Centenary of Orson Welles

Orson Welles (1915-1985) was a man of many skills, most especially radio, film and writing. He made his name with his dramatic 1938 radio broadcast of HG Wells’ “War of the Worlds” which it is said caused mass panic that Martians really were invading. He went on to produce one of the best films ever made “Citizen Kane” and “The Third Man” among many other successes.

Welles was a great fan of all things Spanish and aficionado of bullfighting. He was a frequent visitor to and was well known in Jerez where he was made the fourth member of the Orden del Tio Pepe by the Marqués de Torresoto, and his signed butt can still be seen at the bodega. In “Chimes at Midnight” he played Shakespeare’s Sir John Falstaff, an inveterate drinker of Sherris Sack.

(foto:jerezsiempre)

 It may be for this reason that he was commissioned by Domecq in the 1970’s to make television commercials for their Double Century Sherry, a slightly sweetened Oloroso, introduced in 1930 for Domecq’s bicentenary and which became very popular. After his death, Welles’ ashes were buried in an old well at the finca near Ronda of his friend and bullfighting legend Antonio Ordóñez.

Now, on the occasion of the centenary of the great man’s birth the president of the Cine-Club Popular de Jerez, José Luís Jiménez, has proposed to the city council that a street be named in his honour in recognition of what he did to promote the city. What an excellent idea!

6.5.15 Orson Welles; Bullfighting at Real Tesoro; Facelift for Tio Mateo

Today is the centenary of the birth of Orson Welles, the great American actor and film director. While many might recall the television advertisements he did for Domecq Double Century Cream Sherry, fewer might know that he loved Jerez, visiting many times, and was a great ambassador for Sherry.

(foto:amazon.com)

He was a huge fan of flamenco and bullfighting and became a friend of the Domecq family, one of whose members was Álvaro Domecq, a famous rejoneador (horseback bullfighter). Welles frequently referred to Sherry as the “best wine in the world” and was inducted into the Order of Tio Pepe by the Marqués de Torresoto in 1961, signing a butt at the bodega. (From an article by R.G. in más jerez)

The famous Jerez torero Juan José Padilla has been giving a masterclass to the newly constituted Juventud Taurina Jerezana (Junior Bullfighting Jerez). Watched avidly by the youngsters and their families Juan José, along with some members of his team, explained and demonstrated the various moves in the beautiful surroundings of the events hall of the bodega Real Tesoro, producer of Fino Tio Mateo.

Juan Jose (L) with his muleta

Fino Tio Mateo from bodegas Real Tesoro (Grupo Estevez) has had a facelift. The old label, similar to that of Palomino & Vergara (who once owned the brand) has been revamped and modernised. The bottle has been changed too, from the standard Real Tesoro shape to a tall round style, now with a screwcap. Furthermore, the wine itself has been improved to achieve the maximum freshness and calcareous character of the albariza soils while maintaining the wine’s intense flor notes.

The new more contemporary version

Palomino & Vergara's latter label (foto:todocoleccion)