The history of so many bodegas in Jerez is
tortuous and that of Celestino Díaz de Morales is no exception. The firm arose
from two older bodegas which became linked by marriage and inheritance. It all began
at the beginning of the XIX century, 1800 in fact, when the Sanluqueño José
Ubreva established a bodega which soon contained some excellent wines known as
the “Soleras Ubreva”. A little later in the early XIX century Pedro López de
Villegas, born in 1788 in Cóbreces (Cantabria), also founded a bodega of great
repute. By the end of the XIX century it was located at Calle Ferrocarril, 10,
moving to Calle Cervantes in 1916.
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| The bodega in Calle Zaragoza |
Celestino Díaz de Morales was born in Jerez in 1893
and in 1934 married Petronila Ysasi Ivison, descended as her name suggests from
bodega royalty. Celestino established a bodega under his own name in 1964 using
the soleras he inherited from his father, Pedro Díaz y López (Jerez 1866), who
already had established brands such as Amontillado Alcalde, Solera Real and
Quina Cantabria. These soleras had been founded by his grandfather, the
aforementioned Pedro López de Villegas. Celestino’s bodega also contained wines
inherited from his mother’s side of the family in 1916. Her name was Mercedes de
Morales Ubreva (Jerez 1872). Her parents were Miguel Morales y Morales (Arcos
1826) and Cayetana Ubreva Bardayo (1840-1920) and had inherited the famous
soleras of José Ubreva. These would reach great heights in the hands of
Celestino.
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| Miguel de Morales Ubreva |
Miguel de Morales Ubreva (1864-1904), son of Miguel
Morales and Cayetana Ubreva went to London as the representative of the family
business. Here he met and married María Lasa Eguibar in 1884 but died young of
nephritis leaving four daughters. Of Miguel Morales y Morales’ other eight children,
José María de Morales had a mainly almacenista bodega at Calle Ávila, 6, but
was also known for his brandies Uno, Dos and Tres Racimos. He died aged only 38
but his widow kept the business going till 1909. His brother Rafael also had a
bodega at Calle Bizcocheros, 16, where he specialised in spirits, while yet another
brother, Manuel, had a bodega in Calle Paralejo, moving in 1913 to calle Zaragoza.
Having no children, Manuel took on as a partner Juan José Palomino Jiménez of
Palomino & Vergara who gradually absorbed the firm.
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| Packaging at Bodega Jose Maria Morales |
From the late XIX century the family home was
located at Calle Tornería, 7. The building was converted into flats a few years
ago. In 1900 the Guía Oficial de Jerez places the firm at the Plaza de los
Santos where the bodegas included offices and a cooperage, and there were other
bodegas at the Plaza Peones and Plaza del Cubo.
Miguel Morales y Morales owned several
vineyards, among which were San Cayetano, San Miguel and Nuestra Señora del
Carmen which were located in the Pagos Macharnudo, Carrascal, Balbaina and
Carrahola. He also owned several famous brands: Jerez del Abuelo, Amontillado
Selecto, Solera de la Serranita, Amontillado NPU 1810, Pedro Ximénez 1820,
Naranja 1780, Gran Coñac Español, Anís del Corzo, each carrying the distinctive
“H” logo.
The firm of Celestino Díaz de Morales, which
had inherited from Miguel Morales y Morales and Pedro Díaz y López remained in
business until it was taken over by Rumasa in 1976 and subsequently
disappeared. Among their brands were Anís del Canario, Fino Carrascal
and El Grillo.
