In the second half of the eighteenth century Juan Sánchez de la Torre, a successful businessman and well-known philanthropist, came to the town of Jerez de la Frontera with the idea of dealing in its famous wines. By this time Jerez was already flourishing as the town at the centre of wine production and had been for many years. In fact there is evidence to show that wine was being imported from this region back in the fourteenth century.
In 1781 he set up his own bodega. He was soon to become much respected amongst the people of Jerez for the quality of his wines and the importance of his social and cultural works. With his assistance, education culture and the arts prospered. Through marriage the Romate family became involved with the Sherry trade.
More than a century ago now, in 1887, the Sanchez Romate Hnos. house laid down its first brandy solera. This Solera was brought into being in order to satisfy the needs of the Sanchez Romate family and a few intimate friends for a brandy of truly exquisite quality. The astonishing quality and excellence of the product led to the commercialisation of their brandy. Sanchez Romate Hnos built up their soleras in order to meet the demand of their product, without lowering the quality in the slightest.
Thus the Brandy Gran Reserva " Cardenal Mendoza" was born. Named after Pedro Gonázlez de Mendoza (1428-1495), son of the marquis of Santillana, humanist and statesman at the time of the Catholic monarchs, who became archbishop of Toledo and primate of Spain in 1482. Confidant of the Catholic monarchs Isabelle and Ferdinand, Who also played a big part in the discovery of America and the re-conquest of Spain in the Battle of Granada.
Until 1950 the firm, at the time managed by the Duke of Almodovar, remained in the hands of the family. In that year it was sold to a group of businessmen from Jerez.
Now over 200 years old Sanchez Romate Hnos. is one of the oldest bodegas in Spain and one of the few that remain in the hands of a Jerez family. This has allowed it to maintain its independence and respect for tradition.
This tradition of quality led Sanchez Romate to being awarded a royal warrant by King Alfonso XIII, They have also been purveyors to the Spanish Royal family, the House of Lords in London and the Vatican.
Cardenal Mendoza Solera Reserva
Before bottling, "Cardenal Mendoza" is subjected to the traditional process of production and ageing that is required under the regulations, which are strictly enforced by the regulating council for the specific denomination "Brandy de Jerez".
"Cardenal Mendoza" Classico is a Solera Gran Reserva Brandy, the highest category within the regulating council "Brandy de Jerez". The holandas of the highest quality from the alquitaras are aged using the traditional method of soleras and criaderas (2 añadas, 8 criaderas and one solera).
"Cardenal Mendoza" is aged in American oak casks that cave previously been used for the ageing of Pedro Ximénez and old Oloroso wines. These oak casks form part of one of the largest Brandy Solera Gran Reseva bodegas in the world, a definitive guarantee of the age and quality of this brandy.
Its special blend of aromas, flavours and its long established distinctive personality has made it irreplaceable on all markets.
