Flix Sols capitalises on demand for Spanish wine

Published: 23 July, 2008

The Flix Sols Avantis group is celebrating further expansion in Spain with the opening of a new winery in Rioja and the launch of two new wine ranges. Pagos del Rey SL is the subsidiary company overseeing the winery, which will have an annual production of more than 7 million bottles.

The two new brands - El Circulo (The Circle), which has

a recommended retail price of 4.49, and Arnegui (a typical surname of the area) - are targeted at the off- and on-trade respectively and the aim is to give both sectors a point of difference on quality Rioja wines'. Only one wine from

each range will be released this autumn but crianza wines will be launched next year and plans for reserva and gran reserva additions will be developed in the future.

The winery, based in Fuenmayor in the Rioja Alta region, is the third acquisition for Pagos del Rey SL following the procurement of wineries in Rueda (earlier this year) and Ribero del Duero (2002).

It holds 8,000 Bordeaux-style 2,225 litre barrels and houses an automatic bottling line with a capacity of 8,000 per hour. The total production potential is more than 9 million litres per annum and Flix Sols is considering moving some of its other wine ranges to this winery.

Free Run Wines in Wiltshire is the exclusive UK agent for Flix Sols and Charles Elms, director, commented: With the increasing popularity of Spanish wines, and particularly those of Rioja, we are very pleased to add these two exciting new ranges to our portfolio.'

Wines from Spain confirmed that Spanish wine sales in the UK are up 3% by volume and 4% by value in the off trade and up by 5% in the on-trade (MAT May 2006; AC Nielson).

Flix Sols is also launching a range of oak-aged Tempranillo wines from the DO Valdepeas region under the brand Arium' for the on-trade sector and the Consigna' range, which comprises six varietal wines and is aimed at the off-trade multiples (RRP 3.99). Both ranges will be distributed by Free Run Wines and supported by promotional activity.

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