The Sogrape wine group has just completed its fourth purchase in Spain, strengthening its presence in the country. The most recent purchase is the Viña Mayor winery, located in Ribera del Duero's Golden Mile. This also adds a fourth appellation of origin to its Spanish portfolio, following the incorporation of Bodegas LAN (Rioja) and Santiago Ruiz (Rías Baixas) in 2012 and Bodegas Aura (Rueda) in 2018.

The Portuguese company's plan is to develop a premium project in Ribera del Duero. As the largest wine company in Portugal, it will use its strong distribution network to develop and enhance the Viña Mayor brand in Spain and international markets. Its previous owner, Entrecanales Domecq e Hijos, will keep the Secreto brand, which will be its flagship in this region.

Active commitment to sustainability
Viña Mayor is Sogrape's first project in the Spanish section of the Douro River, which will complement the over ten wine-growing estates and vineyards it has on the river’s course through Portugal. Founded in 1986, the Spanish company has Wineries for Climate Protection certification, which guarantees its active commitment to sustainability. It was one of the first wineries to join the Ribera del Duero appellation, which is now the second largest red wine appellation in Spain.

The company consists of a vineyard and a winery in a project that integrates the entire production process, and its wines have been lauded by international wine critics. It also has acreage for the Rueda appellation of origin, where it produces a white wine from the Verdejo variety.

The four Rs
Sogrape President Fernando da Cunha Guedes explained, “With a clear strategic focus on the Iberian Peninsula, we were and continue to be on the lookout for opportunities that are of interest and provide added value for Sogrape's operation. We have always believed in the importance of having a strong presence in the four Rs in Spain: Rioja, Rías Baixas, Rueda and Ribera del Duero. We have a strong position in the first three; thus, it was our intention to strengthen the fourth one due to the quality of its wines and the value and potential that this region has for the Spanish market and some international markets. We are very happy to have collaborated with the Entrecanales family in this business that will strengthen our importance in Iberia.”

The President of Entrecanales Domecq e Hijos (EDH), Gonzalo Entrecanales, did in turn say, “Working with Sogrape and the Guedes family over the past year has given us a lot of confidence. We believe it is the best choice for Viña Mayor to prosper in the long term. At the same time, we are entering a new and exciting phase for EDH where we will continue to focus on our prestige brands and carry on our work in Ribera del Duero thanks to the new Secreto boutique winery project.”

^{Photo: Sogrape}