The story of Viñas Familia Gil began in 1916 when Juan Gil Jiménez, a stonemason by trade, decided to venture into viticulture by planting vines and producing bulk wine during World War I. This initiative marked the founding of the first winery, Bodegas Juan Gil.

Building on this foundation, his son, Juan Gil Guerrero, and later his grandson, Juan Gil González, enhanced and solidified the winery’s reputation by applying traditional winemaking practices, establishing it as a reference point in the region.

A significant turning point came in 1977 with the passing of the patriarch, Juan Gil González. His widow, Rosario Vera, ensured the family business endured by instilling in their nine children the values of education and familial unity.

In the early 21st century, the fourth generation took charge of the winery, driving the expansion of Gif Family Estates. They began exporting to the United States and simultaneously focused on substantial growth within Spain.

 

Since 2002, several wineries have joined the flagship Juan Gil winery in Jumilla:

 

• 2002: El Nido (a leading representative of Jumilla D.O.P.).
• 2005: Can Blau (D.O. Montsant) and Ateca (D.O. Calatayud).
• 2007: Atalaya (D.O. Almansa).
• 2008: Tridente (V.T. Castilla y León) and Shaya (D.O. Rueda).
• 2013: Lagar da Condesa (D.O. Rías Baixas).
• 2016: Morca (D.O. Campo de Borja) and Rosario Vera (D.O.Ca. Rioja)*.
• 2019: Llicorella Vins (D.O.Ca. Priorat).
• (*) Rosario Vera: Named after the family matriarch, this winery in Rioja Alavesa honors her memory, just as Bodegas Juan Gil in Jumilla pays tribute to the patriarch. The winery has operated in Laguardia since acquiring a facility there in 2017, following its first production in 2016.

Over a century later, the passion for winemaking and the land remains deeply rooted in the Gil family, passed down from generation to generation. The founding principles established by the patriarch continue to guide the company’s mission.

 

Gil Family Estates look to the future with the fifth generation already preparing to take over, focusing on sustainability, organic production, and leading the company’s evolution into a global project. Their vision includes driving social, cultural, and economic development in the 10 Spanish Denominations of Origin where the group operates.

 

Today, Gil Family Estates face an extraordinary opportunity amidst global changes. The company is solidifying its identity under the unified brand Viñas Familia Gil | Gil Family Estates and embracing the slogan “Somos Tierra” (“We Are The Land”), symbolizing their commitment to a sustainable and innovative future.