra, Pago de Vallegarcía, entre muchas otras.

• Los alumnos que finalicen con éxito el curso recibirán un certificado emitido por Grandes Pagos de España.

Apunta en tu agenda el mes de septiembre, porque la primera certificación de The Terroir Workshop by Grandes Pagos de España se realizará en ese mes en las instalaciones de Domecq Academy. Tendrá una duración de ocho horas repartidas en dos días. Dirección: Presidente Masaryk 275, Col. Polanco.

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Weighing Wine Scores against Price

Kathleen Willcox

November 28, 2022

Circulation: 3,416,223

Digital

Nobel prize winners, Harvard University graduates and recipients of a "perfect" wine score from a Major Wine Critic have one very important thing in common: no one will ever leave any interaction with the honorees without being aware of their achievement.

Wineries – and those redoubtable prize winners and gifted students – are justly proud of their accomplishment. Producers put almost as much emphasis on any new appellation or AVA designation, or quality qualifier, like Grand Cru or Gran Riserva. But what, in the end, are these industry-beloved feats truly worth?

Special places

Every country has their own system for shouting out and qualifying a particular patch of soil, but they are all roughly based on the French Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée/Protégée system, instituted in 1937.

In the US, the first American Viticultural Area (AVA) was designated in 1980 (surprisingly perhaps, it was in Augusta, Missouri). By 1993, it was clear that these designations created value for the producer, and recognized them, officially, as amortizable assets. Still, it’'s no guarantee of success.

"The mere naming of a region doesn't do a thing," McMillan says. "It still gets down to how you build that AVA brand. Rat's Nest Ridge AVA for instance, isn't going to help the producers inside that region sell a single bottle. The name in this fictional example wouldn't help either. But if enough of the producers in that region begin to gain critical acclaim for their production, over time the brand associated with that region will help provide marginal improvement in results for most of the producers in the region."

McMillan points to the IRS decision to give vineyard owners tax deductions based on the value of their AVA. That means if 25 percent of your $6 million allocation to your land is a premium you paid for the AVA designation alone, you could allocate $1.5 million to that designation, and then deduct a portion of amortization per year for 15 years. The exact savings would be dependent on your tax bracket, but in any case, it would lead to tens, if not hundreds of thousands worth of savings.

For Benchmark Wine Group, a source for fine and rare wine for retailers, restaurants and collectors, geographic and quality designations are key selling points.

"Grand cru in Burgundy is always a sales drive, however that typically comes with a price tag," says Benchmark's sales and events manager Jen Saxby. "A lot of our clients, especially when speaking of Burgundy, pay attention to the vintage as well as the producer. This year, the West Sonoma Coast AVA (the true Sonoma Coast) was granted appellation status. The AVA status clearly highlights and differentiates the growing areas that lie truly within reach of the coast versus being encompassed in the broader Sonoma Coast AVA. We saw an increase in sales of these wines almost immediately."

She said the greatest interest came from high-end collectors.

Olivier Legrand, general director of the Conseil Interprofessional du Vin de Languedoc, says that geographic designations are very important to both winegrowers' image of their work, and the financial success of the brands within the region that is elevated.

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"The shift from sub-regional appellations to communal appellations – like AOP Languedoc-Terrasses du Larzac to the moredefined AOP Terrasses du Larzac, for example – is validation for the winegrower, and a recognition of their collective work and an opportunity to enhance product value," Legrand says.

"Appellation status also helps to differentiate and define the wide range of available wine styles to support more nuanced commercial distinctions among producers. How restrictive the specifications are for each appellation impacts pricing and perception."

But the designation, Legrand says, has to be accompanied with an educational and PR push for that impact to be felt. Beatriz Hernández, manager of Grandes Pagos de España. concurs. Grandes Pagos de España, she explains, is an association of 36 wineries created to promote the culture and understanding of single-estate terroirs, apart from the typical appellation system – members bottle wines under everything from Vino de la Tierra to DO Vino de Pago.

"We invest heavily in outreach to sommeliers, retail buyers and importer/distributors as we recognize the importance of their support," Hernández says. "Seminars with GPE winemakers and educational trips to Spain have been successful in creating 'ambassadors', who spread the word about the importance of terroir and careful work in the vineyards and cellars to make these singular wines. In the 20-plus years since Grandes Pagos de España was established, we've achieved recognition in our sector worldwide."

How a bottle of wine is priced today, and how it can be priced tomorrow, is, as it turns out, highly dependent on reviews, geographic and quality qualifiers.

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