Jose Estevez, Jerez

History

In 1809, Don Jose Lena Rendon began trading in Sherry. He was later joined by Don Inigo Ruiz de Villegas y Sanchez de Tagle. In 1894, the main shareholder, Felix Ruiz y Ruiz, a descendant of Don Inigo, changed the name of the company to Felix Ruiz y Ruiz SA. The name has been changed several times: AR Ruiz Hermanos, J Ruiz y Cia. In 1974, Ruiz was bought by Jose Estevezem SA, who died in 2005 and the business is now run by his son Jose Ramon. In 1982, he bought a significant stake in the Marques del Real Tesoro company. In 1989 the companies merged. They bought Valdespino in 2002 and in 2007 the group bought Hijos de Rainera Perez Marin, owner of the best-selling Manzanilla, La Guita, and Bodegas M Gil Luque. They are also trying to increase interest in setting up a distillery in Jerez. Recently, the company expanded its activities into the field of spirits and supplies more than 48 products of wines and spirits to the Mercadona supermarket.