In 2001 I was contacted by Jorge Ordonez, an innovative importer of Spanish wines into the USA. He invited me to travel to Spain with a view to developing some Spanish winemaking projects. I had already been travelling to Italy and California as a consultant, so the prospect of expanding these opportunities was very interesting. After a couple of weeks travelling through the winemaking regions of Spain, looking at vineyards, meeting with winemakers and eating too many Gambas, plates of Jamon and Paella, two very solid projects evolved.

I subsequently became a consultant and eventually a partner with Bodegas Alto Moncayo in the D.O. of Campo de Borja and Bodegas El Nido in Jumilla. I am proud to report that these small Bodegas have gone on to develop significant international and Spanish recognition. As part of my involvement I am also able to offer allocations of these wines in Australia and opt to bottle mature the wine for a further 2 years prior to offering.