The New Spain Wine Team…

Javier Arauz is a Co-founder and Managing Partner of New Spain Wines. With 15 years of sales and marketing, in and out of the Wine Industry, previous to his 5 years as the Director of The Wine Academy of Spain. He is a certified WSET tutor, a Spanish Wine Educator tutor, and an Official Sherry Educator. Javier’s career in wine has taken him to many wine producing Countries for further professional development.

Other professional training includes a few stints at UC Davis, the UK, Portugal, and in Spain, with Professor Richard Smart. Of much importance is Javier’s experience and time spent with winegrowers and industry professionals from all parts of the world.

Now, his passion lies in exploring the nooks and crannies of Spain’s montañas, rías, and mesetas in search of the next shining star for The New Spain Wines Export Portfolio!

Wendy Vallaster is a Co-founder and Managing Partner of New Spain Wines. She is a Certified Sommelier via the International Sommelier Guild, an Official Sherry Educator, and teacher of the Spanish Wine Educators program. She is from Vancouver BC, Canada, and is now living, and loving life in Spain, involving herself in many different aspects of the wine world.

Wendy’s philosophy, based on her 20+ yrs in the hospitality industry, is to work within the wine community, connecting the industry with the consumer via the Media, Tasting, and Education (bringing the Wine to the People, and the People to the Wine).

Together, with Javier, she spends much of her time exploring the DO’s of Spain to best inform herself of the New and Exciting Developments which are currently taking place in Spain’s Revolutionary Wine World, and tasting her way through eternity! A tough life, but somebody’s got to do it!!

Jose Hidalgo is a Consulting Partner of New Spain Wines. José is the marketing genius behind many of Spain’s well recognized brands (some of which we work with). He jumped straight into the fire after achieving his degree in Agricultural Engineering in Madrid and has excelled in the field of Global Wine Marketing.

José is a wine educator as well, and has specialized in helping the World to understand the varying Nuances and Vintages of Vega Sicillia’s wines, via seminars and tastings.