Viña Doña Paula appoints first CEO

Argentine winery Viña Doña Paula has announced that Mauricio Palacios will take on the role of CEO from the beginning of next year.

Palacios trained as an agronomist and joined Santa Rita Estates in 2007 as a produce advisor. Over the subsequent decade and a half he undertook numerous business management, logistical, operational and financial positions in Chile and Argentina. At present he is production manager of Viña Santa Rita in Chile.

Palacios will be returning to Argentina to take up the position, which has been newly created within the company, on 1 January 2023. The role will see him report to the four-member board of directors: Viña Santa Rita chairman Baltazar Sánchez, directors Pedro Ovalle and Andrés Navarro, and Viña Santa Rita CEO Andrés Lavados.

Concerning his appointment to the position, Palacios said: “It is with tremendous pride that I will be taking on this new role and challenge, with the objective of taking Doña Paula to the next level, consolidating us as one of the most important and relevant wineries in Argentina. We will continue to promote the production of premium wines with the excellence that characterises our products; developing initiatives that allow us to generate new ways to connect and captivate consumers; and continue to promote the Doña Paula brand both in Argentina and the rest of the world”.

At present, Doña Paula, which was founded in 1997, is active in 40 export markets around the world and currently owns 1125 hectares in Mendoza’s premium areas of Luján de Cuyo and Uco Valleys.

Earlier this year, Doña Paula and Santa Rita teamed up with North South Wines to bring their products to the UK off-trade.