Marqués del Real Tesoro

Bodegas Marqués del Real Tesoro were founded by the grandson of the first Marquis of the Royal Treasury, Don Joaquin Manuel de Villena. His title was appointed by King Carlos III for defending the crown’s treasury ships against attacks of pirates. According to the legend, Don Joaquin used silver from his own inheritance to make munition and eventually win the fight.

In 1897 the first soleras, already two centuries old, were bought from the Duke of Villacreces. He was the owner of a large number of famous sherry reserves at that time. It quickly became a renowned bodega, for the quality of its soleras and for being a supplier of the Royal House of Spain.

Grupo Estévez

Since 1985, the company belongs to the Grupo Estévez which also owns the Bodegas Valdespino and La Guita among other brands. It owns 186 hectares of vinyards and controls another 220 hectares, all of them of the Palomino grape. About 65% of its total sales are made through export.

After the purchase of Marqués del Real Tesoro, the soleras from all brands were moved to modern premises in the ring road of Jerez, just outside the old centre. The impressive new location, in which humidity and other parameters are computer-controlled, also houses bottling lines, laboratories, fermentation premises and horse stables.

Fino Tio Mateo

The best known wine of the house is without doubt the Fino Tío Mateo. This brand was acquired from Harveys in 1993 (although the wine originated at the bodegas Palomino & Vergara and was part of the Rumasa empire later). The Amontillado del Principe is also quite famous.

The Grupo Estévez has an uncommon fascination for histamines. Sherry butts with a significant level of these organic compounds are eliminated, and the resulting wines are said to be virtually free of histamine. This should presumably result in a “healthier” kind of sherry. They claim there’s a lower chance of triggering physiological reactions and a reduction of headaches.

Marqués del Real Tesoro sherry range

Tío Mateo, a Fino of three criaderas, around six years old
Amontillado Del Principe (15 Years, probably closer to 20 years of age)
Oloroso Almirante (15 Years)
La Capitana Cream (around 10 years)
Royal Cream
Eminencia Pedro Ximénez (around 10 years)
Oloroso Covadonga VORS (around 65 years, from a solera of 10 barrels)

Besides this premium range there is also a basic Real Tesoro range which includes the Manzanilla La Bailaora as well as a Fino, Amontillado, Oloroso,Medium Dry, Dulce, Cream and Pedro Ximénez. They are mostly exported or distributed to supermarket chains.

The label design of the brand has changed quite often in the past two decades, which means you’ll find many different types of bottles in stores. All a bit confusing for consumers.

Solera Gran Reserva Marqués del Real Tesoro is their brandy. They also have Real Tesoro Brandy, a cheap barrel aged blend of brandy and wine distillates made for the Spanish botellón, Ponche Real Tesoro and La Posada, a vinegar. The group also produces / imports whisky, rum, gin, vodka and liqueurs in a partnership with the Mercadona supermarket chain among others.

Contact

Marqués del Real Tesoro
Carretera Nacional IV, km. 640
Jerez de la Frontera

Tel. +34 956 32 10 04
www.grupoestevez.es

Tags: Bodega, del principe, Jerez, Marques del Real Tesoro, Tesoro, Tio Mateo

About the Author

Ruben is a Certified Sherry Educator who fell in love with sherry some 25 years ago, but switched to a higher gear in 2013 and started writing about it. Lived in Madrid for a couple of years, now back in Belgium. I also run a whisky blog over at www.whiskynotes.be