Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino announces three new members

The Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino (GOCV) inducted three new members last week, with each recognised for their contribution to the promotion of Spanish wine in the UK.

At a dinner held on 29 June at Landmark London Hotel, 220 figures in the industry assembled to celebrate the achievements of three people who have furthered the reputation of wines from Spain.

Speeches were given by Álvaro Nadal, head of the Spanish Economic & Commercial Office, Elisa Carbonell, director general of ICEX (España Exportación e Inversiones), and Sarah Jane Evans MW, chairman of GOCV.

The new caballeros, or knights, were revealed to be: Jo Ahearne MW (experienced winemaker, consultant and buyer), Ferran Centelles (previous head sommelier at El Bulli, now a writer and researcher for the elBullifoundation and with Jancis Robinson), and Jesús de Madrazo Mateo (fifth-generation winemaker and previous technical director at the influential Viñedos del Contino group, and founder and winemaker of Jesus Madrazo Wines).

Ahearne began her career at Oddbins, and after studying for a BSc in winemaking, spearheaded numerous projects across Spain. She completed her MW in 2008 and currently works as Boutinot’s buyer for Spain.

Having worked at the legendary, and now closed, El Bulli under the tuition of Eloy and Juli Soler, Centelles has gone on to become a successful wine writer and educator.

Continuing the work of his father, José Angel, who founded Spain’s first single-estate winery, de Madrazo Mateo has devoted the last 24 years of his career to furthering Anglo-Spanish wine relations. In 2019 he launched his own project, Jesús Madrazo Wines, producing wines in Ribera del Duero and Rioja.

Founded in 1985 by Wines from Spain, GOCV has accumulated almost 100 caballeros over the years. Last October, three other members of the order were announced.