The chief winemaker at Bodegas Protos splits her time between the office, the laboratory, the winery, and the vineyard. Marilena Bonilla Blázquez supervises 1,600 hectares of vines, the work of sixteen professionals, and the production of thirteen wines. She organizes the work of the teams, and controls the quality of the wines and (depending on the season) the ripening process of the grapes. «To make good wine, you need good organizational skills – and lots of passion,» declares Marilena. The enthusiastic winemaker also stresses that outstanding teamwork is the key to her success, especially when it comes to communication: «If you want to improve employee engagement, you have to be clear and communicate goals effectively, all the while listening to (and validating) your team’s ideas and perspectives.» At Bodegas Protos, everyone shares the same goal and vision: namely, the quest for the perfect wine. To achieve this goal, Marilena is not only guided by sales figures and her refined sense of taste, but also the feedback of customers: «Every time someone expresses their enthusiasm for our winery and our wines, I know that all the hard work and effort that goes into each bottle has been worth it.» The best possible recognition for her wines is that people have a good time while drinking them.
Awards
Decanter: 95 points, Guía Peñín: 92 points, James Suckling: 91 points, Wine Enthusiast: 90 points
