Pernod Ricard Group sells Marqués de Arienzo
Pernod Ricard said that its subsidiary Domecq Bodegas has sold the Spanish wine brands Marqués de Arienzo and Viña Eguίa, the bodega and 358 hectares of vineyards and lands to a consortium of buyers made up of Vinos de los Herederos del Marqués de Riscal and Gangutia for a cash consideration of EUR 28 million on a debt free / cash free basis.
The transaction was signed and the cash consideration was paid simultaneously on 21 July 2010.
Vinos de los Herederos del Marqués de Riscal, which celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2008, is one of the most prestigious wine companies in the Rioja. Marqués de Riscal sells its wines in over 90 countries. Among architecture buffs, the winery is feted for having chosen the Canadian architect Frank Gehry to design its hotel in Elciego, which was opened in 2006.
Its partner in the consortium is the Gangutia Group, currently managed by the Murúa family’s third generation (Murúa Gangutia), which has commercialised its Rioja wines by selling 80 percent abroad.
The Marqués de Arienzo are the latest brands that Pernod Ricard has flogged off. Early in July 2010 it sold its shares in wine company Ambrosio Velasco to another Spanish drinks company, Diego Zamora, for a cash consideration of EUR 33.1 million, excluding debt.
Diego Zamora is a privately-owned company, best known as the producer of Licor 43, the most popular Spanish liqueur worldwide and other premium brands such as Villa Massa (the best-selling premium Italian Limoncello), Matusalem Rum and Ramon Bilbao Wines from Rioja.
