Excellence in education and promotion of quality and premium wines from Spain
Congratulations are due to Nieves Barragán, Member of the Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino Español. The Spanish chef has been awarded a Michelin Star in the 2026 edition of the Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland, for her venue Legado, which opened in August 2025. This is in addition to the Michelin Star that she has retained for her other restaurant Sabor, first awarded in 2018.
Originally from just outside Bilbao in the Basque Country, a region renowned for its cuisine, Nieves has lived in the UK since 1998, when she started work as a kitchen porter at Simply Nico in Pimlico. After rising through the ranks to chef de partie, she was offered a position by the Harts Group at a new Spanish restaurant they were planning in Soho. Fino opened in 2003, with Nieves as sous-chef, quickly becoming acclaimed for its authentic Spanish menu.
In 2007, the Harts group opened its second venue, Barrafina, with Nieves promoted to executive chef of both venues. The 2013 Michelin Guide awarded it a Michelin Star, unusual for a bar-only tapas venue that offered no reservations. Two more Barrafinas were opened in 2014 and 2015, with Nieves overseeing all four, before leaving in 2017 to set up her own restaurant, Sabor on London’s Heddon Street.
In summer 2025, Nieves opened her biggest project yet in Shoreditch. Legado (meaning legacy) is her creative playground bringing together all her experience and inspirations. Ingredients are at the heart of everything she does, sourcing the finest meat from farms in Spain, such as Tabladillo el Cochinillo in Segovia, as well as specialist charcuterie and cheeses.
Similar care is taken over the 150-bin all-Spanish wine list, overseen by head sommelier Marcus Segurado. Guests can expect verticals of Prado Enea from Bodegas Muga, alongside a broad selection from Bodegas López de Heredia, complemented by wines from Mallorca and the Canary Islands and no fewer than six gastronomic Rosados.
Eighteen rotating wines by the glass allow guests to explore diverse grapes and styles. Sherry also takes pride of place, from en rama examples and rare single bottles to exclusive Almacenista releases from Bodegas Lustau. The sparkling offering spans Cava, Corpinnat, and traditional-method Txakoli, while dry unfortified Palomino wines from Andalusia also feature.
Your Excellency, Acting Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, New Caballeros, Caballeros, Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome! ¡Bienvenidos! And a special welcome to those who have not attended before.
I’d like to thank Sr Conde for his terrific speech. Not easy to follow that!
This is a unique event in the UK wine trade. And in these difficult times, it is great to be able to enjoy an evening among friends, away from preoccupations.
This is a time to celebrate achievements. Last year, Spain was in the headlines and we were all cheering Carlos Alcaraz. This year, though, here in the UK we can celebrate Arsenal’s defeat of Real Madrid – but I must admit that Mikel Arteta has a role to play in Arsenal’s success.
This year I was a judge at Copa Jerez. Typically the UK does not do too well in this competition, But I was very pleased that the UK team from Silo Restaurant in London won not only Best Chef, but also most Creative pairing. Theirs is a ‘no-waste’ cuisine, and the judges were blown away by the imagination, and their philosophy.
I’m delighted to say that for this anniversary dinner we have had the very best of Spanish gastronomy in the UK. José Pizarro and Owen Morgan have worked tremendously hard to deliver this terrific menu. José, Owen, please stand up – and let’s give them a round of applause.
This is the 40th anniversary of the dinner, and by chance today is also the 40th anniversary of Spain’s accession to Europe. I can remember with how much pleasure we used to bring back wine that we had discovered in Spain. How complicated it has become now.
Nevertheless many things have changed for the better in the last 40 years – take a look at my introduction to the menu. Despite the complications in the market place I’m delighted to say that our wines today include some particularly exciting choices. It was a highly qualified team who chose the wines: 5 MWs, of whom 4 are Caballeros. In particular I’d highlight our first Vino de Pasto, (Luis Pérez El Muelle de Olaso) and our first wine from the Canaries (Tamerán Marmajuelo). In addition we selected an elegant white Rioja from Caballero Jesús Madrazo, and for our red wines an impressive Priorat and a classic Rioja. With the dessert, we will finish with Leonor, González Byass’ Palo Cortado.
While I have the opportunity I want to call on everyone present to assist us with our new Mentor programme, launched for the 40th anniversary. We are seeking people working in the UK wine trade, aged under 40, with a strong interest in Spain, who would benefit from mentoring by a Caballero. The application form is on the Gran Orden website.
As I come to a close, being British, I can’t escape mentioning the weather. Travelling about Spain over the past year I have heard from growers about drought, low yields, and latterly mildew. All of this will be affecting production quantities. But above and beyond that I must mention the terrible floods in the Valencia region. On Wednesday October 23rd, the Ambassador hosted a Sherry tasting with our new Caballero César Saldaña. The news was just coming through about the floods. The Ambassador asked for a minute’s silence for the 70 people who had died. Little did we know then what the true figure was to be.
At this point it’s appropriate to thank the Ambassador for all he has been doing to promote Spanish gastronomy and wine during his time here.
To conclude:
My heartfelt thanks to ICEX, both in London and in Spain, and especially to Marianne Rodríguez for her work making this dinner happen.
I’d like to thank the team at the hotel.
Our toastmaster.
The Ambassador and Mrs Dufort.
And a very warm thank you to all of our guests.
Finally, would all the Caballeros stand a raise a glass to toast our guests.
Photo courtesy of the Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino, L-R: Caballeros Pierre Mansour and Catriona Felstead MW; Charlie Foley; Chairman of the GOCV, Sarah Jane Evans MW; Nancy Green; Josef Emmett; His Excellency Mr. José Pascual Marco Martínez, Spanish Ambassador to the United Kingdom; Isobel Salomon; Miguel Crunia; Alberto Borge.
To mark its 40th anniversary, the Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino (GOCV) proudly announced the six inaugural recipients of its new mentorship and bursary programme, designed to foster excellence and deepen expertise in Spanish wine among UK-based professionals.
The winners are:
Alberto Borge, general manager, Tast Català
Miguel Crunia, director, Fion
Josef Emmett, private Account Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd
Charlie Foley, specialist and Auctioneer, Christie’s
Nancy Green, marketing manager, Indigo
Isobel Salomon, director, Slonk
The announcement was made at a celebratory event held at the Spanish Embassy in London, hosted by His Excellency Mr. José Pascual Marco Martínez, Spanish Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Sarah Jane Evans MW, Chair of the GOCV said, “This initiative creates a new network of trade processionals at the sharp end of the business. We are looking to recognize a new generation of ambassadors for Spanish wines. As Caballeros our aim is to ensure a bright and solid future for Spanish wines in the UK market.’
The gathering brought together leading figures from the wine trade to honour the next generation of Spanish wine champions.
The six selected mentees have each demonstrated exceptional commitment to promoting Spanish wines in their respective fields. As part of the programme, each will receive:
A £500 bursary to support their professional development
One-on-one mentorship from established Caballeros of the GOCV, tailored to their area of expertise
This initiative is a cornerstone of the GOCV’s mission to nurture emerging talent and ensure a vibrant future for Spanish wines in the UK market.
Meet the 2025 GOVC Mentees:
Charlie Foley – Specialist & Auctioneer, Christie’s
Charlie brings theatrical flair and deep expertise to the world of fine wine auctions. As a lead auctioneer at Christie’s, he has hammered down legendary lots including the Macallan 1926 for £1.2 million. Known for his vibrant personality and encyclopedic wine knowledge, Charlie is passionate about Spanish wines with character and provenance.
Josef Emmett – Private Account Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd
Josef manages high-value wine portfolios for private clients at Berry Bros. & Rudd, the UK’s oldest wine merchant. With a focus on bespoke cellar curation and investment-grade Spanish wines, he brings a refined palate and strategic insight to the mentorship programme.
Founder of Slonk, an international wine consultancy, Isobel blends legal acumen with sommelier expertise. She’s certified by various Spanish wine bodies and leads brand strategy, education, and event activation across Europe. Her work aims to demystify wine and champions inclusivity in the trade.
Ranked among the UK’s top sommeliers by Harpers, Miguel co-founded Fìon, a wine merchant specializing in emerging regions like Galicia and Gredos. His storytelling approach and advocacy for artisanal Spanish producers make him a dynamic force in wine education and retail.
Nancy is the creative mind behind Indigo’s storytelling, shaping how artisanal Spanish wines are presented to trade and consumers. Her writing and campaign work highlight sustainability, terroir, and the human stories behind each bottle.
Alberto oversees Tast Català, the acclaimed Manchester restaurant backed by Pep Guardiola and Paco Pérez. With a mission to educate British palates on Catalan cuisine and wine, Alberto curates immersive dining experiences that celebrate Spanish regional diversity.
The Gran Orden was founded to recognise those in Spain and the UK who work to promote the best in Spanish wines in the UK. Our annual Investiture Dinner is a great opportunity to celebrate.
For our 40th anniversary, we enjoyed a very special menu developed by José Pizarro and Owen Morgan, members of the Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino, and prepared by Gary Klaner, Executive Chef at The Landmark London and his team.
It was paired with wines selected by Caballeros from those submitted for tasting to ICEX by UK importers and Spanish wineries/producers. There were a couple of firsts among the wines this year – our first unfortified wine or vino de pasto from the Sherry region and our first wine from the Canary Islands.
Thank you to all the Spanish wineries, food producers and UK importers who kindly provided the beer, jamón, waters, olive oil and wines.
Dinner
Salmorejo, Ensalada de Tomate, Cangrejo de Cornualles, Gamba Blanca Salvaje
Salmorejo, Tomato Salad, Cornish Crab, Wild White Prawn
Presa Ibérica de Bellota Cinco Jotas, Pimientos del Piquillo Caramelizados, Migas, Espárragos, Milhojas de Patata, Salsa de Amontillado Presa Ibérica de Bellota Cinco Jotas, Caramelised Piquillo Peppers, Migas, Asparagus, Milhoja Potatoes, Amontillado Sauce
Tarta de Queso Payoyo, Sorbete de Fresa al Palo Cortado y Tomillo Payoyo and Hazelnut Cheesecake, Palo Cortado, Thyme infused Strawberry Sorbet
The Fino for the reception was kindly supplied by the Consejo Regulador of Jerez-Xérès-Sherry. It was selected to represent the classic Fino with ‘a dry white wine made from Palomino grapes aged under a layer of flor yeast with a sharp, delicate bouquet slightly reminiscent of almonds, with hints of fresh dough and wild herbs’. It was served by the Venenciador of the Consejo Regulador de Jerez, D. Jesús Delgado
Reserva de la Familia Brut Nature 2019 – DO Cava Juvé & Camps
The Family Reserva is an ever-popular choice: it’s a classic blend of 50% Xarel·lo, 35% Macabeo and 15% Parellada. Though it’s known as a Reserva it is actually a Gran Reserva, aged for 36 months. This long maturation ensures that there is a lively interplay between bright, crisp fruits and toasty brioche notes, with a vivid freshness from the brut nature style. Imported by C & D Wines
The Gran Orden has often served a Sherry as the Investiture wine. This year, in a first for the Dinner, we selected a wine from Sherry country, grown on albariza, made from Palomino Fino, aged briefly under flor, and not fortified. The style is known as Vino de Pasto, and it comes from Willy Pérez who has been one of its champions.The Muelle de Olaso, says Willy, ‘was an old dock in Sanlúcar where fishing boats used to load, where my father spent his childhood’. Imported by Indigo Wine
Another first for the Dinner is this wine from the Canaries. Tamerán was launched in 2019 by David Silva, a Gran Canaria native and former star of Manchester City Football Club. With the expertise of Jonatán García of Suertes del Marqués in Tenerife, the wines have had immediate critical success. The vines are grown on their own roots on the island’s volcanic soils at 600-700 metres. This Atlantic Marmajuelo with its notes of marmalade, citrus and ginger was fermented and aged for 11 months in a 1,500 litre foudre. Imported by Indigo Wine
Ermita de San Gregorio Blanco Reserva 2021 – DOCa Rioja Jesús Madrazo
San Gregorio is the patron saint of vine-growers. This is Caballero Jesús Madrazo’s second vintage of this blend of Viura from close to El Villar in Rioja Alavesa with 10 percent Malvasía Rojal from the Villota estate. The wine was aged for 3 months on its lees in a mix of French oak and acacia barrels, with a small percentage of new oak. It has a vibrant gastronomic appeal with floral charm and richness from the Malvasía and layers of citrus and mandarin with a mineral finish. Imported by Frederick’s Wine Company
Mas d’en Gil, led by Marta Rovira, is based in the southern part of Priorat, near Bellmunt. The Rovira family introduced biodynamic farming back in 2008. Their Coma Vella is a blend of Garnacha Peluda (with the downy underside to its leaves) and Garnacha del País, Cariñena and Syrah, fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged for 14 months in barrel and large vats. The result is a wine with a vigorous Priorat identity, with its powerful fruit, firmly structured, and clearly Mediterranean. Imported by C & D Wines
Viña Pomal is a classic, in history and in style. The first harvest of Viña Pomal was in 1904 and it became and has remained one of Rioja’s famous brands. This Gran Reserva is a blend of Tempranillo with 10 per cent Graciano, aged in American oak barrels for three years, and then aged for another three years in bottle. The slow, steady maturation has uncovered a complex palate of red fruits, cacao, tobacco and spice with a lift of orange zest. From an excellent vintage. Imported by Codorníu UK
Dessert
Leonor Palo Cortado NV – DO Jerez-Xérès-Sherry González Byass
Leonor is a very fine example of a Palo Cortado: aromatically Leonor promises that she will be a classic mature Amontillado. In the mouth, though, she reveals the intensity of an Oloroso, but with delicacy and finesse. She is an average of 12 years old. The dessert has been designed to match the wine, using local Payoyo cheese. Imported by Gonzalez Byass UK
This blend of the three classic Cava varieties has been aged for 36 months, developing fine pastry aromas, and an elegant palate. Imported by Alliance Wine
Ars Collecta Blanc de Blancs Reserva 2021 – DO Cava Codorníu
Chardonnay leads the blend in this Cava, also containing Xarel·lo and Parellada, delivering fine brioche aromas and a youthful palate with golden stone fruits. Imported by Codorníu UK
A blend of Xarel·lo and Chardonnay, this Cava has a lively citrus character, layered with notes of almonds and crisp apple. Imported by Enotria Winecellars
Sponsors
Jamón de Bellota Ibérico – 50% de Raza Ibérica
‘AWAKEN YOUR IBÉRICO SENSE’ is ASICI’s campaign aimed at promoting Jamón Ibérico in key international markets, with the support of the EU. Jamón Ibérico embodies a centuries-old tradition and stands as a symbol of excellence, artisanal mastery, and unmatched quality. Its captivating aroma, rich umami flavour, and delicate texture awaken the senses and evoke the authenticity of its origins. Supplied by Asociación Interprofesional del Cerdo Ibérico
Clear, bright golden, green colour. Aromas of medium green fruitiness, with hints of fresh cut grass and aromatic herbs. Long finish of artichokes, olive leaf and dried fruits. Awarded “Best Oil Bitter Green Fruity Category” and “Foods from Spain Best Extra Virgin Olive Oils Award” in the Alimentos de España Prizes 2024-2025. Consistently selected among the best extra virgin olive oils in the world. Imported by Mevalco
Aguas de Mondariz is a naturally balanced mineral-medicinal water of pure origin, filtered through ancient granite which imparts golden reflections and enhances the water’s crystalline clarity. Its smooth, refined texture offers a fresh, tactile sensation with a silky finish. Imported by C&D Wines
Vichy Catalan genuine natural sparkling mineral water embodies 140 years of heritage, prestige, and exceptional quality. Renowned in the world of table waters, it stands apart for its unmistakable flavour and the delicate finesse of its bubbles. Imported by C&D Wines
Founded in Madrid in 1890 by Casimiro Mahou’s family, Mahou is a leading Spanish beer brand and an iconic symbol of Madrid. Over seven generations, Mahou has maintained its passion for brewing, earning recognition as the most awarded Spanish beer range globally for seven consecutive years. With its authentic flavours and rich cultural heritage, Mahou embodies Madrid’s vibrant spirit. Imported by Budweiser Brewing Group
Three new members were welcomed into the Gran Orden de Caballeros de Vino at the 40th Caballeros Investiture Dinner on the 12th June 2025 at London’s Landmark Hotel, led by Acting Chancellor, Pablo Conde and Chairman, Sarah Jane Evans MW.
The three new members, elected by secret ballot, include Ben Henshaw and Hugo Campbell, who represent excellence in the importation and sale of Spanish wine in the UK, and César Saldaña, President of the Consejo Regulador de las Denominaciones de Origen Jerez-Xérès-Sherry y Manzanilla-Sanlúcar de Barrameda.
Ben Henshaw
Ben entered the wine trade when his parents unexpectedly moved to become vignerons in the Languedoc. Recognising an opportunity, he began importing his family’s wines and a selection from small French producers. But soon after, he turned his attention to Spain, and specifically the country’s emerging artisanal wine scene.
He built an importing business, Indigo Wines, that, by 2009, had developed such a strong and diverse range of Spanish wines that it won the International Wine Challenge Spain Specialist Importer award. It’s a title the company has claimed 12 times since. The company is well known for showcasing the diversity and quality of modern Spanish wine in the UK through both its range and events such as Viñateros, a tasting which it organised over several years.
In 2020, Ben also helped set up online retailer The Sourcing Table, selling a range of distinctive wines direct to consumers.
César Saldaña
Born in Jerez de la Frontera, César Saldaña has been at the heart of the sherry business for his entire career after studying Economics and Business Administration. For more than 15 years he held senior posts at González Byass and at Sandeman, before becoming Director of the Consejo Regulador de las Denominaciones de Origen Jerez-Xérès-Sherry y Manzanilla-Sanlúcar de Barrameda in 2000. Twenty years later, he was promoted to the role of President.
He is the author of a number of publications, most notably El Libro de los Vinos de Jerez, which has already been through three editions, including one in English.
Hugo Campbell
Having grown up in the Dominican Republic and Peru, Hugo Campbell joined the wine trade in 1981, but it was not until 1987 that he chanced upon an opportunity to keep up his Spanish, when he began working with Ehrmanns. A leading importer of Spanish wines into the UK, at the time it acted as agent for Muga, Félix Solís, Viñas del Vero, Sánchez Romate, Williams & Humbert and Juvé y Camps.
In the early 1990s, his international experience enabled him to coordinate winemaking projects across more than 15 countries. He also worked on major Spanish winemaking projects for retailers’ own label brands. A director since 2009, he still sources and sells wine at Ehrmanns, and Spain remains a key interest for him, with Ehrmanns now working with Rioja winery Montecillo, Txakoli producer Bodega Astobiza and Bodegas Bohórquez in DO Ribera del Duero, among others.
In welcoming the guests, Chairman of the Gran Orden Sarah Jane Evans MW, offered her congratulations to all three new Caballeros, commenting, “We look forward to working with you, as you continue to champion Spanish wine around the world.”
