Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the impact of the processes of orientation and empowerment and the transfer of information in the learning culture. Design/methodology/approach The first hypothesis predicts that information mediates the relationship between orientation and empowerment processes and learning culture and the second hypothesis suggests that organisational size moderates the relationships between constructs. The empirical work is conducted in the wine industry in Spain through a structural equation analysis, partial least squares. Findings The hypothesis of mediation is confirmed; however, the hypothesis about size moderation is not confirmed. Practical implications The importance of the transfer of information in the foundation of a learning culture is highlighted and, therefore, its importance in the development of learning in organisations, especially in building learning organisations. Originality/value This research contributes to the literature on learning in organisations by sharing not only the characteristics that identify a learning culture, but also the mechanisms or processes through which a learning culture can be developed.