The González Byass Family of Wines has broken through the 300-million-euro gross turnover threshold in a year in which it continues to pour significant investments into La Rioja, Ribera del Duero y Jerez.
González Byass achieved a gross turnover of 309 million euros in 2019 – 4% up on the previous year, with net turnover working out at 240 million euros and displaying a similar rate of growth. At the close of the 2019 exercise (the tax year ran from 1st September 2018 to 31st August 2019) the company’s Ebitda stood at 28.3 million euros as against 28.1 million euros the previous year.
International sales grew 6.6%, accounting for 69% of total business. González Byass has six distribution operations of its own (Iberia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Mexico and Chile) as well as sales offices and delegations in China, Germany and Canada. The company is currently run by the fifth generation of the González Family and comprises 14 wineries in Spain, Chile and Mexico, 3 distilleries and a staff of 982, 37% of whom are based outside Spain.
González Byass’ brands, both in wine (Tío Pepe, Beronia, Vilarnau and Veramonte), and in spirits (The London Nº1 and Mom gins, Solera Gran Reserva Lepanto brandy and Nomad Outland Whisky) have secured the company’s positioning globally.
Growth on all fronts
- through new projects such as the construction of the new Beronia winery, dedicated to ageing Reserva and Gran Reserva wines; the acquisition of the Dominio Fournier winery at the heart of Ribera del Duero, and the Tío Pepe Hotel, the world’s first Sherry Hotel.
- through new wine tourism experiences such as the Tío Pepe Festival, an experiential festival that brings thousands of people together every year to listen to musical performances by international artistes, visit the bodegas of Jerez, learn about the wines and enjoy a gastronomic experience delivered by Michelin Star chefs. More than 300,000 visitors tour the González Byass wineries in Jerez, Beronia Rioja, Viñas del Vero, Cavas Vilarnau, Finca Constancia, Viñedos Veramonte, in Chile, and Casa Pedro Domecq, in México.
- through new accolades such as the World’s Best Wine, awarded to Tío Pepe Cuatro Palmas in the International Wine Challenge; Favourite Young White, awarded to Viñas del Vero Chardonnay by Guía Gourmets readers; Best Cava, won by Vilarnau Brut Reserva Orgánico in The Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships, and the scores awarded to Beronia wines by the Wine Spectator and James Suckling.
Sustainability as a strategy
“5+5 Looking after the Planet” is one of the 101 climate initiatives Spain has embraced that the #PorElClima Community singled out during the World Climate Summit in Madrid (COP25) on account of its innovative approach, robustness and clear commitment. The initiative means that the wineries that are part of this Family of Wines are developing ways to reduce water consumption, optimise energy resources and pursue other objectives that will help protect the environment.
The initiatives as a whole have led to González Byass Jerez, Vilarnau, Viñas del Vero and Beronia Rioja obtaining “Wineries for Climate Protection” certification, and to ambitious projects being executed such as the one being implemented at six of the wineries and work centres whereby 30% of energy requirements are supplied through photovoltaic arrays.
