Former retailer and restaurateur become Caballeros

Melissa Draycott and Abel Lusa were inducted into the Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino in London last night.

Each year, two new figures, one from the UK and one from Spain, are chosen to enter the order for their contribution to the Spanish wine trade and are awarded a red and gold robe at an investiture dinner.

Melissa has shown extensive support for Spanish wine, especially during her 19 years as fortified wine buyer at Sainsbury’s, where she reinvigorated the Sherry category.

As a result of her success with Sherry in the competitive British supermarket sector, she was asked to become senior business manager at González Byass UK in May 2010, a position she still holds today.

Abel has similarly displayed dedication to Spanish wine, although, unlike Melissa (below), his efforts have been channeled through the on-trade.

Founder of the longstanding and highly respected Cambio de Tercio restaurant in Kensington, as well as tapas bars Tendido Cero and Tendido Cuatro, he has championed Spanish wines in London for many years.

More recently, with his opening last year of Sherry bar Capote y Toros, he has promoted the diversity of Sherry with a vast collection of the fortified wine by the glass.

Both personalities proved popular choices judging by the cheering and clapping when their names were announced at the investiture dinner last night at London’s Dorchester Hotel.