The Principe de Viana group was founded in 1983 as a joint venture between the Navarra government and local private investors in order to put the Murchante co-operative on a commercial footing. In the 1990s the Navarra bank, Caja Rural de Navarra, replaced the government as the main shareholder. The group now comprises three bodegas - Principe de Viana, Rioja Vega and Albret, and has become Navarra’s principal exporter. Bodega Principe de Viana controls over 1400 hectares of vines in the Ribera Baja area of Navarra and a new bodega was completed in 2004. Great care is taken over vineyard management and respect for the environment. In the bodega there are over 15,000 barrels and a capacity capable of supporting sales of 10 million bottles a year.