Your Excellency; Acting Chancellor; Vice Chancellor; New Caballeros; friends and colleagues in the world of wine in Spain and the UK, and especially those who have made the journey from ICEX in Madrid to join us: Welcome.
And a very special welcome to those who have not attended before.
I’m very pleased to welcome Her Excellency Doña Emma Aparici Vazquez de Parga. She joined us just before Christmas. And is the first ever woman Ambassador from Spain to the UK. In fact Catherine of Aragon could be said to have been the first in 1507. But to all intents and purposes we welcome Her Excellency as the first. I am also really delighted to welcome Doña Amparo López de Senovilla, Secretary of State for Trade, and our Acting Chancellor.
As you know this is a unique event in the wine trade in the UK. No other country or region does anything like this. I became a Caballero in 2010, and used to come as a guest before that in the early 2000s. I can still remember the excitement I felt at seeing the world of Spanish wine in one place. Then as now our dinners are a terrific opportunity to celebrate and to network. Take the opportunity this evening to make new connections and to relax with old friends.
Last autumn the Caballeros launched their first mentor programme and we have six excellent winners. Our hope is that they will be Ambassadors for Spain, and may in due course become Caballeros themselves. We have three of them in the room tonight: Isabel Salamon of Slonk Wine, Nancy Green from Indigo Wines, and Joe Emmett from Berry Bros.
The Orden has grown and continues to develop. As I am sure you know, the Caballeros are nominated and voted for by members of the Orden. And we are very grateful that both our newest Caballeros Amelia Aragon and Rafael Palacios have kindly supplied wines for the dinner. Thank you.
The wines we enjoy tonight, a showcase of the diversity of Spain, were selected by a team of Caballeros from submissions by the importers. This year, by chance, you have a real taste of the Orden, because every wine (except one) comes from a Caballero winery.
The white wine we enjoyed at the Investiture came from Bodegas Muga, who along with their importer C&D Winesare long supporters of the Gran Orden. This investiture wine was often a Sherry but we decided to change the Flor de Muga to highlight the growing success of white Rioja. For the starter we have a wine from our first Caballero in Valdeorras. It is partnered by a Rosado – not a regular style at the Dinner – from the only winery at this dinner that is not a member of the Gran Orden. José Luis Ripa sends his apologies as he is in Jerez with María José López de Heredia and other Caballeros at the Academie Internacional du Vin. – but I am delighted to say the family is represented tonight by Mercedes and her daughter Vega.
For the main course we will be enjoying two contrasting wines from the two most famous origins for UK consumers: a Ribera del Duero from new Caballero Amelia Aragón’s family winery, and a Rioja from Telmo Rodríguez. To finish, a light and delightful treat from our friends at Bodegas Ochoa in Navarra. The details for the wines from the reception and for the Stirrup Cupp after the dinner are in your menus. I’d particularly draw your attention as a talking point to the fact that we served a non-alcoholic wine at the reception. This is an innovation. The question is: do you think lo and no alcoholic wines will be a fixture on the dinner tables 10 years from now?
It’s usually at this point that I make some reference to Spain’s astonishing sporting success, notably in tennis. However this year as a loyal supporter of Arsenal, I have to raise a cheer for the Gunners. Last Saturday night I was partying in Vinoble at fellow Caballeros Gonzalez Byass. At the same time, following the match under the table on my mobile. In the end Arsenal lost bravely on penalties, but thankfully there was very fine Sherry to soothe my sorrow.
Looking back over the last couple of years I can observe that what has historically been a wine-focused Gran Orden has been working much more closely with ICEX both in London and Spain, bringing together food and wine.
That brings me to the menu we are enjoying. The Caballero who has been working behind the scenes with the Executive Chef Gary Klaner, is of course Owen Morgan.Owen is a beacon for Spain’s food and wine in Wales. Several Caballeros went down to Cardiff for the winemaker dinner he hosted with Caballero Norrel Robertson. Norrel risked life and limb turning up with a tartan scarf the night before the Wales/Scotland rugby match at Cardiff Arms Park over the road. A great evening!
To conclude this speech let me say my thank yous on behalf of the Caballeros:
To our terrific toastmaster who keeps us in order, Ted Prior.
To The Team at the hotel.
To All the very hardworking team at the Commercial Office in London who actually make this happen.
To our friends from Spain, and to the Secretary of State and the Ambassador.
And to you our guests for joining us.
Would all the Caballeros in the room please stand and raise a glass to toast our Guests. Our guests!