Zamora buys majority stake in Chinese wine distributor

Spain’s Zamora Company, which owns the Ramon Bilbao and Licor 43 brands, has bought a majority stake in Shanghai-based wine and spirits distributor Tintafina, giving it direct access to the Chinese market.

The joint venture will see Tintafina, founded in 2010, take on the distribution of all Zamora’s wine and spirit brands, which includes Licor 43, Lolea Sangria, Villa Massa Limoncello, Yellow Rose Bourbon and Ramón Bilbao Rioja wines, in China with immediate effect.

“This decision is a clear execution of our company’s strategy to reinforce and continuously improve our routes to markets,” said Victor ten Wolde, region director (emerging markets) at Zamora Company.

“With Tintafina, we have found a partner that shares and enriches our vision of the Chinese market, and we look forward continuing to build our brands there.”

Zamora made its first foray into China via Tintafina earlier this year, and will now have three out of five places on the management board.

“Zamora Company is excited about this opportunity – a more direct presence in the market allows us to invest in our brands more than before,” Ten Wolde added. “We will strengthen our relationship with existing distribution partners and we will also enter channels we haven’t been represented in before. We will continue to accelerate the growth of Ramón Bilbao, and see a bright future for Lolea and our premium spirit portfolio in China.”

Earlier this year Zamora acquired a majority stake in Martin Miller’s gin, continuing a streak of purchases in recent months that has included polka-dotted sangria brand Lolea, US whiskey Yellow Rose and Villa Massa Limoncello.