News from Jerez 11.6.12

Two items today:

Firstly, the mayor of Jerez, Maria Jose Garcia Pelayo has announced that the council will shortly approve a resolution to name a section of the N-IV Cadiz-Madrid road after Tio Pepe. It will be called Avenida Tio Pepe in recognition of the brand's promotion of Sherry, its sponsorship of the annual Horse Fair and its attraction to Jerez of so many visitors. Gonzalez Byass is Europe's most visited winery.

Secondly, after the embarrassment of the last president of the Consejo Regulador being imprisoned (albeit not for anything related to Sherry), the need for a new president is becoming urgent. This person will ideally be suitable to all parties of the Consejo: the bodegas, the grape growers and the cooperatives. The successful candidate should have the following qualities: be respectable, acceptable to all parties, have plenty of local experience, know how to represent all interests, have a sound commercial understanding, speak at least one foreign language (as 75% of Sherry is exported), have skills in dealing with both local and national government and manage to achieve the best consensus. The director, Cesar Saldana has done a good job as acting president, but the position needs to be filled soon.