Ron Santa Teresa is an independent Venezuelan, family-owned hacienda and company dedicated to the production and marketing of fine aged rums. Founded in 1796 by Spain's Count of Tovar Y Blanco, Hacienda Santa Teresa is today owned by the Vollmer family, who has transformed the propierty from a sugercane farm and mill into one of Venezuelan's most modern agro-industrial complexes that currently yields over 28.000 tonels of sugarcane in addition of housing a distillery that ages, blends and refines dark luxury rums.
The Hacienda also grows and harvest coffe and citrus plants as well as raising cattle.
Gustav Julius Vollmer arrived in Venezuela from Hamburg, Germany in 1826. Like many Europeans at that time, he came to seek fortune in South America. He met and married a young Venezueland lady named Panchita Ribas, niece of the steemed General Jose Felix Ribas, and together they had six children. Their son, Gustavo Julio Vollmer Ribas, purchased Hacienda Santa Teresa in 1885. Adding it to his already vast land holdings, he converted Hacienda Santa Teresa from not-cultivated farmland into lush sugarcane lands.
In 1896, Gustavo Julio Vollmer Ribas purchased still from Germany and France, which he used to develop Sud america's first rum-producing techniques. He stored and sold the rum in wooden barrels to large, trading companies that suppied local cities and towns with goods. During the first decade of 20th century, Gustavo invested a majority of his time and money into registiring his brand, Ron Santa Teresa, while exporting other traditional agricultural products such as coffee and cocoa from his various other farms.
From a young age, Gustavo's son's responsabilities in maintaining the farmland and upholding the company's standards. Two of his sons developed the business of sugarcane and rum production: Alberto (Fernando) and Alfredo. Over 30 years, they perfected technology and agricultural methods to obtain higher yields in sugar content in addiction to improving the methods of fermentation and distillation of spirits. At thar time, Ron Santa Teresa was the only recorded rum in Venezuela.
In the late 1940's, Gustavo and Alberto, third generation Vollmers, carried on the traditions of Santa Teresa and developed the complex into what it is today. With hard work and incorporating the highest international standards, Gustavo and Alverto, with support of his father, invested in cutting-edge equipament and market know-how. In 1978, the most technified and modern four-column, continuous molasses distillery was built in the Hacienda. During the same period , top-of-the-line bottilng facilities were also installed.
While researching new international alliances for representation and innovative production techniques, Ron Santa Teresa exported their brand into global markets. Hacienda Santa Teresa also produced and sold Bacardi and Martell as well as various Allied Domecq and United Distillers & Vitners brands.
Since 1983, Gustavo's branch has been responsible for sugar cane opperations, leaving the spirits to Alberto. After 50 years of running Ron Santa Teresa, Alberto introduced his two sons Alberto (Cristobal) and Henrique, to the family business, who both took on more active roles in company's development and expansion. In 1998, Alberto C. Vollmer, Jr was named CEO of Ron Santa Teresa. Her goals were focused on a company-wide restructuring program due to tough economic conditions in the country and overall strengthening of the brand.
Henrique Vollmer, having been deeply involved in the national commercial facets of the company, took over the Export Division in Febreary 2002 and has re-launched Ron Santa Teresa in markets such as Spain, Italy, Japan and Chile, as well as a new markets including America, Great Britain, Germany and Mexico.
