Bodegas: Herederos de Argüeso

Leon de Argüeso y Argüeso (1801 - 1880) arrived in Sanlucar from Arija (Burgos) in about 1820 and like so many northerners established himself in a grocer's shop called the Almacen del Reloj in Calle Bolsa. Here he sold goods imported from the Americas and  went on to prosper. He then bought an old bodega, San Jose in the Callejon de Santo Domingo, and soleras, all of which were over 50 years old at the time.  He never married as he was so busy working. It is said he even slept on his butts of Manzanilla! He owned the 70 hectare Viña Poeda vineyard in the pago Torrebreba. He made so much money he paid for a school in his native Arija.

On his death in 1880 without issue his nephews Juan, Manuel and Lucio inherited his bodega and a sizeable fortune. The company name was changed to Herederos de Leon de Argüeso, but soon Manuel split from the company to start his own business, which he called Manuel de Argüeso SA, while the others called their part Herederos de Argüeso SA. Juan kept the latter going profitably and introduced the now famous trademark known as "los dos herederos" with his and his wife's initials J&F (Francisca). Juan died prematurely in 1905 and the firm's name changed to Herederos de Juan de Argüeso, changing again in the 1930s to Herederos de Argüeso SA, and remaining unchanged since.

In the early days of the XX century the business began to expand and more bodegas were bought or erected around the original nucleus of bodega San Jose. As the business grew, more buildings appeared and the bodega complex covered 26,000 square metres, employing 25 people and owning over 50 hectares of vineyard. This complex is sited partly on what was once the cloister and sacristy of the convent and orchards of San Domingo from the XVI century, some reminders of which can still be seen in the form of old tiles, doors and the magnificent ceilings of the refectory.

(foto:vinosalacarta.com)

Meanwhile Manuel de Argüeso was doing well, principally as an almacenista, and his son, Manuel de Argüeso y Rios further developed the company with the purchase of Gutiérrez Hermanos in Jerez in 1942. They had already bought Carrasco hermanos in 1916. Among Manuel's brands were Manzanilla Santa Ana, Manzanilla Olorosa Señorita, Amontillado Medallas, PX El Candado, Brandy Genesis, Anis del Leon, ponche and vermouth. They had been supplying Manzanilla to Valdespino, who eventually bought the firm in 1972. They retained the brands Señorita and El Candado.

Exterior in Calle Mar before blue and white Yuste paint job. Red flag means mosto is available

Herederos de Argüeso SA carried on, but times changed, and the bodega complex now only covers 14,000 metres and contains only 6,000 butts. The vineyard has been sold off. Around the year 2000, the family sold out to a group of enthusiastic investors who kept the company going, though there was a slightly run-down air about the place, but the wines were still good. In 2016 the bodega was sold to Francisco Yuste who has the resources for the much needed investment. He is now the largest producer in Sanlúcar after Barbadillo.

The range of wines produced is as follows:

Manzanilla:
Argüeso (4 years); Medallas de Argüeso (5 years) San Leon (over 5 years); San Leon Reserva de Familia (7 years). There is also a good Manzanilla sold in bulk, La E
Amontillado:
Amontillado Argüeso (10 years); Amontillado Viejo (over 30 years)
Oloroso:
Oloroso Argüeso (5 years); Argueso Cream ( @5years)
Moscatel Fruta (5 years)
PX Argueso (5 years)
Table wine "Vina del Carmen", "Castillo de Argüeso" also vinegar and brandy

Visits 
Yes by appointment
Contact 
Calle Mar, 8, 11540 Sanlucar de Barrameda, Cadiz
Tel: (+34) 956 385 116
Web: www. argueso.es