Global wine distribution mogul E&J Gallo recently signed an agreement with the Galician winery for exclusive distribution of their wines in the US. This arrangement will make the Rías Baixas winery the US’s top selling Spanish producer.

Wines distributed by E&J Gallo reach 90 countries. They are also keen to place new labels on the US market, where they already sell a number of Rías Baixas wines. Two years ago the worldwide distributor decided to wager for Spanish wines and after assessing a number of samples, chose the Cambades winery as their partner. From May, their bottles will be on sale in all 50 states.
Over the past few years, Martín Códax winery has made significant investment efforts to improve their facilities and increase production, so as to be in a position to fill E&J Gallo’s orders. “We have made sure we have sufficient stock and adequate facilities to meet this challenge,” explains managing director Juan Vázquez Gancedo.
E&J Gallo shall distribute Martín Códax’s Albariño, as well as their Rioja ‘Martín Códax Ergo’.
By virtue of this agreement, Martín Códax hopes to reach sales figures in the region of 8 million bottles of their DO Rías Baixas white and a similar average of their Rioja. To ensure supplies they have reached an agreement with Bodegas Patrocinio, who own vineyards in Rioja Alta.
This year, total production of Rías Baixas’ 182 wineries was 20 million bottles. Gallo and Martín Códax will therefore be shipping nearly half of all quality Albariño produced to the US.