WILLIAMS & HUMBERT

The history of Bodegas Williams & Humbert goes back nearly 140 years. They participated in the creation of the Jerez-Xérès-Brandy Quality Demarcation and are now considered to be one of the world’s most prestigious wine producers.The winery was founded in 1877 by Sir Alexander Williams, a great admirer and connoisseur of sherry products, and Arthur Humbert, a specialist in international relations.Since then they have preserved part of the original wines and brandies (soleras) in high quality oak casks. These soleras are the base of the development and ageing of every sherry and brandy produced at Bodegas Williams & Humbert.In the 1960s José, Nicolás, Jesús and Ángel, members of the Medina family who were working at different Jerez wineries, decided to steer their careers towards creating their own winery: José Medina y Compañía. Founded by José Medina, at first the firm enjoyed the external support of his brothers, who became full-time partners two years later.

Initially the firm focused their energies on international markets and gradually expanded through collaboration agreements with different purchasing companies. In 1979 they established a partnership with the Dutch multinational Royal Ahold through the Associate Company Luis Páez. These association and subsequent collaboration agreements enabled the family to increase their presence in Jerez; a few years later they were amongst the leading companies in sherry sales at international level. From the firm’s foundation, characterized by canny, aggressive business strategies, they started to acquire different brands that strengthened and diversified their capacities. Their latest acquisition was the international group Williams & Humbert, which now lends its name to all the family’s business activities.The relationship between the Medina family and the Dutch multinational Ahold dates back to 1979, when Ahold acquired a 50% share in Luis Páez S.A. (now Bodegas Williams & Humbert S.A.), a winery owned by the Medina brothers.In 2005 the Medina family reached an agreement with Royal Ahold to acquire the 50% share that the Dutch firm held in the corporation. Having regained full ownership of the company and its subsidiaries, this acquisition permitted the Medina family to consolidate the management of the business they were already responsible for.

At present, Williams & Humbert is comprised of the central installations (Europe’s largest wine cellar), the vineyards and Sovisur, their distributing company in Spain.The family have handed down longstanding winemaking traditions and sales expertise in international markets from one generation to another.Two different generations currently work side by side with prestigious professionals, comprising a dynamic, energetic team with a great deal of business initiative while maintaining the traditions and knowledge acquired through a century and a half of experience in Jerez.Bodegas Williams & Humbert now sell their products in over 80 countries and they are developing an ambitious diversification project in the sector of high quality food products. The firm’s subsidiary company SOVISUR distributes their products – the Canasta and Dry Sack Sherries and the Gran Duque de Alba brandy amongst the most prominent – throughout Spain. The diversification has additionally led them to add products from other quality demarcations such as Ribera del Duero (Marqués de Polavieja red wines), Rioja (Viña Paul and Peñazola red wines), Rueda (Viña Saltés) and Albariño (Espírito da Terra).Their innovative projects also include Crema de Alba, the world’s only cream liqueur made from Solera Gran Reserva Jerez brandy and the rum Dos Maderas , product that merge two cultures and which are made with a double ageing process.The firm’s recent entrance in the food sector with the Medina del Encinar brand, comprising pure sheep’s-milk cheese and Iberian pork products, has enjoyed significant success.

Williams & Humbert symbolize the strength of a perfectly united and professionalized family. The perseverance with which they approach all their projects, their creative drive and innovative spirit are the firm’s strengths when carrying out their strategic plan, without turning their back on traditional values.The basic pillars of this plan are found in the distribution (with the consolidation of Sovisur in the domestic market and the creation of new international subsidiary companies) and in the diversification of their products.This has led them to adapt their production structure and the different business areas that coincide in Williams & Humbert, bring on the need for versatile and flexible facilities with different operative requirements while always achieving the final objective of customer satisfaction.The firm works with a Quality Control system with processes and facilities that have been evaluated and certified with the BRC-IFS quality standard, as well as the new standards required in some markets.Moreover, W&H have made a firm commitment to health and safety by continuing with the implementation of a hazard prevention system.All of Williams & Humbert’s policies and actions, as well as their correct application, are based on the efforts and dedication of each and every person who works for the firm, whether they are employed directly or indirectly through one of their associated companies.

The established policy at BODEGAS WILLIAMS & HUMBERT S.A. is to work within a quality and environmental control system that is regularly documented and verified to ensure its suitability and efficiency. The objective of this policy is to occupy a permanently significant position in the sector of wine, brandy and liqueur production in accordance with the Regulations of the Jerez-Xérès-Sherry, Manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda and Brandy de Jerez Quality Demarcations, as well as preserving the environment and maintaining maximum customer satisfaction.The Quality and Environment System of BODEGAS WILLIAMS & HUMBERT S.A. is defined in the Quality Control Manual (QCM) and in the procedures and instructions that are outlined in it. This provides written documentation that gives aid and reference to staff and guarantees uniform production of the products in all essential aspects, in addition to complying with all applicable regulations. Furthermore, it ensures respect for the environment, systematic production, the absence of errors and the complete fulfilment of customers’ requirements.The Quality and Environment System of BODEGAS WILLIAMS & HUMBERT is structured to fulfil all requirements applicable to a company dedicated to the production of wines, brandies and liqueurs in compliance with the following regulations: BRC (BRITISH RETAIL CONSORTIUM), “Technical Normalization for companies producing Retail Brand Food Products”, UNE-EN-ISO 9001 “Model to guarantee quality in production, installation and post-sales service”, IFS International Food Standard and UNE-EN-ISO 14001 Environmental Management System. This manual is obligatory for all staff at BODEGAS WILLIAMS & HUMBERT; likewise, the procedures and instructions found in it are obligatory in all applicable activities. The staff are required to be familiar with these procedures and comply with them.The Management at BODEGAS WILLIAMS & HUMBERT S.A. are committed to furthering the welfare of society through a variety of activities: as a company helping to promote social welfare, by fomenting research through collaboration with the University of Cádiz, through their cooperation with Professional Training Schools by accepting apprentice workers, in the sponsorship of sports events and by providing training and resources to help their staff perform their jobs.Everybody within the firm is responsible for quality and respect for the environment within their individual posts; when they delegate their functions to another staff member at a lower level this responsibility is maintained.All technical installations for the fermentation, mixing, cold decanting and bottling of all our wines, vinegars and brandies are located on the road that joins Jerez and El Puerto de Santa María. From harvest to their shipment, the diverse phases of development of the wines and spirits are controlled daily at the oenological investigation centre.