Ray O'Connor
Spain
Ray's Wines
- Spain
- 3 wines
- 3 styles
From Wine Guy to winemaker: Ray's back at Naked - and back to his roots
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For 10 years, Ray O’Connor was the man who travelled the world to find the world’s best wines for you Angels. During his time at Naked, he also became a Master of Wine – one of only a few hundred in the world. After leaving in early 2024 to “scratch a few itches,” Ray teased that it might not be goodbye forever. And he meant it.
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Having tasted thousands of wines for Angels, Ray knows better than almost anyone what sort of wines you love. His new project, Bota Bota, is all about crafting bright, balanced, and brilliantly drinkable wines from old vines – which naturally yield fewer grapes but far more flavour.
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Ray’s first wines come from the sun-soaked hills of Almonacid de la Sierra in northern Spain, where century-old Garnacha vines thrive in tough, stony soils. But the world is his oyster and this is just the beginning. After years finding wines for Angels, he’s thrilled to finally be making them for you. “This has been a long time coming but I am so excited to be able to share my very own wine with you all. Please let me know what you think – for better or worse!”
Vineyard Location
Ray O'Connor's Story
I spent 10 very happy years at Naked — travelling the world to discover brilliant bottles and the people behind them. During that time, I also became a Master of Wine — one of only a few hundred in the world — and helped shape Naked’s sense of taste and quality.
Becoming a winemaker myself came quite naturally. It really started while I was studying for the Master of Wine — learning about every cause and effect in winemaking, and then being able to taste that knowledge in the glass. Visiting Naked winemakers all over the world, I saw how they brought their wines to life, and I knew I wanted to do the same.
In 2023, while still at Naked, I went down to three days a week to “scratch a few itches.” During that time, I was tasting hundreds of wines and realised too many of them were trying too hard — too much oak, too much tannin, too much ripeness. Wine shouldn’t be hard work to drink. It should lift the spirits. So I decided to make wines that were the opposite: pure happy juice.
That’s how Bota Bota was born. The name means “go, go” or “bounce” in Spanish — it’s all about energy, movement and positivity. My first wines come from Almonacid de la Sierra in Aragón, northern Spain, where century-old Garnacha vines cling to rocky hillsides. Old vines are incredible; over time their roots dig deep underground, picking up minerals and moisture and producing fewer, smaller grapes with amazing flavour. Like all of us, their bounty reduces over time — but what they give becomes richer and more complex.
My winemaking style is simple: pure, juicy, vibrant, smooth and supple. I make organic wines with minimal intervention so the fruit can speak for itself. No heavy oak, no fuss — just bright, balanced, brilliantly drinkable wines that bring a bit of joy.
I’ve been lucky to taste thousands of wines for Angels over the years, and I think I’ve learned what you do — and don’t — love in a bottle. That’s what I’ve poured into these wines.
It’s great to see Naked still run to the same high standard as when I was Wine Guy — and I’m so excited to reconnect with the Angels who’ve supported me for so long. Please do say hi! I can’t wait to hear what you think — for better or worse.
