July 25, 2025 (Fort Worth, TX) — History has been made in Rioja. Vino del Sol, importer for Bodegas Ontañón, proudly announces that winery partner and CEO of Bodegas Ontañón Familia, Raquel Pérez Cuevas has been elected, with 99% of the votes, the first female President of DOCa Rioja’s Regulatory Council. From the village of Quel in Rioja Oriental, Raquel is a fourth-generation winemaker, and daughter of Gabriel Pérez Cuevas, founder of Ontañón. Quoted in Decanter Magazine Raquel says, “It’s an honour to be the first female president of the Regulatory Council – although I won’t be the only one, as women are becoming ever more present in [the wine industry].” Matt Hedges, President of Vino Del Sol states, “All of us at Vino del Sol are honored to represent the extraordinary wines of Bodegas Ontañón Familia, and proud of Raquel and all her achievements.”
Rioja, Spain’s oldest DOCa and its hundred-year anniversary coincides with Raquel’s election as President. She is also President of Grupo Rioja and must balance the interests of both groups, as well as continuing to carry out the duties as CEO of Bodegas Ontañón Familia. Devoted to being stewards of the land, the Perez Cuevas Family is the largest single-family landowner in the region with wineries and vineyards in Rioja, Ribera del Duero & Rueda.
Raquel is committed to quality in all aspects of production and will involve the more than 13,000 growers and nearly 600 wineries of the Designation to continue making “the best wines in the world.” She and the Board will work to ensure a balance in the region between care of the environment, sustainability, tourism, promotion of digitalization and engaging future generations. Raquel has already made it clear that she will not be the only woman president going forward and believes, “The female presence in the world of wine is becoming more important every day… “
ABOUT VINO DEL SOL
Vino del Sol was founded in 2004 and is led by Matt Hedges, Alejandro Darago and Kevin Millman. Our mission is to be your trusted source for great wine and leading importer of terroir-driven, sustainable, estate-grown wines that over-deliver. As “The Argentine Wine Specialist®, and, “Your Trusted Source for Great Wine®,” we market exceptional wines and sakes from Argentina, California, Chile, Japan, New Zealand and Spain. We are exclusive U.S. importer of Altocedro, Anko, Black Cabra, Criss Cross, Elliott Brothers Bourbon, Gen5, Kosten, Kura Selections Sake, Lamadrid, Las Cartas, Osmosis®, Ontañón, Quierón, Rippa Dorii, River Farm, Taonga, Tapiz, Tara, Tassajara, Zaha & Teho, Wapisa, Zolo. Vino del Sol is the Wine Star Award, 2024 Importer of the Year.
ABOUT BODEGAS ONTAÑÓN FAMILIA
Bodegas Ontañón Familia, is a family-owned, sustainable winery located in the heart of Rioja. For four generations, the Pérez Cuevas family has cultivated vineyard land south of the Ebro River outside the town of Quel in Rioja Oriental. Today their properties total more than 800 hectares, include the higher elevation slopes of Sierra Yerga, and properties in Rueda, and Ribera del Duero. One of the top three family vineyard owners in Spain, siblings Raquel, Ruben, Leticia and Maria view themselves as stewards of the land and are dedicated to preserving the essence and history of the wines of Rioja DOCa through Bodegas Ontañón Familia. Raquel Pérez Cuevas has been elected the first women President of DOCa Rioja.
