Rioja versus Ribera del Duero. Recursos y estrategias

Rioja and Ribera del Duero are two of the most important wine PDOs in Spain considering the value in euros of their annual production, as well as the prestige of their wineries and wines. The wineries of both PDOs compete in the globalized market, taking advantage of their distinctive resources and capacities, and developing strategies that allow them to differentiate themselves and earn a place in the market. However, what remains unknown are what are these differentiating resources and capabilities, and what are the strategies that characterize each of these successful competition models. This article addresses the analysis from a novel point of view, from the study of its resources and capabilities and its interaction with the strategy. With respect to resources and capabilities we focus on innovation, and on strategy in the Robinson and Pearce model. Through the analysis of 69 wineries of these two PDOs, the results show how the competitive situation and resources influence the strategy developed by the wineries. It is verified how the wineries combine resources and strategies, and how they balance their competitive position by strategically developing those resources in those that are less competitive.