Vintae Takes Control of Bodegas Riojanas

Vintae has taken control of 90% of Bodegas Riojanas, one of the oldest and best-known wineries in Rioja, in a move that reshapes the region’s wine business and aims to secure the future of a company founded in 1890. The transaction, announced on May 18, gives the Rioja-based group led by Richi Arambarri majority ownership of the historic house in Cenicero, while longtime shareholders keep the remaining 10%.

The deal also includes Bodegas Torreduero in Rueda and Bodegas Viore in Toro, extending Vintae’s reach beyond Rioja into two other major Spanish wine regions. Vintae said it signed a restructuring plan with its lenders as part of an effort to stabilize Bodegas Riojanas and protect its assets. The company said the plan now depends on court approval.

Arambarri said the goal is to preserve what he described as part of Rioja’s heritage and to prevent a historic winery from losing its place in the market. He said Bodegas Riojanas, as a founding name in the denomination, helped put Rioja on the international wine map through labels such as Monte Real and Viña Albina.

The acquisition brings together two different models in Spanish wine. Bodegas Riojanas has long stood for a traditional style built on extended aging and classic Rioja identity. Vintae, founded in 1999 and led by Arambarri since 2008, has built its reputation on newer brands, modern marketing and expansion into different terroirs. Its portfolio includes Hacienda López de Haro, Viñedos El Pacto, Matsu, Bardos, Le Naturel and Pandemonium.

For Vintae, the purchase is both a rescue operation and a strategic bet. The company said it wants to restore the prestige of Bodegas Riojanas’ brands while adapting them to current global demand. The challenge will be to fold a century-old winery into a younger group without losing the identity that made it important in the first place.

The move comes at a time when Spain’s wine sector is under pressure from changing consumption patterns, tighter margins and growing competition abroad. In that context, the takeover reflects a broader trend toward consolidation, where larger groups with stronger commercial networks are stepping in to support historic wineries with financial strain.

Bodegas Riojanas was founded in Cenicero more than 130 years ago and became one of the emblematic names of Rioja. Vintae’s leadership says it sees the acquisition not just as a business opportunity but as a responsibility tied to regional identity and wine history. The next step will be whether the courts approve the restructuring plan that would allow the new ownership structure to move forward.