{"id":16035,"date":"2026-06-03T13:24:50","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T12:24:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bodegasgranbazan.com\/?p=16035"},"modified":"2026-06-04T16:25:46","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T15:25:46","slug":"bodegas-granbazan-celebrates-45-years-of-history-innovation-and-commitment-to-albarino","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bodegasgranbazan.com\/en\/bodegas-granbazan-celebra-45-anos-de-historia-innovacion-y-compromiso-con-el-albarino\/","title":{"rendered":"Bodegas Granbaz\u00e1n Celebrates 45 Years of History, Innovation and Commitment to Albari\u00f1o"},"content":{"rendered":"

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 R\u00edas Baixas wines.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Bodegas Granbaz\u00e1n celebrated its 45th anniversary on Monday, June 1st, with a commemorative event held at its facilities in the Saln\u00e9s Valley. The gathering brought together institutional representatives \u2014 including Galicia\u2019s Regional Minister of Rural Affairs, Mar\u00eda Jos\u00e9 G\u00f3mez \u2014 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.<\/p>\n

The celebration provided an opportunity to reflect on four and a half decades dedicated to Albari\u00f1o and to the land where it was born. Granbaz\u00e1n<\/a> Since its beginnings, Granbaz\u00e1n has embraced an innovative approach to cultivating and producing this variety, contributing to the modernization of Galicia\u2019s wine industry and to the international recognition of wines from the R\u00edas Baixas Designation of Origin. Denominaci\u00f3n de Origen R\u00edas Baixas<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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 Albari\u00f1o.<\/p>\n

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Over these 45 years, Granbaz\u00e1n 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.<\/p>\n

This anniversary also comes at a particularly significant moment for the company. In recent years, Granbaz\u00e1n has strengthened its presence in international markets, earned recognition among the world\u2019s leading wine tourism destinations and continues to bring the name of Galicia and R\u00edas 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 Albari\u00f1o.<\/p>\n

The celebration concluded with a toast to the future, surrounded by vineyards and by the people who have accompanied Granbaz\u00e1n throughout these four and a half decades of history.<\/p>\n

If there is one thing Granbaz\u00e1n 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.<\/p>\n

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Este fue el speech delivered by Pedro Mart\u00ednez<\/strong> (Owner of Bodegas Granbaz\u00e1n) during the anniversary celebration:<\/p>\n

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Honourable Regional Minister for Rural Affairs,\nDistinguished President and Former President of the R\u00edas Baixas Regulatory Council,\nRepresentative of the Provincial Council of Pontevedra,\nMayors of the Saln\u00e9s region,\nDistinguished guests,\nFriends and colleagues,\nMembers of the Granbaz\u00e1n team,\nLadies and gentlemen, Good afternoon and welcome.\n\nThank you all for joining us today to celebrate the anniversary of our winery, Granbaz\u00e1n. <\/em><\/p>\n

The reason we are gathered here is to pay tribute to the remarkable journey of one of the emblematic wineries of R\u00edas Baixas over its 45 years of history.\n\nI 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:\n\n\"Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision.\" <\/em><\/p>\n

The origins of Granbaz\u00e1n date back to 1981, when the Otero family planted the rootstocks and subsequently carried out the definitive Albari\u00f1o grafting between 1982 and 1984.\n\nThe first commercial vintage was released in 1989, with two wines: Granbaz\u00e1n Verde and Granbaz\u00e1n \u00c1mbar, both presented in their now iconic coloured bottles. Later came Limousin. At that time, the bottles carried neck labels bearing the word \"Albari\u00f1o\".\n\nThe official R\u00edas Baixas designation strip first appeared on the 1990 vintage, while \u00c1lvaro de Baz\u00e1n was launched in 2003 and subsequently in the vintages 2006, 2010, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.\n\nAs an interesting historical note, this year marks the 500th anniversary of the birth of Don \u00c1lvaro de Baz\u00e1n.\n\nIt is also worth remembering that the R\u00edas Baixas Designation of Origin was officially established in July 1988.\n\nI would like to express my deepest admiration for Manuel Otero, Granbaz\u00e1n'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.\n\nHe 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.\n\nI am proud to follow in the footsteps of such a visionary.\n\nThe passing of time, together with circumstances that are not relevant today, eventually made it possible for my family to acquire this property.\n\nBefore continuing, I would like to make special mention of our Regulatory Council, for which I have enormous respect and gratitude.\n\nIts 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.\n\nDuring our nine years in R\u00edas 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.\n\nThey are the true essence of the Albari\u00f1o world.\n\nUsing 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.\n\nOur arrival in R\u00edas Baixas was a deliberate commitment to excellence.\n\nWe 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.\n\nWe wanted to establish ourselves where the finest white wines in Spain were being made. Granbaz\u00e1n, because of its history, prestige and outstanding work, represented exactly that.\n\nWith an unparalleled track record, significant room for growth, founder status within the Regulatory Council, unique vineyards and a market positioning aligned with its identity, Granbaz\u00e1n became our objective from the very first moment.\n\nAnd then, the miracle happened.\n\nAs 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.\n\nAfter 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.\n\nEverything 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.\n\nThey are the true protagonists of this story, and my family and I feel immense pride and gratitude towards them every day. <\/em><\/p>\n

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During these nine years at Granbaz\u00e1n, some of the most important milestones have included:\n\n\u2022 The complete renovation of the winery's infrastructure from the ground up.\n\u2022 The workforce has almost doubled in size.\n\u2022 Vineyard holdings have grown from 15 hectares in the Saln\u00e9s 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.\n\u2022 Turnover has almost tripled.\n\u2022 Exports have increased from 25% to nearly 60% of total production, with presence in 40 countries.\n\u2022 We obtained certification under the internationally recognised IFS standard from the outset.\n\u2022 Our wine tourism department continues to expand and now welcomes more than 15,000 visitors each year.\n\u2022 We have implemented sustainability policies in accordance with Fair'n Green international standards.\n\u2022 Solar panels have been installed to ensure responsible and sustainable energy consumption.\n\u2022 We have launched two new white wines, including the one presented this afternoon, as well as a sparkling wine and a Galician red wine.\n\nAnd, 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.\n\nOur family philosophy has been clear from day one:\n\nEvery euro of profit generated in R\u00edas Baixas will continue to be reinvested in R\u00edas Baixas.\n\nAfter nine years in this region, we can confidently say that our efforts have been rewarded.\n\nAs 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.\n\nWe are currently the only representative of R\u00edas Baixas in this prestigious list, although we sincerely hope others will soon join us, because the potential of this region is extraordinary.\n\nBefore concluding, I would like to thank everyone who has helped us reach this point:\n\nThe entire Granbaz\u00e1n team, our winegrowing families, our distributors both in Spain and abroad, restaurateurs around the world \u2014 and especially those in this wonderful region \u2014 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 Granbaz\u00e1n.\n\nYou are our commitment.\n\nYou 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.\n\nThis evening I would also like to make a very special mention of Hijos de Rivera, our distributor in Galicia since 2016.\n\nA truly exemplary company in every respect: outstanding professionals, exceptional human values and facilities that rival the very best in the international drinks industry.\n\nIt is a company of which all Galicia can be proud.\n\nWe hope this partnership will continue for many years to come.\n\nI have tried to be brief without leaving out anything important. <\/em><\/p>\n

I hope you enjoy the evening and, as always, our wines.\n\nForty-five years are more than a number. They are harvests, decisions, people and passion condensed into every bottle.\n\nToday 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.\n\nThank you once again for joining us in celebrating the 45th anniversary of Granbaz\u00e1n.<\/em><\/p>\n

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