In Rioja, the family has its second winemaking home at Bodegas Beronia, where they make benchmark-setting crianzas, reservas and gran reservas in pure QDO Rioja tradition, as well as a Viura white. Their drive to innovate has generated an interesting range of single-variety wines, such as their Tempranillo de Elaboración Especial or Beronia Mazuelo Reserva, being the only winery in Rioja that makes a reserva-aged wine using only Mazuelo.

This bodega, which owes its name to the berons, who peopled the area in the 3rd century b.C. and is located in Ollauri, Rioja Alta, was purchased by González Byass in 1982. From then on, its reputation has grown consistently both at home and abroad. Today they hold around 70 hectares of vineyards and have ageing facilities for over 28,000 barrels, with an average age below five years.

That same year, the Jerez-based company entered the Vilarnau group. Established in 1948, the company’s name was inspired by the Vilarnau Castle, located on the banks of the Anoia river, in the municipality of Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, so closely bonded to cava-making.

Vilarnau began as a small company devoted to the production of cavas and quality wines defined by their personality and strict quality requirements. Teaming up with the group from Jerez has implied no changes to this work ethic, though it has allowed the company to expand in size.

Over the past few years, the bodega has bought up and modernised a number of adjacent plots. In 2006 they officially opened their new facilities, equipped with state-of-the-art technology for winemaking, vinification and ageing.

Thus, through this third branch of their business, González Byass is producing cavas under the brands ‘Vilarnau’ and ‘Albert de Vilarnau’, and a wine called ‘Les Planes de Vilarnau’ under DO Penedés, which sit comfortably in the highest market segment. Both products are earning considerable acclaim and winning prizes both at home and abroad.