From Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
Barbadillo is, without a doubt, both the largest and the leading bodega of Sanlucar de Barrameda. Created in 1821 by Benigno Barbadillo, the company its still owned today by the seventh generation of the Barbadillo family, dozens of stockholders spread throughout Spain, although not necessarily involved in the operations. The business has also expanded, not only within the Sherry district, where they sell an impressive 12 million bottles of wine annually (a lot of it is the young and fruity Castillo de San Diego, which at one point was the biggest selling white wine in Spain), 40% of which are exported, but also in Ribera del Duero and Somontano. They employ 300 people and their wines are available in 39 different countries. In Sherry, they own 500 hectares of vineyards, stock around 60% of the total production of Manzanilla which ages in 12,500 botas in their great cellars in Sanlucar, mainly in La Arboledilla winery, the tallest bodega in the Marco de Jerez, an impressive 16 meters high, and in a network of 16 other large and small bodegas in the Barrio Alto, the High Quarter of Sanlucar de Barrameda.
They are constantly innovating and experimenting, be it with red or sparkling wines or within the Manzanilla world, as they were the first to bottle Manzanilla en rama (unfiltered) back in 1999, doing four sacas (bottlings) per year, one during each season, which they sell in half bottles with labels that clearly identify the saca and year. Other than that, their range is pretty exhaustive, from entry level wines, through VORS and an exclusive Reliquia range from the oldest, family-owned botas, some of them containing wines averaging 80 to 100 years old. As a curiosity, they probably stock more Palo Cortado than any other winery (on earth),120 casks, as the famous Toto Barbadillo had an obsession with that category and purchased all he could get his hands on. I had a great visit there with winemaker Montse Molina who arrived in Sanlucar from her native Cataluna 15 years ago and she has not looked back since. Tasting wines from the bota, listening to a knowledgeable winemaker and realizing how different and how complex the wines are is one of the pleasures one should experience at least once in a lifetime.
- Luis Gutierrez {Wine Advocate #208 - Aug 2013}
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Bodegas Barbadillo was founded in 1821 in Sanlucar de Barrameda, Cadiz, Andalusia. Barbadillo is the leading producer of Manzanilla and the top supplier of Sherry wines in the world. Their magnificent cellars overlook the Guadalquiver river and the Atlantic Ocean. This perfect setting, combined with the best of modern winemaking, produces their celebrated Sherry wines.
Barbadillo currently owns 500 hectares of vineyards spread over two estates, Gibalbín and Santa Lucía, both of which are located in the area known as Jerez Superior, or Upper Jerez. The former has an extensive winemaking plant fully equipped with state-of-the-art technology and Barbadillo’s numerous wine cellars are strategically distributed over the outstanding area of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, surrounding the medieval castle of Santiago. The cellars occupy a total area of more than 75,000 square meters and have an overall capacity of 35,000,000 litres, which is the largest in Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Situated in the south of Spain, a delightful and vibrant land that was aptly named the “Place of the Sun” by the illustrious writer Don Manuel Barbadillo Rodríguez, the soul and symbol of the company for over half a century, Barbadillo merges with the clear skies of Cádiz and cares for roots that have filled its barrels over centuries. The company is located in the region of Jerez where the mighty Guadalquivir River meets the sea in the beautiful Coto de Doñana National Park; an extraordinary World Heritage Site.
Barbadillo is a true pioneer within the industry producing the first ever white wine of Andalucía and currently making the full range of sherry wines permitted within the Marco de Jerez. Its offices are housed in a striking building known as the Casa Palacio de la Cilla, which dates back to 1773. From this exceptional location, Barbadillo is known for offering products of the highest quality that are capable of satisfying the demands of the most select palates.