Fundador: an important anniversary

The history of brandy cannot be fully understood without knowing the history of Fundador. It was here in the Bodega de la Luz that the first Spanish-made brandy was made, and this year marks its 150th anniversary.

2024 is a very significant year for the historic company Fundador as it marks the 150th anniversary of the first Spanish brandy, as well as the creation of a new category - Brandy de Jerez.

Let's start from the beginning, because as always, terroir plays a key role.

It all started in 1730 with Bodegas Fundador, the oldest bodega in the Marco de Jerez region in Andalusia. This is a unique area as Europe's southernmost wine-growing region extending over about 7000 hectares. The soil is rich in white clays and the calcium carbonate and silica help retain moisture. This kind of soil is called Albariza for its characteristic color. With hot summers and mild winters, the climate is affected by the Atlantic influence and sees about 300 days of sunshine a year, with wind also playing a key role – the hot and dry wind blowing from the East and the wet and cool one from the West. 

In these optimal conditions, the origins of vine growing are lost in the mists of time. In the 16th century the region's wines were eventually discovered by the British, and thanks to them Sherry began to be exported around the world.

Fundador's origins are closely linked to the name Domecq, an originally French family who were the forefathers of the wine industry and whose most important figure was Pedro Domecq Loustau. Legend has it that he did not invent brandy knowingly but, as is often the case, in a completely unexpected way. In a corner of his cellar he kept a few holandas – wine spirits – which had been preserved for decades in American oak barrels that had previously contained the excellent generosos - local fortified wines - or Sherry. They had been ordered by a customer who had suddenly canceled, and had been left there.

Years later, a master oenologist found the abandoned barrels and, when he opened them and tasted the contents, discovered that ageing had yielded an extraordinary product with unique characteristics, soft, complex aromas and rich nuances - all because of its quiet rest in those barrels, known around the world as "Sherry Casks".

That was the beginning of a new category fated to go down in history. This unique product was registered under the name Fundador, meaning ‘founder’. It was the year 1874 - precisely 150 years ago.

Over the years the Fundador collection has grown with new products, strengthening the winery's reputation as the go-to brand for Brandy de Jerez and positioning it as a world-leading Brandy producer.

At Fundador, every detail in the production process is closely monitored, from soil and plantation selection to bottling.

Over 270 hectares of land are planted with the Palomino and Pedro Ximénez grape varieties, perfect for producing the four sherry types: Fino, Amontillado, Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez.

The distillation process is also carefully supervised and controlled. The spirits age with the Criaderas and Solera systems typically used in the Marco de Jerez region. It's an art perfected through long experience.

Mezquita, Fundador's legendary winery, contains no less than 42,000 barrels - an impressive heritage reflecting the brand's long history. The angels’ share is quite high at around 4%, as it is extremely important that the barrels 'breathe' as they should.