Emperador expands vineyard in Spain

TYCOON Andrew Tan’’s Emperador International Ltd. has acquired more vineyard land in Spain to boost production of the world’s bestselling brandy as well as to attract other Asian markets like China and Vietnam.

Tan’s Emperador Group recently purchased 409 hectares more of vineyard property in Madrid, Spain, increasing its landbank in the Spanish soil to an estimated 1,000 hectares.

The acquisition was made through the Spanish subsidiary Grupo Emperador Spain of offshore unit Emperador International Ltd., Emperador Distillers Inc.

“We are building more vineyards in order to support our brandy production in Spain,” Jorge Domecq Bohorquez, managing director of Emperador International, said.

Early this year, the Filipino-owned brandy company has secured ownership of 509 hectares of vineyard in Toledo, Spain when it acquired Bodega San Bruno S.A., the largest brandy producing company based in Spain.

Bohorquez said that Emperador International plans to purchase more vineyards and other brandy production facilities, including distilling and bottling plants, in Spain. He said this is due to the positive reception of Emperador Deluxe, the premier brandy that is produced and bottled in Spain. “We have achieved remarkable progress in our investment in Spain, of which are very pleased,” Bohorquez said. “Our next steps forward will further strengthen our position as the world’s no. 1 brandy company by volume, and make us exceptionally competitive as a global brandy producer.”

In a recent disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, Emperador International, a member of Tan’s Alliance Global Group Inc., is investing P5.8 billion in Spain in the next 12 months.

Bohorquez said that part of the P5.8 billion has already been invested through the Spain-based Bodega San Bruno S.A. and Grupo Emperador Spain S.A., which are both owned by Emperador.