Haz clic aquí para leer esto en español
By Alfredo Espinola
Today, more and more women are dedicated to the wine and distilled spirits industry in Mexico. Through effort and dedication, they have created their own stories in the wine industry. el Restaurante magazine recognizes the life and trajectory of six of these women here.
ANA PAULA ROBLES
Ana Paula Robles holds a Master in Senior Management for experienced executives from IPADE Business School; a diploma and Master in Administration from Universidad Panamericana; and a leader in innovation diploma from the University of California at Berkeley.
Robles has more than 20 years of experience in public and private service, in management and administration of institutional projects.
In September 2023, she assumed the general management of the Mexican Wine Council (CMV), an association that brings together 65 wineries in Mexico and whose objective is to achieve a more united and sustainable industry, along with greater production and projection of Mexican wine.
Robles is among “The 500 most influential people in Latin America 2024,” and according to the Bloomberg Línea ranking, she is ranked number 17.
Click here to read an el Restaurante interview with Robles.
GEORGINA ESTRADA
Georgina Estrada is Ra recognized Mexican Sommelier with more than 20 years of experience in the wine and luxury beverages sector, and the first female president of the Asociación de Sommeliers Mexicanos A.C. (ASM). She was ambassador of the Ultra Premium Cognac LOUIS XIII from the house of Rémy Martin for 17 years.
Estrada is the coordinator of the first online wine diploma course and authorized teacher for the training of future sommeliers, and National Ambassador and Deputy General Director of Vitivinícola El Cielo, Valle de Guadalupe and National Ambassador for Piper-Heidsieck Champagne.
Together with Gustavo Ortega, she created the G&G By Ginasommelier line of wines, and is also the owner of the company Ginasommelier, where she conducts tastings, events and presentations for companies and embassies, advises private wineries, and prepares wine and distilled spirits lists for restaurants.
She currently holds the Certified Level in The Court of Master Sommeliers and has served as a judge in national and international sommelier and wine competitions.
Click here to read an el Restaurante interview with Estrada.
SANDRA FERNANDEZ GAYTAN
Sandra Fernandez Gaytan has a degree in hotel management and a postgraduate degree in gastronomy and management of consumption centers from the Cordon Bleu school in Florence, Italy. She is a professional taster with certifications in viticulture, enology and sensory analysis from UC Davis.
With 23 years dedicated to the wine, distillates and food industry, she is the Mexican with the highest number of certifications in the wine industry in Mexico. In 2020 she was named “sommelier of the year” by CANIRAC, the national restaurant association of Mexico.
She is the creator of Casa Madero's 3V and 2V wines, and is considered one of the most important and influential leaders in her field in Mexico.
LAURA SANTANDER
Laura Santander studied Hotel Management at CESSA Universidad in Mexico, where she obtained international certifications.
Her awards and certifications include:
- Certified Sommelier by The Court of Master Sommeliers of Tequila, Wine and Mezcal AC.
- Award of Excellence Wine Spectator from 2014 to 2020.
- First place in the Nose of Mexico 2020, a contest held annually to find the best international wine tasters and connoisseurs.
- Instructor of the Wine Diploma of the Association of Mexican Sommeliers.
- Sommelier of the restaurants Eloise, Loretta and Margaret.
- Consultant for multiple projects in wine and spirits tasting. She is invited every year to festivals such as Napa Valley Export and Wine and Food Festival.
- Judge in competitions such as Concours Mondial de Bruxelles Mexico Selection, Destilados Artesanales y de Origen (DARDO), Master of Champagne, Concurso Nacional de Sommeliers and evaluation panels.
PILAR MERÉ
Pilar Meré is a communicologist by profession, certified as a specialized instructor by the Regulatory Councils of the Bordeaux, Rioja and Sherry Xeresy Jerez appellations, as well as a master tequila taster by the Mexican Academy of Tequila, Wine and Mezcal Tasters (AMCTVM).
She has a master's degree in communication and a diploma as a sommelier in wine, cocktails and distillates, coffee, tea, tobacco and cheese.
She was president of the Mexican Association of Sommeliers from 2015 to 2020, being the first woman to hold that position (note that this association is distinct from the Asociación de Sommeliers Mexicanos, which has a more international leaning).
As Promotion Coordinator of the Mexican Wine Council, journalist and sommelier, she has given multiple tastings and conferences at national and international level in order to know the quality of Mexican Wine.
She is a juror in various national and international wine, distillates and gastronomy competitions, is part of several tasting panels of different magazines, has been recognized for several years by the magazine Lideres Mexicanos as one of the Leaders of wine in Mexico and was distinguished with the National Women's Award 2016.
She is an active member of FIJEV (International Federation of Wine Journalists and Writers) and AMTUC (Mexican Association of Cultural Tourism).
JOANNA VALLEJO
Sommelier and member of the Board of the Mexican Restaurant Association, she is one of the youngest members of the Mexican Academy of Gastronomy.
Expert in gourmet beverages and founder of Sommelier a la Carte, a company dedicated to communication and creation of experiences tailored to each brand.
Co-founder of MIT (Mujeres In Taninos). She has been instrumental in positioning Mexico as one of the main emerging wine destinations, promoting the country's leadership in the creation of premium products with a gastronomic approach.
She has more than 11 years as sommelier of the Mexican Restaurant Association, besides being co-founder of the Association of Women of Wine in Mexico and ambassador of international brands such as Coravin.
Don't miss a thing! Subscribe to el Restaurante's digital publications for free by clicking here.