GRANDES PAGOS – A TERROIR MISSION
Founded in 2000, Grandes Pagos de España is a non-profit association of 33 prestigious wineries dedicated to single-estate production 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 parcel 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 make wines of excellence in harmony with the soil, nature and climate of each vineyard. Just launched, The Terroir Workshop by Grandes Pagos de España (currently available in the U.S. and Mexico) explores Spanish terroir in the context of history, science, geography, language and people.
KEY PILLARS
1. To make and promote pago wines of the highest quality, made with distinct personality and respectfortheirterroiroforigin
2. Todefendthecultureandqualityofpagowinesthroughouttheworld
3. TopreserveanddevelopthebesttraditionsofSpanishvineyardsandwinemaking
4. Toadvancethescientificandtechnicaldevelopmentofwinemakingandcultivationtechniques
5. Topromoteconstantinterchangebetweenmemberstoadvanceviticultureandwinemaking
HISTORY- INSERT TIMELINE
Grandes Pagos de Castilla is founded by five estates 2000
Collaboration with Spanish government to add single estate wines (Vino de Pago) to national wine law 2003
Grandes Pagos de España is renamed and expands beyond Castilla with 12 member estates 2004
Grandes Pagos has grown to 33 wineries TODAY
At the turn of the 21st Century, a group of five producers of single-estate wines came together with a shared vision and mission for the future of Spanish winemaking. The establishment of Grandes Pagos de Castilla in 2000 laid the foundation for a new association of winemakers dedicated to high-quality, single-estate wine production. By 2004, the group had grown beyond Castilla to 12 estates known as Grandes Pagos de España. The exponential growth in the years since is a testimony to the collective value of preserving terroir and single vineyard origins in modern winemaking: As of 2023, Grandes Pagos de España includes 33 wineries.
THE GRANDS CRUS OF SPAIN
Criteria for Admission to Grandes Pagos de España
To be eligible for GPE 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. New members must pass a rigorous inspection and quality testing process. Existing members are subject to annual blind tasting evaluations conducted by an independent External Expert Tasting Committee (CCEC). These evaluations ensure quality continually meets the GPE’ standards of membership, which can be revoked if a winerynolongermeetsthecriteria.
ESPAÑA
DENOMINACIONES DE ORIGEN
DOP: Vino de Pago
DOCa
DO
VC
IGP: Vino de la Tierra
Vino (de mesa)
Vino de Pago vs. Grandes Pagos de España (GPE)
Vino de Pago isawineclassificationestablishedin2003bythe Spanishgovernmenttorecognizeselectestateswithspecialsoil structure. The Vino de Pago legal requirements are based primarily on soil composition. In contrast, GPE membership requires a track record of the highest quality as defined by benchmarks like style, balance, terroir reflection and outstanding winery values. Not all Vino de Pago wineries are GPE members (and vice versa), however, the two designations have a close relationship; many of the GPE founding members advocated for the national legislation that led to the creation of theVinodePagodesignation.
OBJECTIVES
Excellence
In keeping with Grandes Pagos de España's maxim of maintaining the highest level of quality, personality and uniqueness of its member wines, an External Committee of Expert Tasters is entrusted with the continuous evaluation of all the wines of the associated wineries, which must be submitted at least onceayearoreverytimethereisachangeofvintage.
This is done by means of a blind tasting, requiring a minimumscoreof16pointsonascaleof20.
Education
Grandes Pagos de España offers an extensive educational program to certify knowledge of Spanish terroir. GPE has forged relationships with leading sommelier and trade organizations, to support an expansive educational focus including Spanish terroir, history, culture and gastronomy supported by two levels of custom coursework for professionals.. GPE has just launched The Terroir Workshop to support globaleducationfortrade and consumers.
Exchange of Knowledge
GPE membership builds community engagement and collaboration through a “network of knowledge” to exchange ideas. Exclusively for members, the program includes regular regional tastings, wine region immersion trips, winemaker collaboration, expert seminars and discussions on technical subjects, global exportsandmarketing.
Sustainability
GPE is committed to sustainability and environmental preservation. Many GPE estates are located in specially protected natural areas: 25 of the 33 member wineries practice organic viticulture (15 are certified), and three wineries practice biodynamic viticulture (two are certified). GPE provides resources and guidelines to reinforceresponsibleenvironmentalpractices.
INTRODUCING THE TERROIR WORKSHOP
GrandesPagosdeEspañahaslaunchedTheTerroirWorkshop..Theglobaleducationprogramofferscomprehensivecourseworkfor consumersandtradeledbytopWineEducators.TheTerroirWorkshopdebutedintheU.S.andMexicoin2023,andaimstopresent terroircultureonawholenewlevel.
SELF STUDY GUIDE
Pre-Read digital textbook
SINGLE VINEYARD TASTING With Global Educators
GUIDED CLASSROOM STUDY
Monica Marin is the Director of Wine Education Programs for The Wine House in Los Angeles. She holds a WSET Level 4 Diploma and is a certified instructor for WSET at the intermediate, advanced, and Diploma levels globally - receiving a nomination for WSET Educator of the Year in 2019.
AlessandraMonicaEstevesMarin
Sandra Fernández Gaytán
Sandra Fernández Gaytán is a sommelier, Certified Wine Specialist and Certified Wine Educator based in Mexico City. Her company SFG Estrategias consults with restaurants, hotels and private collectors. Camara Nacional de la Industria Restaurantera, the leading Mexican hospitality trade organization, named Sandra 2022 Sommelier of the Year.
PAGO
Created by current GPE members (click to view sample)
WATCH THE TERROIR WORKSHOP VIDEO
READ THE PRESS RELEASE
“Thetermpagoisattheheartofwhoweareasanorganizationandwhatwehopeto communicatethroughoureducationprogram.Eachofourwinerieshasasingularidentity basedontheiruniquegeography,culture,historyandperhapsmostsignificantly,thepeople behindthewinestoday.” ToniSarrión,President,GrandesPagosdeEspaña
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“TERROIR” GUIDES
FAQs
WHEN WILL THE TERROIR WORKSHOP LAUNCH?
The Terroir Workshop by Grandes Pagos de España debuted in Los Angeles and Mexico as of 2023, with additional locations in Boston, San Francisco, Dallas, London and Tokyo launching in 2024. Classes are led by notable Spanish wine experts including: Monica Marin DipWSET in Los Angeles; Sandra Fernández Gaytán, of SFG Estrategias in Mexico; Erika Frey at Commonwealth Wine School in Boston; David Glancy MS at San Francisco Wine School; Dilek CanerMWatDallasWineCenter;JimmySmithandFranMoynihanatWestLondonWineSchool,UK;andYoshikoAkehi withtheAcademieduVininTokyo.
WHAT TOPICS WILL BE COVERED?
Each workshop will cover eight regions of Spain (Green Spain, Meseta North, Ebro River Valley, Catalonia, Mediterranean, Meseta Central, South and the Islands) with guided instruction to encompass the impact of history, culture, geography, climate and people on terroir. Students will receive a pre-read digital study guide. Additionally, students will study comprehensive profiles of GPE wineries to guide their immersion into Spanish pago and terroir culture.
WHAT IS THE COURSE LENGTH AND FORMAT?
GPE Wine Educators 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. 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 whocompleteallcoursehourswillreceiveacertificateofcompletion.
For more information about The Terroir Workshop, including updates on upcoming class schedules, please register here.
For press inquiries, please contact: Claire Martin (claire@gregoryvine.com)
