Attention to detail and care for the product and the customer
Behind management, there are human faces, such as Mariasun, one of the visible faces of Ostatu who dedicates every day to safeguarding the personality and identity of Ostatu and its wines, taking care of every detail, coordinating the management of the winery and personalizing the service to guarantee a close and careful experience, which builds loyalty to those who place their trust in their wines.
Who is Mariasun
I am a simple, committed and dynamic person, I like to enjoy work, family, friends and all good company where there is a good conversation; opportunities that my job often brings us.
I live and am from Rioja Alavesa, I consider myself privileged to belong to this small corner of the world, and to be able to enjoy everything it offers us, while I enjoy making it known to those who come to meet us. It never disappoints.
- When you don’t work we can find you:
-Listening…
I like everything in general, when I listen to music different feelings immediately emerge and it is a very pleasant feeling to listen to a good song. I can listen to any type of music, it depends on the moment.
-Reading…
I also like reading in general, since it allows me to disconnect and at the same time experience other stories, times, sleeplessness, etc. I prefer the historical novel, especially with intrepid and courageous women as protagonists.
-Going to…
Traveling, especially with family and friends, is one of my hobbies, especially to destinations where you can enjoy the scenery, history, and gastronomy, which are “everyone”, so it’s easy for me. I don’t need to go very far, although for work I have also had the opportunity to enjoy or get to know distant and very attractive destinations.
-Eating…
Gastronomy is one of my weaknesses, I enjoy it and I learn a lot knowing all kinds of restaurants. I am especially inclined towards those where responsibility and commitment to the close product, quality, attention to detail, and customer enjoyment are the protagonists.
I cannot forget our cult of “txoko”, that enjoyment with family and friends, where homemade food, the embers, and the heat of the fire feed social relationships and long conversations.
-Doing…
I need to exercise, especially not excessively long but regular walks, which oxygenate me. I can enjoy the scenery and feel good both physically and mentally.
- Wine for you, is it an instilled passion or a vocation? Did you always know that your place was in Ostatu or was there a time when you wanted to dedicate yourself to something else?
Totally vocational, although we have always had to get involved and collaborate in the work of the family business, both in the vineyard and in the winery, when it was time, which was very often.
We have lived above the winery, so the daily work, such as bottling, and serving customers… was part of our day-to-day.
My parents instilled in us the value of training and effort, which we made compatible with working at home.
I graduated in Economics and Business Administration, from the University of the Basque Country, and at first, my professional goals were not precisely aimed at the winery, in fact, I was working for 5 years in the financial sector, and it was after that period when I saw that New development possibilities were opening up (international market, wine tourism…) for the family business, I quit my job and got hooked on the family business.
Although if I’m honest, some of my vacations at that stage of work were saved to attend fairs and trips, accompanying my father and brothers.
The world of wine, its culture, and what it entails is very vocational, it demands sacrifice, patience, and a lot of effort, but at the same time the reward and satisfaction, when you see that things are moving forward, is enormous.
. What is the role of women in this sector? Have you ever felt that you had to invest more time than others in making your professionalism count?
I joined the winery in 2002, and I think that things have changed a lot in that sense, the current moment has nothing to do with the situation of 20 years ago.
I could tell many anecdotes that have happened to me in my first years at the winery and that would show this change in favor of the role of women in the world of wine.
Today women have “almost” the same role as men, and in many cases, they are the visible face of wineries and wineries, something that 20 years ago was anecdotal. Although this achievement has been obtained by an effort on the part of women compared to men, in training, work, sacrifice, and professionalism, in many cases.
