Former world number one tennis star Rafa Nadal is expanding his business portfolio into the wine sector by partnering with the Spanish entrepreneurial Gil family on a venture named El Tenista, as reported by Mallorca Magazin. The 40-year-old athlete, born in Manacor on the island of Mallorca, announced via social media that he has been working on the initiative with the family for some time, expressing enthusiasm for the collaboration and the opportunity to learn from their experience.
Entering the Wine Industry with the Gil Family
Nadal shared his enthusiasm for the new business direction through a recent online post, stating that he is very happy to be part of the project and to walk this path alongside such an experienced family. According to Mallorca Magazin, the announcement did not specify how the wine project will develop operationally, what specific wines will be offered, or when the bottles will hit the commercial market. The partnership marks a fresh commercial chapter for Nadal following the conclusion of his tennis career.
There are projects that you look forward to especially—and this is one of them,
Nadal wrote in his social media post regarding the initiative.
Building a Global Portfolio Across Tourism, Real Estate, and Gastronomy
The wine venture joins an extensive business empire that Nadal has constructed across multiple sectors since founding the Rafa Nadal Academy in his hometown of Manacor in 2016. That training complex has since expanded internationally, opening facilities and partner centers in Mexico, Greece, Kuwait, Albania, and Colombia. In the tourism and hospitality sector, Nadal partnered with the Meliá hotel group to develop the ZEL brand, which features a Mediterranean-inspired concept that has expanded beyond Mallorca. He also holds a stake in Ocean Platform Marinas, a firm managing berths and sports ports across the Mediterranean Sea.
Within the real estate market, Nadal collaborates with Ibizan businessman and former Spanish foreign minister Abel Matutes through Palya Invest. The partnership targets luxury residential projects in destinations such as Marbella, Estepona, and Madrid, frequently incorporating international design brands into high-end housing developments. Beyond real estate and hospitality, Nadal maintains ownership interests in the Tatel and Totó restaurants, alongside investments in the sports reservation platform Playtomic and the health and wellness brand NDL Pro-Health. Together with his wife, Mery Perelló, he has also ventured into the cosmetics and perfumery segment while maintaining longstanding endorsement agreements with global brands.
The Evolution of a Post-Playing Business Career
The collaboration with the Gil family on El Tenista represents the latest step in a diversified post-tennis trajectory for the Spanish sports figure. While his athletic career defined global tennis for two decades, his entrepreneurial footprint now spans luxury housing, sports education, marina management, fine dining, wellness, and now viticulture. The precise timeline and commercial distribution details for El Tenista remain unannounced as the partners continue developing the initiative.
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