One of the most rewarding, fun and interesting activities that you can do in Jerez de la Frontera is to visit some of the oldest wineries of the city. Discover, as we are going to tell you in this post, the wonders that the oldest winery in activity hides: Bodegas Fundador.
Bodegas Fundador Pedro Domecq – Harveys – Terry were, in the beginning, three companies that over time unified to form a society of worldwide recognition. The origins of these wineries date back to 1730. It is a set of buildings located in Puerta de Rota. They are known because in its location there was one of the doors of the Arab wall that surrounded the city in the Middle Ages. The entrance has a beautiful garden from 1823. It contains approximately one hundred different species of plants and trees.
Among the set of buildings that make up Fundador, the most prominent are San Pedro, El Castillo, El Molino, La Tribuna y La Luz and La Mezquita.
Bodega el Molino y la Tribuna leads to a colorful open space with stone arches and columns. El Patio del Sagrado Corazón is decorated with lemon and orange trees, and roses and flowers. Through this courtyard, you can enter Bodega La Tribuna and Bodega El Molino, twin buildings but from different times of construction. This is known as the ¨preparation cellar¨.
Finally, there is the colossal Bodega la Mezquita. It is the largest building in the company and one of the largest in the world. It was build in 1974, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Fundador brand. This winery covers 25,350m2 and is made up of seven warehouses. 30,000 barrels of the company’s well-known wine specialties are stored in this winery.
To visit the Bodega Fundador is an enriching experience for all the senses. The smell of wine and oak from the cellars, the colors that shine in the Andalusian courtyards, the kindness of the guides and the wine tasting of the specialties produced by Fundador Pedro Domecq will form an unforgettable memory for the participants.
On a personal level, it was a great experience and opportunity. We learned about the history of this company and its influence on gastronomy and regional wine tourism. In addition, we were able to see its ancient facilities, taste its delicious wines and discover the winery tradition of Fundador Pedro Domecq – Harveys – Terry. We greatly appreciate the team for the good treatment and for such a memorable visit to Bodegas Fundador.