Del Yerro is the first woman president to head Spain’s leading organization of 36 single-estate wineries.
(Madrid, Spain) June 27, 2023 – Grandes Pagos de España (GPE), the leading Spanish association of 36 renowned single estate vineyards known as the “Grands Crus of Spain,” has named María del Yerro as its new president, making her the first woman to lead the organization. Del Yerro will succeed former president Toni Sarrión, who following the conclusion of his term remains actively involved on GPE’s advisory team to support a seamless transition. A member of the GPE’s Board of Directors, del Yerro is a founder of Viñedos Alonso del Yerro in Ribera del Duero, which earned GPE membership in 2010.
“Under Toni Sarrión’s presidency, Grandes Pagos de España strengthened the technical side of our association with many essential initiatives that demonstrate the proud integrity of our member wineries to the world,” del Yerro said. “As we enter our next stage of growth, my mission is to maximize this progress by promoting the value of Spanish pagos worldwide, and to selectively grow Grandes Pagos de España with new members that share our philosophy of making exceptional terroir-driven wines.”
Fluent in English and French, del Yerro has worked in wine for 30 years alongside her husband Javier Alonso. Together, they founded Viñedos Alonso del Yerro in 2002 in the Ribera del Duero region. Known for her collaborative and interdisciplinary approach, del Yerro is committed to the continuing success of GPE’s member wineries with a particular focus on constant interchange between members to advance the scientific and technical development of winemaking and cultivation techniques, as well as new ventures in wine tourism and global education.
Among new initiatives, GPE recently announced the launch of The Terroir Workshop by Grandes Pagos de España, a global education program that goes beyond traditional wine study to present terroir culture on a whole new level. As of August 2023, the program will debut in the U.S. and Mexico with comprehensive coursework designed for consumers and trade led by top Spanish wine experts. Classroom study and tasting will focus on the foremost Spanish “pagos,” a single vineyard designation equivalent to the term “cru” reserved for notable viticultural sites.
The 36 member wineries of GPE are highly representative of the single vineyard diversity of Spain with pagos selected from Green Spain, Meseta North, Ebro River Valley, Meseta Central, Catalonia, the Mediterranean, the South and the Islands. Membership in GPE is based on a rigorous and independent selection process that values the importance of quality viticulture and winemaking together with the influence of people, history, culture, geography and climate. To be eligible for 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. Members are subject to continuing assessment by an independent tasting committee to ensure that quality standards are maintained.
About Grandes Pagos de España
Founded in 2000, Grandes Pagos de España is a non-profit association of 36 prestigious wineries 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 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 produce wines of excellence in harmony with the soil, nature and climate of each vineyard. The organization has just launched The Terroir Workshop by Grandes Pagos de España (currently available in the U.S. and Mexico) to explore Spanish terroir in the context of history, science, geography, language and people. Click here for more information about Grandes Pagos de España.
