Bodegas: Hijos de A Pérez Megía

Established in Sanlúcar in 1821, this old firm was into its fifth generation when it was bought out by José Medina via its subsidiary Luis Páez in 1979.

The attractive old bodega Reina Victoria built in 1891 was demolished in the 1990s. A protection order under the town planning regulations was not enough to protect it from speculative builders. It had an interesting roof construction whereby the beams supporting the two slopes were tied with steel rope rather than supported by arches.

(foto:desdeeltemplodelucero.blogspot.com)

Their brands included:

Manzanilla Alegría, now under the W&H label

Amontillado Jalifa,       “      “         “          “      (Foundational solera)

The name Pérez Megía is still used as a sous-marque in certain markets

22.3.15 Williams & Humbert Completes its Sound Track

In the 1970s the famous Jerez flamenco singer Fernando de la Morena created a signature song for the bodega's Fino Pando accompanied by Moraito Chico on the guitar. Forty years later Williams & Humbert has made this piece more complete with the voices and accompaniment of of a younger generation of singers from Jerez. Juan de la Morena, son of the original singer, along with various other artists of today participated in the new production, which is a kind of brand sound track.

The musicians and brands in action at the bodega (foto: + jerez)

Not only that, but the bodega has gone a step further putting music to some of their other brands: Gran Duque de Alba brandy, Crema de Alba, Gin Botanic, Dos Maderas rum, Manzanilla Alegria and Canasta Cream. Eduardo Medina Garcia de Polavieja, the bodega's national marketing director commented: "These artists really knew how to transmit the essence of our brands in each of the songs, from the elegance of Crema de Alba to the carribean/jerezano character of our rum. We believe that a good way to enjoy a drink is with good music, and that is what we wanted to offer our consumers." All the songs have been recorded onto a CD which will enhance to perfection the enjoyment of each one of the Williams & Humbert brands.

Manzanilla Alegria 15%, Williams & Humbert

Appearance
Bright pale gold, light legs.
Nose
Dry and salty with some bitterness and traces of green almond, lots of flor and a definite air of the seaside. Reasonably pungent, as if not too much has been lost in "stabilisation", a trace of olive brine.
Palate
Tangy and briny, plenty flor bitterness and a little more body than some, a slight trace of oxidation, very dry with considerable presence and length and just the faintest hint of autolysed yeast, complex with a few pasada notes. This will stand up to some interesting food.

Comments 
An interesting wine, and a good one. Alegria translates as "joy"or "happiness" but the name may derive from the name of a vineyard. It comes from a solera with a comparatively small number of criaderas - (6?) It is a comparative newcomer to the W&H range, replacing the old W&H brand Cedro, and comes from soleras laid down by the bodega Hijos de A Perez Megia, an old family firm established in Sanlucar in 1821. They were bought out in the 1980s by Jose Medina y Cia., who went on to acquire a controlling stake in W&H. Another Manzanilla Alegria was once marketed by Jose Martinez of Jerez. Now, all the Medina Sherries are produced under the W&H name at the old Internacionales bodega in Jerez - except Alegria, which, as a Manzanilla, has to age in Sanlucar. {Interestingly another old Perez Megia brand - Amontillado Jalifa - is sold under the W&H label now.}
Price
About £7.00 (half bottle) from Henderson Wines, Edinburgh. (UK importers: Ehrmanns)