Sogrape strengthens its Iberian presence with new project in Spain
Sogrape has strengthened its position in the Spanish market by acquiring Viña Mayor in Ribera del Duero’s ‘Golden Mile’. Their passion for wine brought the Guedes and Entrecanales families closer together, culminating in Sogrape's acquisition of Viña Mayor to develop a premium project in the region. Continuing the legacy built by Entrecanales Domecq e Hijos, Sogrape, Portugal's largest wine company, aims to develop and boost the Viña Mayor brand in Spain and international markets through its strong distribution network. Under the agreement, Entrecanales Domecq e Hijos will retain the Secreto brand, which will be its flagship brand in Ribera del Duero.
In 2012, Sogrape acquired Bodegas LAN in the famous Rioja region, integrating the prestigious Santiago Ruiz brand in Rías Baixas. Later, in 2018, it strengthened its presence by acquiring Bodegas Aura in Rueda, one of Spain's most dynamic designations of origin. It has now added Viña Mayor to this portfolio in an operation that fulfils its strategy of consolidating its Iberian positioning.
Founded in 1986 and certified as Wineries for Climate Protection in an active commitment to sustainability, Viña Mayor was one of the first companies to join the Ribera del Duero Designation of Origin. This region has been growing over the last few years and is now Spain's second-largest DO for red wines. In an integrated project with a vineyard and winery, from the soil to the barrel, Viña Mayor produces quality wines that have stood out internationally among specialised critics. In addition to Ribera del Duero, the brand has spread to neighbouring Rueda, where it produces a Verdejo wine, the region's queen grape variety.
This deal marks the starting point for Sogrape's expansion on the Spanish side of the river Douro, while in Portugal, it already owns more than a dozen estates and vineyards, where it produces DOC Douro wines that are iconic for their exclusivity, uniqueness, and prestige, such as the emblematic Casa Ferreirinha Barca-Velha, and renowned Port Wines from the Sandeman and Porto Ferreira brands.
Fernando da Cunha Guedes, President of Sogrape, said: "Having a clear strategic focus on Iberia, we were and continue looking for opportunities that would be of interest and with added value for Sogrape's operation. We have always believed in the importance of having a solid presence in the four R's in Spain: Rioja, Rías Baixas, Rueda and Ribera del Duero. Having established a significant position in the first three, we intended to reinforce in the fourth one for the quality of its wines and the value and potential this region has for the Spanish market and some international markets. We are very excited to collaborate with the Entrecanales family on this deal, which will strengthen our Iberian relevance".
Gonzalo Entrecanales, President of Entrecanales Domecq e Hijos, added: "Working with Sogrape and the Guedes family over the last year has given us confidence. We are confident it is the right choice for Viña Mayor to prosper into the future. At the same time, we are entering a new and fascinating phase for EDH where we will continue to focus on our premium brands and continue in Ribera del Duero through the new project of our boutique winery Secreto”.
Since 2021, Entrecanales Domecq e Hijos' strategy has been based on reorganising its portfolio, concentrating its efforts on boutique projects with a focus on the Secreto brand in Ribera del Duero and its other projects in Cosme Palacio in Rioja, Caserio de Dueñas in Rueda, El Aeronauta in Valdeorras and Anzil in Toro, maintaining a solid presence in the premium market segment.
