Today the world's largest producer of sherry was founded in 1835 by Manuel María González Angel in the southern Spanish city of Jerez as a trading company. In 1844 the first vineyards were purchased and the company produced its own wines. The house brand "Tío Pepe" (Uncle Pepe), which is named after José de la Pena, an uncle of the founder, was created in 1849 and today is one of the most successful and best-selling sherry brands in the world. Incidentally, the founder's workroom was left as he left it after his death in 1887. Great Britain was, as it is today, the most important customer, the very successful agent for this market was Robert Blake Byass. He became a partner in 1855, but it was not until a generation later that the company was renamed González Byass & Co and remained in the possession of these two families for a long time. In 1988, the González family acquired the Byass shares. Since 1997 the company has been managed by Chon Gómez-Monche, the fifth generation of the family.
The farm comprises a vineyard area of around 1,000 hectares, 550 of which are owned by the company. For the most part, various sherry varieties are produced, which regularly receive high awards, and since the 1990s also dry vintages. In addition to the Tío Pepe Fino already mentioned, these include Alfonso Dry Oloroso, Amontillado Del Dulce, Apostoles Palo Cortado, Elegante Dry Fino, El Rocío Manzanilla Fina, La Concha Amontillado, Nectar Cream and Oloroso Matúsalem. The stock includes over 130,000 barrels. In 2001 the sherry bodegas of Croft (owned by Diageo) were bought. Brandy de Jerez is also produced under the brand names Lepanto and Soberano. In addition, a Rioja (Bodegas Beronia) and a Cava called Castell de Vilarnau are produced from estates also owned by the company. Since 1989, a subsidiary company in France has also been producing an "XO" grade cognac from the Fine Champagne range.
Picture: By Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link
