Bodegas: Barón de Algar y Cía. S.L.

The López de Carrizosa family is one of the oldest in Jerez. There are records of their presence in the XII century, and members of the family have distinguished themselves over the centuries mainly in the military or in politics. The family is littered with barons, counts and marquises.

This old bodega de crianza y exportación (shipper) was founded in the mid XIX century by Francisco Javier López de Carrizosa y Pavón, VIII Marqués de Pavón and I Marqués de Mochales (1825-1882). It traded under the name Marqués de Casa Pavón and had bodegas in the Calle Liebre, known as “La Grande” on account of their size. 

The Casa Algar (foto:Jerezsiempre)

After the founder’s death the firm’s name was changed more than once over the years: to Pedro López de Carrizosa; Barón de Algar (one of Francisco’s sons) and Barón de Algar del Campo, ending up in its last incarnation as Bodegas Barón de Algar y Cía. S.L. in 1955. The firm disappeared in the 1980s. Algar is a small town East of Jerez famous for its lake and caves.

It is hard to keep Jerezanos out of the Sherry business however, and in the 1990s Ignacio López de Carrizosa along with Javier Domecq and Joaquín Rivero Valcarce (all from legendary Sherry families), set up Bodegas Tradición.

Liebre means "hare" (foto Jose Luis Jimenez)

Best known Algar brands were:
Brandy Anfitrión (name now used by J Ferris), Fino La Liebre and Oloroso Salto al Cielo.

The Oloroso has now been re-introduced by the Lopez de Carrizosa family at their tiny Bodega Conde de Peraleja, situated on a large plot of family owned working agricultural land originally belonging to the Carthusian monks and run by Luis López de Carrizosa Ybarra. It should be available in tiny quantities in the UK in spring 2015 from UK agents Ehrmanns. They also produce a Cream, Amontillado, and a PX.