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La Voz de Andalucía

The London Vintners Company and its Historic Connection to Jerez Wines

The Worshipful Company of Vintners in London has maintained a centuries-old relationship with the Jerez region, solidifying its international prestige.

Generic image of a wine bottle in an old cellar.
IA

Generic image of a wine bottle in an old cellar.

The Worshipful Company of Vintners of London, one of the oldest guild corporations in the English capital, has played a crucial role in the international projection of Jerez wines, maintaining a commercial and cultural relationship spanning centuries.

The history of Jerez wine is intrinsically linked to its early global expansion, especially in London. The Worshipful Company of Vintners, a guild institution with origins in the 12th century and a royal charter since 1364, was fundamental in establishing the prestige of Jerez wines in the British market. This company grouped merchants with exclusive privileges for the import and distribution of wine in England.
Since the late Middle Ages, the company's merchants forged stable commercial ties with producers in the Jerez region. During the 16th and 17th centuries, 'sack' (as Jerez wine was known in England) became a highly valued product, with the Vintners Company regulating its import, ensuring its quality, and facilitating its distribution to taverns, noble houses, and courtly circles.
Over the last seventy years, members of this corporation have visited the Jerez region on four occasions to gain first-hand knowledge of wine production. The first official visit took place in mid-April 1955, with the arrival of a delegation led by the then Master Vintner, a former Lord Mayor of London. They were received in Jerez de la Frontera by local authorities and entertained in the gardens of Tempul.
The delegation dedicated a day to direct knowledge of the Jerez vineyards, touring various vineyards and visiting wineries such as Pedro Domecq. Subsequently, they moved to Sanlúcar de Barrameda, where local winemakers hosted a dinner. Before their departure, they visited El Puerto de Santa María to see the facilities of wineries like Osborne and Duff Gordon.
Subsequent visits occurred in 1979 and 1989, although documentary information about these is limited. The most recent stay took place the week of April 12 to 16 this year, organized by the president of a Jerez company. The delegation, led by the current Master Vintner, visited Jerez, Sanlúcar, and El Puerto, including wineries such as Lustau, González Byass, Hidalgo-La Gitana, Osborne, Williams & Humbert, and Fundador-Pedro Domecq, as well as the Regulatory Council.
The Vintners Company, which today retains a strong ceremonial and philanthropic character, supports educational and cultural initiatives related to wine, including the training of Master of Wine. Its headquarters, Vintners’ Hall, near the River Thames, symbolizes the deep historical connection between England and the wine trade, under the motto 'Vinum Exhilarat Animum' ('Wine gladdens the spirit').

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