Cardenal Mendoza Romate: 200 years of brandy history

Whenever we speak about our proud history, we always begin with our roots and birthplace, Jerez de la Frontera. For centuries the city has been world famous for its Sherry wines, and at the end of the 18th century had become a hive of business activity thanks to huge international demand for them.

With some of the oldest wineries in Spain, Jerez attracted merchants from near and far. However, it was a Spaniard, Juan Sánchez de la Torre, who would found the firm Sánchez Romate Hermanos, one of the few remaining wineries in the Jerez Designation of Origin which is still in the hands of local owners – and fewer still in family hands.

What drove Juan Sánchez de la Torre was his restless nature and passion for Jerez and its winemaking heritage. His passion to produce superior wines and put Jerez on the map earned him much recognition not only in the industry, but amongst his neighbours. Over time, the winery grew and adapted to the successive technical advances that were taking place while maintaining their respect for traditional methods. Over a century after its founding, the firm reached a milestone when in 1887 the fourth generation of the Sánchez Romate family decided to create an exclusive brandy for the family and their closest circle of friends. This was the beginning of Cardenal Mendoza Solera Gran Reserva, the firm’s flagship brand.

Today, the wines and brandies of Sánchez Romate maintain the international spirit born from Juan Sánchez de la Torre himself, with a firm commitment to quality and expansion across the rest of the world.