Zamora Company acquires majority stake in Godello pioneer Godeval
Zamora Company, the Spanish drinks group behind Licor 43, Ramón Bilbao and Mar de Frades, has acquired a majority stake in Bodegas Godeval, the Godello winery credited with reviving the variety in Galicia.
Zamora Company, the Spanish drinks group behind Licor 43, Ramón Bilbao and Mar de Frades, has acquired a majority stake in Bodegas Godeval, one of the leading wineries in the Valdeorras DO and a pioneer in the modern revival of the Godello grape.
The deal, financed entirely with Zamora Company’s own resources, brings one of Galicia’s most emblematic white wine producers into the group’s growing premium portfolio, which already includes Verdejo from Ramón Bilbao (Rueda) and Albariño from Mar de Frades (Rías Baixas).
Strengthening the premium white wine portfolio
Founded almost 40 years ago, Godeval is recognised as a benchmark for Godello wines, cultivating more than 50 hectares of its own vineyards in some of Valdeorras’ most distinctive plots.
Zamora Company president José María de Santiago said: “As a family business, we believe in building long-term value based on authentic brands with soul and roots. Godeval represents all of that: history, quality and a deep respect for its origins. This acquisition allows us to continue expanding our commitment to Spanish wine of excellence, and to do so through a pioneering and emblematic project.”
He added that Zamora Company intends to “accompany Godeval so that, based on its essence and uniqueness, it becomes a new success story within the Zamora Company family of premium wines, as was the case with Ramón Bilbao.”
The addition of Godeval further consolidates the group’s strategic focus on diversifying its white wine offer and enhancing its international growth potential.
Continuity and heritage
Godeval’s founding family will remain involved in the business, ensuring continuity of its legacy and philosophy. Founder Honorato López Isla stays on as a director, alongside Araceli Fernández, winery manager, and Ana Bartolomé, technical director of viticulture and oenology, supported by her father José Luis Bartolomé.
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In a joint statement, Fernández and Bartolomé said: “It is a privilege to be able to continue building Godeval’s future with a partner who shares our values. This union will allow us to grow authentically, maintaining the style and philosophy that have made Godeval a benchmark.”
Zamora Company confirmed that Godeval’s existing team will continue to lead operations, bringing with them expertise in local viticulture and the production of wines with strong regional character.
Future growth and synergies
The acquisition is expected to generate operational and marketing synergies across Zamora Company’s wine division, expanding its reach in premium hospitality and international markets.
CEO Javier Pijoan said: “The incorporation of Godeval complements and strengthens our wine division and opens up a path for growth with one of the best performing and fastest growing white varieties in Spain. The Godello variety has enormous potential to connect with consumers who are looking for authentic, high-quality wines with regional identity.”
Godeval currently produces around 150,000 bottles per year, across four 100% Godello wines – Godeval, Cepas Vellas, Revival, and Godeval 1986 – all from estate-grown fruit.
Sustainability and wine tourism
The winery, based in O Barco de Valdeorras, manages 50 hectares of vineyards across 246 small slate-rich plots, practising sustainable viticulture with moderate yields and generating part of its energy from solar power.
Rodolfo Bastida, director of Zamora Company’s wine division, described Godeval as “the perfect complement to our catalogue and our understanding of wine: authenticity of origin, expression of the territory and uncompromising quality.”
Godeval also plans to expand its wine tourism offer, leveraging its historic location next to the Templar monastery of Xagoaza to share its heritage and the story of the Godello grape with visitors. “We do not intend to change what has made Godeval a unique winery, but rather to maximise its recognition and take its prestige to new horizons,” Bastida said.
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