Our Heritage
For over 220 years We’ve been producing sherry for well over two centuries. Here’s how it all began.Harveys History
The Harveys story begins back in 1796 when the company was first
founded in an old house on Bristol’s historic Denmark St as an importer of foreign wines. At the time
sherry was imported into Britain in oak casks by ship, and then blended in Bristol. From there our
sherry making expertise grew and grew to become a global icon of the drink itself. Since these humble
beginnings Harveys has gone through a few changes as well as having our fair share of landmark
moments...
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1796Harveys wine-trading business was established in Denmark Street in Bristol
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1882Harveys launched ‘Bristol Cream’
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1895Harveys is granted the Royal Warrant
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1970Harveys develops presence in Jerez region
The Home of Harveys
Jerez in southern Spain Harveys vineyards are situated in the picturesque region of Jerez
in southern Spain where the local winegrowers cultivate a selection of grapes. Southern Spain is the
home of the golden triangle. The three points of the golden triangle of sherry production are the cities
of Jerez, Sanlucar de Barrameda to the west and El Puerto de Santa Maria to the south. Each area has its
own microclimate that contributes to the character and style of its local sherry. For example, Sanlucar,
which is close to the cool Atlantic Ocean and high humidity of the Guadalquivir River, produces a
special fino (Manzanilla) that has the fresh and salty tang of the sea. Jerez
Two varying grape varieties in Harveys sherry
Palomino
The Palomino grape is very well known in the world of sherry making. It tends to result in drier types of sherry. It’s said to be named after Fernán Palomino, a famous knight of Spain’s Reconquista period.
Pedro Ximenez
The Pedro Ximenez grape is another grape that’s traditional to the sherry-making process. It has a relatively high acidity level, meaning that it lends itself to sweeter wines.
The Crianza
The ageing of SherryAll our sherries are aged for an absolute minimum of three years in
American oak barrels, known as ‘botas’ around Jerez. Here’s how the criadrea y solera process works. No
solera is ever emptied completely, so each sherry will contain a small proportion of wine from when the
solera was first established.
- Vintage Sherry
3a Criadera - 2a Criadera
- 1a Criadera
- Solera Saca
(Final stage)
