José de Fuentes Parrilla established his bodega
in Jerez in 1871 and before long he had built a reputation for quality. The
bodega was situated in Calle Méndez Núñez close to the railway station where he
had a modern bottling line, being the first to export in bottle. There were connected
buildings in the Calles Argüelles and Madre de Dios for cooperage etc, and
another bodega in Calle Ramos. The adjacent offices were in a grand building on
Calle Ferrocarril overlooking the station, and which is now in a very poor
state of repair thanks to various failed projects for it.
The old office building (fotojerezpatrimoniodestruido.blogspot) |
José also owned vineyards which produced around
700 butts of wine, so he acted as a cosechero, almacenista and exporter, though
his principal market was always Spain itself, where he held a royal warrant. Not
only was he a producer of Sherry, but he also dealt in wines from Málaga, Madeira,
Oporto, Alicante and Valdepeñas, as well as producing a range of “grande fine
champagne” brandies, Uno, Dos and Tres Brillantes. Always innovating, he even produced
an Espumoso, a sparkling Manzanilla.
When José died in 1890 his widow, Mercedes
Repeto Tobar continued with the business, now renamed Viuda de Fuentes
Parrilla, assisted by her two sons, José and Julio de Fuentes Repeto who had
been brought up in it. The business maintained its reputation until Mercedes decided
to retire and in 1898 sold the bodegas, stocks and brands to Díez Hermanos .
Sparkling Manzanilla (foto:etiquetasrafamontano) |
The Fuentes Parrilla brands included Espumoso,
the Brillantes brandies, Anis Seco and Moscatel Predilecto de Damas (bodegas
have always assumed that women only like sweet wine for some reason).
(foto:gentedejerez) |
A year later Mercedes’ sons set up their own
bodega, Fuentes Repeto Hermanos, in Calle Ferrocarril which produced some outstanding
wines. There is a story that they were opposed to entering wines in
competitions, but a customer in Cataluña entered their cheaper range in a local
competition and they all won gold medals. However despite their expertise, ample capital
and soleras dating from 1750, the firm only lasted till 1906.
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