Spanish wine giant to expand into Chile

(TheDrinksBusiness) - One of Spain’s biggest wine producers Félix Solís Avantis is planning to build a bulk and bottled wine operation in Chile as well as update its facility in Valdepeñas.

Speaking to the drinks business last week, export and marketing director for the company Félix Solís Ramos said he was hoping to build a facility in Chile from the ground up or possibly buy an existing winery.

Either way, “It will be a brand new business,” he told db, before stating, “We will have something [in Chile] in the next two years.”

The decision to invest in South America is motivated by the increasing demand for Chilean wines in Europe and Asia as well as by the increasing demand for Chilean bulk wine in China where Félix Solís has a bottling company and an import and distribution company, both of which are in Shanghai.

With Spanish bulk wine prices increasing over the last 12 months due to last year’s small harvest, China has decreased its bulk wine shipments from Spain, but ramped up its imports from Chile to compensate, which has seen a slight decline in bulk wine prices.

“It is either Spain or Chile that is number one depending on the price,” explained Stephen Wang, general manager for Félix Solís in China, referring to bulk wine shipments to the country.