Rocío Osborne
A New Generation Global Vintner
Even as a young girl, Rocío Osborne’s aspiration has always been to join her family’s business, the prestigious Osborne Group, which has been crafting fine sherry, brandy, wine and liqueur since 1772.
The Osborne Family History in Wine
As the founding family of Spanish sherries, the Osborne Group maintains the heritage of tradition, excellence and passion for wine established by founder Thomas Osborne Mann and which are upheld today by the sixth generation of the family to run the business.
New Tempranillo Wine Endeavor
Now, Rocío, a passionate, intuitive, modern woman with an unwavering devotion to her family’s wine business, applies her passion for innovative winemaking towards her role as vintner of Osborne’s latest endeavor, Tempra Tantrum.
Growing Up with Wine
For as long as Rocío can remember, wine has been a part of her life. It played a central role at family gatherings, and she fondly reminisces about playing amongst the sherry casks in the bodegas, whose aromas still conjure vivid memories of childhood.
While her ultimate goal was to partake in her family’s winemaking business, the philosophy of the Osborne family required that she demonstrate a management and professional experience outside of the company.
For this reason, Rocío embarked on a professional career in banking and finance, which provided a strong base of business acumen in preparation for entering the Osborne Group.
A Background in Business
Rocío attended the Instituto de Estudios Bursátiles (Institute of Securities Studies) and earned her masters in exchange and financial markets, as well as a law degree from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
With the goal of mastering English, she moved to London to work for Banca March, a prestigious family-owned financial institution.Rocío then returned to Madrid and built on this experience by working as a financial advisor for Consulnor Servicios Financieros A.V. and BANIF Banca Privada.
Returning to Wine, the Osborne Family Way
After six years of honing her business management skills, Rocío decided to leave the financial world in order to pursue her true passion, wine. Because wine is a way of life in the Osborne family, Rocío’s wine knowledge has been enriched through exposure at family gatherings and through personal exploration and study. In order to solidify her knowledge, Rocío continues to seek opportunities to expand her wine education. In 2007, Rocío completed training courses from the Sherry Consejo Regulador and received an Advanced Certificate in Wine and Spirits (level 3) from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust.
Studying the Art of Winemaking
In 2008, Rocío studied the art of winemaking under International Winemaker Adam Richardson, crafting wine in two continents during the harvest season. During this time, they also ventured into California winemaking, exploring the Central Coast, the Central Valley and ultimately the Livermore Valley. Adam states, “Rocío has an outstanding sensory pallet that has quickly elevated her winemaking skills to a level higher than expected for a vintner of her age. She has an impressive ability to communicate her vision to the winemaking team, and quickly make that vision into a reality.”
Creating Tempra Tantrum
Rocío has most recently immersed herself in the process of winemaking for Tempra Tantrum. Her inherent passion for wine, combined with her personal views and innovative ideas about the wine industry, is evident in her approach. As a new generation vintner, Rocío’s aim has been to create wines that are fresh, worldly and that reflect modern Spain, while building upon the quality that has made Osborne a success for over 230 years.
Rocío’s Blog
If you’re curious about the ins and outs of life as a Spanish vintner, follow Rocío’s blog for all things hot and hip in modern Spain and to find out what fuels her passion. And don’t forget to subscribe to e-mail updates!
Learn the Life of a Spanish Vintner