The winery gathered authorities, media representatives, distributors, clients and friends in Vilanova de Arousa to commemorate a journey that has helped elevate the international prestige of Rías Baixas wines.
Bodegas Granbazán celebrated its 45th anniversary on Monday, June 1st, with a commemorative event held at its facilities in the Salnés Valley. The gathering brought together institutional representatives — including Galicia’s Regional Minister of Rural Affairs, María José Gómez — as well as media representatives, distributors, clients, collaborators and friends of the winery to pay tribute to one of the most significant success stories in contemporary Galician viticulture.
The celebration provided an opportunity to reflect on four and a half decades dedicated to Albariño and to the land where it was born. Granbazán Since its beginnings, Granbazán has embraced an innovative approach to cultivating and producing this variety, contributing to the modernization of Galicia’s wine industry and to the international recognition of wines from the Rías Baixas Designation of Origin. Denominación de Origen Rías Baixas.
The event was attended by regional authorities and representatives of the Galician wine sector, together with numerous professionals from the worlds of wine, gastronomy and communication. The day became a meeting point to celebrate the past, share the present and look towards the future of a winery that is now widely recognized as one of the leading names in Albariño.
Over these 45 years, Granbazán has evolved while remaining true to its essence. The expansion of its vineyard holdings, its unwavering commitment to quality, the consolidation of a benchmark wine tourism project and its continuous investment in innovation have enabled the winery to keep growing without losing sight of its roots.
This anniversary also comes at a particularly significant moment for the company. In recent years, Granbazán has strengthened its presence in international markets, earned recognition among the world’s leading wine tourism destinations and continues to bring the name of Galicia and Rías Baixas to some of the most important wine markets around the globe. All of this while remaining faithful to the values that have defined the winery since its foundation: respect for the landscape, commitment to the vineyard and a deep passion for Albariño.
The celebration concluded with a toast to the future, surrounded by vineyards and by the people who have accompanied Granbazán throughout these four and a half decades of history.
If there is one thing Granbazán has demonstrated over the last 45 years, it is that great projects are built not only with wine, but also with vision, shared effort and a profound connection to the land.
Este fue el speech delivered by Pedro Martínez (Owner of Bodegas Granbazán) during the anniversary celebration:
Honourable Regional Minister for Rural Affairs, Distinguished President and Former President of the Rías Baixas Regulatory Council, Representative of the Provincial Council of Pontevedra, Mayors of the Salnés region, Distinguished guests, Friends and colleagues, Members of the Granbazán team, Ladies and gentlemen, Good afternoon and welcome. Thank you all for joining us today to celebrate the anniversary of our winery, Granbazán.
The reason we are gathered here is to pay tribute to the remarkable journey of one of the emblematic wineries of Rías Baixas over its 45 years of history. I do not intend to recount in detail everything that has happened throughout this period, but I have always believed that an institution such as this does not emerge by chance. Its success is the result of courageous decisions and the talent of many people over time. I would summarise it with a quote by management consultant Peter Drucker: "Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision."
The origins of Granbazán date back to 1981, when the Otero family planted the rootstocks and subsequently carried out the definitive Albariño grafting between 1982 and 1984. The first commercial vintage was released in 1989, with two wines: Granbazán Verde and Granbazán Ámbar, both presented in their now iconic coloured bottles. Later came Limousin. At that time, the bottles carried neck labels bearing the word "Albariño". The official Rías Baixas designation strip first appeared on the 1990 vintage, while Álvaro de Bazán was launched in 2003 and subsequently in the vintages 2006, 2010, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. As an interesting historical note, this year marks the 500th anniversary of the birth of Don Álvaro de Bazán. It is also worth remembering that the Rías Baixas Designation of Origin was officially established in July 1988. I would like to express my deepest admiration for Manuel Otero, Granbazán's founder and first owner, as well as one of the founding members of the Designation of Origin. He was a man ahead of his time who laid the foundations of this institution with clarity, intelligence and determination, helping to transform it into a nationally and internationally recognised benchmark. He was a singular and sometimes controversial figure, but he always knew where he was coming from and where he wanted to take this project, regardless of the challenges involved. I am proud to follow in the footsteps of such a visionary. The passing of time, together with circumstances that are not relevant today, eventually made it possible for my family to acquire this property. Before continuing, I would like to make special mention of our Regulatory Council, for which I have enormous respect and gratitude. Its commitment to winegrowers and wineries, together with its vision for both the present and future of the appellation, makes it a model institution within Spain. It demonstrates that great effectiveness does not necessarily require large infrastructures or vast resources. During our nine years in Rías Baixas, I have been particularly impressed by the support and respect that the Council extends to the small growers and producers who built this appellation through their dedication, effort, perseverance and hard work. They are the true essence of the Albariño world. Using a comparison I often employed during my years in medicine, they are those who were capable of making broth with little more than water. Those of us who arrived later, in many ways, found the table already set. It is therefore our responsibility to honour their legacy and earn their respect every single day. Our arrival in Rías Baixas was a deliberate commitment to excellence. We came from the world of red wine, specifically from Baigorri in Rioja Alavesa, which in my opinion is the finest place in Spain to produce wines of that style. We wanted to establish ourselves where the finest white wines in Spain were being made. Granbazán, because of its history, prestige and outstanding work, represented exactly that. With an unparalleled track record, significant room for growth, founder status within the Regulatory Council, unique vineyards and a market positioning aligned with its identity, Granbazán became our objective from the very first moment. And then, the miracle happened. As many of you know, I come from a family in which my father was a businessman, yet I chose a different path. I dedicated my professional life to medicine, teaching at university level, conducting research and managing healthcare services at the Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital in Murcia, holding positions of significant responsibility. After 42 years devoted full-time to that profession, bringing the same dedication and enthusiasm that my family instilled in me, I entered the wine world determined to contribute a different perspective and a unique added value. I have always tried to approach things with a spirit of differentiation. Everything else has been, and continues to be, a daily challenge built upon hard work and more hard work, supported by an extraordinary team of professionals from different backgrounds who bring passion, dreams and a strong sense of belonging. They are the true protagonists of this story, and my family and I feel immense pride and gratitude towards them every day.
During these nine years at Granbazán, some of the most important milestones have included: • The complete renovation of the winery's infrastructure from the ground up. • The workforce has almost doubled in size. • Vineyard holdings have grown from 15 hectares in the Salnés Valley to 36 hectares surrounding the winery, plus an additional 15 hectares in the Ulla area dedicated to our sparkling wine project. All new plantings have been carried out following meticulous massal selection. Personally, I believe Manuel Otero would be very proud of this achievement. • Turnover has almost tripled. • Exports have increased from 25% to nearly 60% of total production, with presence in 40 countries. • We obtained certification under the internationally recognised IFS standard from the outset. • Our wine tourism department continues to expand and now welcomes more than 15,000 visitors each year. • We have implemented sustainability policies in accordance with Fair'n Green international standards. • Solar panels have been installed to ensure responsible and sustainable energy consumption. • We have launched two new white wines, including the one presented this afternoon, as well as a sparkling wine and a Galician red wine. And, without wishing to boast, we still have around 28 projects waiting to be developed, which we hope to bring to life over time, provided sales continue to support our ambitions. Our family philosophy has been clear from day one: Every euro of profit generated in Rías Baixas will continue to be reinvested in Rías Baixas. After nine years in this region, we can confidently say that our efforts have been rewarded. As a result of our work, we have been included for two consecutive years in the World's Best Vineyards ranking, which recognises the leading wine tourism destinations on the planet. We are currently the only representative of Rías Baixas in this prestigious list, although we sincerely hope others will soon join us, because the potential of this region is extraordinary. Before concluding, I would like to thank everyone who has helped us reach this point: The entire Granbazán team, our winegrowing families, our distributors both in Spain and abroad, restaurateurs around the world — and especially those in this wonderful region — the press, opinion leaders, financial partners, local authorities, the Regulatory Council, all those who have offered advice and encouragement since the moment we first considered establishing ourselves here, and, of course, the consumers who choose Granbazán. You are our commitment. You are the reason we wake up every morning determined to raise the bar a little higher and remain worthy of the legacy we have inherited. This evening I would also like to make a very special mention of Hijos de Rivera, our distributor in Galicia since 2016. A truly exemplary company in every respect: outstanding professionals, exceptional human values and facilities that rival the very best in the international drinks industry. It is a company of which all Galicia can be proud. We hope this partnership will continue for many years to come. I have tried to be brief without leaving out anything important.
I hope you enjoy the evening and, as always, our wines. Forty-five years are more than a number. They are harvests, decisions, people and passion condensed into every bottle. Today we raise a glass to those who began this journey, to those who continue it today and to those who will carry it forward tomorrow. Thank you once again for joining us in celebrating the 45th anniversary of Granbazán.
