The history of this Jerez-based winery began in 1877 when Alexander Williams left his job at Wisdom & Warter after its owner, Joseph Warter, refused to accept him as a partner. His father-in-law, C.F. Humbert, lent him £1,000 to start his own business, on the condition that his son, Arthur Humbert, would join as a partner when he came of age. With that money, Williams rented a winery and began exporting his first brand, Pando, in 1878 with the help of his friend Edward Engelbach, who managed the office they opened in London.
After Engelbach’s retirement and Arthur’s incorporation into the business, the company adopted its current name and went on to launch new and iconic brands such as Dry Sack, probably one of the most famous sherries in the world.
Williams & Humbert remained in family hands until it was purchased by Rumasa in 1972. After a turbulent decade for the entire Jerez wine trade, which culminated in the breakup of the business conglomerate created by José María Ruiz-Mateos, the Medina family, owners of the Sanlúcar-based house Luis Páez, acquired the Jerez winery. Today, they remain its owners, alongside Filipino businessman Lucio Co, who has held a 50% stake in the business since 2020.
With around 100 hectares in Pago Carrascal, Dos Mercedes is Williams & Humbert’s main vineyard. The winery also owns vines and a lagar (where grapes are pressed) in Balbaína, and purchases grapes —mainly Palomino— from the Trebujena cooperative and small producers in the region. In addition, it has converted 50 hectares of its own vineyards to organic farming: 33 hectares in Carrascal and 17 in Balbaína. In 2018, they launched the region’s first organic Fino, corresponding to the 2015 vintage, and they are also among the few bodegas cultivating Pedro Ximénez organically.
A broad selection
The more than 60,000 casks aged by Williams & Humbert are housed in a 180,000 m² concrete building erected in the 1970s on the outskirts of Jerez. West-facing, it is the largest winery complex in Europe and groups together seven cellars under one roof, connected by a 700-metre-long corridor. To maintain a constant level of temperature and humidity, they water the albero (sand) floor using rainwater channelled through the hundreds of conical columns that support the roof. Beneath this floor lie more than 15 km of underground pipes, which move a large proportion of the wine before bottling.
The estate produces around 20 million bottles, including wine, liqueurs and brandies, and offers a wide range of sherries —the result of its long history and the various soleras it has come to own over time. Its best-known Fino is Pando (15,000 bottles, €8.50), which, with an average age of five years, is a good representation of the traditional, sharp style of Fino from Jerez, while Dry Sack (300,000 bottles, €9.50), with an average age of six years and a pleasant sweetness from blending Oloroso with Pedro Ximénez, is its most exported sherry brand. In Spain, the most popular and best-known cream is Canasta, which also comes in a VOS version with an average age of over 20 years.
Don Zoilo is another of the company’s most important brands, offering very competitive prices ranging between €13 and €26 in Spain. Launched in the 1960s and originating from the Díez-Mérito winery (which became part of Rumasa), the range includes Fino, Amontillado, Palo Cortado, Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez. All Don Zoilo wines have an average age of 15 years, except the Fino, which is 10 years old.
Williams & Humbert was once famous for its vintage wine collection, which dates back to 1919. Since then, and with only a couple of interruptions in the early 20th century, they have set aside a cask each year, gradually building an impressive collection. This tradition continued with winemaker Paola Medina, who is no longer involved in the winery’s day-to-day operations, and is now maintained by Juan José Mesa, technical director since 2022. This range, with limited productions sold in 0.5-litre bottles, begins with the vino de pasto (unfortified white wine) Finolis en Rama and includes all sherry styles: en rama Finos from different vintages, origins and bottlings, as well as Amontillados, Olorosos and Palo Cortados, with prices ranging from €17 to €65.
Among the older wines, highlights include the Palo Cortado Dos Cortados VOS (1,000 bottles, €32) and the expressive and persistent Amontillado Jalifa VORS (1,000 bottles of 0.5 l, €37).
Williams & Humbert runs a strong wine tourism programme with winery visits and a wide range of tasting options.