The Board of Directors of La Rioja Alta, S.A. has appointed Guillermo de Aranzabal Bittner as the new Managing Director (CEO) of the company, succeeding Ángel Barrasa Sobrón, who retires after two decades of outstanding leadership at the helm of the winery.
At 30 years old, Guillermo de Aranzabal Bittner represents the sixth generation of the founding family and brings with him a solid academic background and an impressive professional track record. He holds a degree in Business Administration from Deusto Business School and an MBA from the University of Miami. Prior to joining the winery, he began his career at the Polish subsidiary of a major Spanish multinational. In 2020, he joined La Rioja Alta, S.A. as Deputy Managing Director, and since then, he has served as Export Manager for Asia and Latin America, Marketing Director, and has actively contributed to shaping the company’s global and commercial strategy.
With this appointment, the Board of Directors reaffirms its commitment to a professional yet family-driven management model, one that honors the historic legacy of the winery while embracing innovation and adapting to the significant technological and social changes that lie ahead.
Ángel Barrasa bids farewell as Managing Director after 20 years of transformation across all areas of the company. However, he will remain closely connected to the group as a member of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and strategic advisor to the President and new Managing Director, ensuring continuity in strategic direction. He leaves behind a modern, highly professionalized group, proudly recognized in 2025 as the third most admired winery in the world by the prestigious magazine Drinks International.
The Board of Directors and shareholders of La Rioja Alta, S.A. have expressed their deep gratitude to Ángel Barrasa for his dedication, leadership, and commitment over the past two decades, and are confident that Guillermo de Aranzabal Bittner will uphold the values and management style that define La Rioja Alta, S.A., while bringing renewed energy and a global outlook to strengthen the group’s future.
