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Spanish MW named Caballero del Vino

27 June 2024 By Louis Thomas

The Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino, the order honouring those who have contributed to the advancement of Spanish wines in the UK, has announced three new members.

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The order, founded in 1984 by Wines from Spain, held its 39th investiture dinner at the Landmark London Hotel on 13 June.

During the dinner, which 250 guests attended, the three new members were announced. Among them was Hal Wilson, the owner and co-founder of Cambridge Wine Merchants, which he founded in 1993. A particular enthusiast of Spanish fortified wines, he also serves as an educator and a lobbyist against barriers to trade.

Also honoured was Basque Country-born Amaya Cervera, the founder and editor of Spanish Wine Lover, a bilingual website focused on the country’s wine which she founded in 2014. Since then, it has won the Best Online Platform at the IWC Spanish Wine Merchant Awards four times.

The third recipient was Almudena Alberca MW, the only woman to have completed the Master of Wine qualification in Spain. Starting her career producing boutique wines for Viñas del Cenit in Zamora, she went on to serve as technical director at Iberian wine giant Entrecanales Domecq e Hijos, and now works as an independent oenologist and consultant.

“Without talented professionals championing Spanish produce, the industry couldn’t overcome the challenges it faces,” said the Gran Orden’s acting chancellor Pablo Conde. “By recognising professionals like yourselves for your role in the education, advancement and business of quality Spanish wines in the UK, we can play a fundamental part in the future of the industry.”

In 2022, the Gran Orden admitted another MW, as was also the case in 2023.

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