A dark and dramatic chapter in the Sherry story.

In this episode, Christopher explores the rise and fall of Rumasa, the vast Spanish conglomerate that took control of much of Jerez’s wine industry in the 1960s and 70s — only to collapse spectacularly when the Spanish government seized over 700 companies overnight in 1983.

From industrialisation and reckless growth to economic ruin and cultural damage, this episode shows how Rumasa nearly destroyed Sherry’s global reputation — and how its collapse ultimately paved the way for a return to quality and authenticity.

It’s a gripping tale of ambition, excess, and the painful lessons that reshaped modern Sherry.

Christopher explores how Sherry lost its prestige in the 20th century. After phylloxera, producers turned to sweeter, mass-market styles like Cream Sherry, which suited changing global tastes but damaged the region’s reputation. As supermarkets pushed volume over quality, Sherry became seen as cheap and old-fashioned.

The story of how a tiny louse caused devastation in the vineyards of Europe and how Jerez fought desperately to save the Sherry.

From 1800 Sherry became the drink of choice. The British empire expanded and with it went the Sherry. No Englishman's drawing room, Royal Navy Ship or Colonial Administrators house was complete without a decanter of Sherry.

From the start of the 1600's things in Jerez started to change. English Merchants and Dutch Distillers brought about significant changes and despite the wars trade blooms and the great houses of Jerez are born.

In Episode 6, we step into medieval Spain and the long Reconquista, exploring how the return of Christian rule reshaped wine production in Jerez and reconnected the region to northern European trade. We trace the moment when Sherry entered the English language as “Sherris-sack” — a fortified wine prized in Tudor England, celebrated by Shakespeare, and shipped in vast quantities to London taverns and royal courts. This episode shows how war, religion, and commerce combined to turn a local Andalusian wine into an international obsession.

In Episode 5, we explore the Moorish period of Al-Andalus and its lasting impact on the Sherry region. From advanced irrigation and agriculture to the emergence of the name Sherish, this episode shows how Islamic rule shaped the land, the vineyards, and the systems that later allowed Sherry to flourish.

Episode 4 explores how the Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans transformed early winemaking into a true wine industry. From ancient trade routes to Roman innovation, we trace how these civilizations laid the foundations for the Sherry region long before Jerez existed.