Nowadays, the public faces of Bodegas Manzanos are those of the brothers Víctor, and David Fernández de Manzanos, as well as Laura Mateo, wife of the former. In 2010, these young entrepreneurs took the reins of the winery to turn Manzanos Wines into a prosperous business, modern and endowed with the latest technologies in the field. A business that has managed to preserve the old flavor of tradition and the received legacy. Many changes have occurred in Manzanos in these eight years since Victor, the eldest of the Fernandez de Manzanos brothers, embarked in the winery after arriving from London, prepared to take the reins of the family business. His father, Víctor Fernández de Manzanos Pastor, author of the project for the current winery, had suddenly died and this young man, at only twenty years of age, became the company’s engine, assuming the position of CEO. At that time, the company lacked creditworthiness, asphyxiated by the credits for the new facilities and the distribution of product was confined to the local scope with the traditional brand, Viña Marichalar, to which a new mid-high range brand had just been added, Finca Manzanos, gave way to the start of the Bodegas Manzanos Azagra project. The winery had four underground floors for wine elaboration and ageing and a common reception area on the ground floor. In that moment, there were 12 workers and a weak commercial network, both nationally and internationally. Nevertheless, today the company’s team is made up at more than 180 people.

The work of Victor Fernández de Manzanos has been key in this process of transformation and growth of the family business. Victor has been able to interpret and successfully assume the role that destiny threw upon him, on the one hand, as head of the family, with the commitment to keep his family together and, on the other, as a self-made businessman, who must continue the trail left by his father. Its family management, whilst modern and innovative, and the distribution of roles in the direction of business have earned the trust of customers, who see in Manzanos Wines a company with traditional values but open to technological changes. We have come from old and unused wineries with little production capacity, to renovated buildings and renovated facilities to 950 hectares of vineyards, and all just in the appellation Rioja. Thus, the wineries founded by previous generations continue to operate in Azagra, after the remodeling undertaken. In the spring of 2016 Manzanos Wines acquires Luis Gurpegui Muga and Bodegas Berceo, one of the most emblematic wineries in Rioja Alta. Previously it had already added to the group its first winery with Designation of Origin Of Navarra, Castillo de Enériz.

The acquisition at the beginning of 2018 of the emblematic Rioja Brand Siglo and Vinícola Navarra winery and its brands Las Campanas and Castillo de Olite has been a major milestone in their winemaking history. These purchases have helped Bodegas Manzanos consolidate its positioning in the top 10 of appellation Rioja and the top 3 of appellation Navarra. The work of Víctor Manzanos and his team is evident: sales have grown exponentially since his arrival within the company.

The presence in international markets has also been boosted, reaching more than 60 countries, and national distribution is also increasing. The years have been difficult to get to where we are because, whilst Victor Fernandez de Manzanos senior projected the winery in a time of economic boom, the young Victor has had to face the crisis, which shook the sector and the area in 2011. Perhaps this fact has pushed him into not giving up and his entrepreneurial nature has led him to consolidate a project for the future. In short, these youngsters from the 5th generation of the family, had to work hard. Their commitment and sacrifice during these last eight years have been rewarded with the positioning of Manzanos Wines as one of the distinct groups in the field of wine in Spain.