Christie’s is to auction the historic bottle library of González Byass, the archive of bottled Sherry consigned directly from the Tío Pepe bodegas in Jerez, many of which have never been released to the market.
The library has been preserved almost since the founding of the house (González Byass was founded in Jerez de la Frontera in 1835) and has been “a tool to preserve the house style, study the evolution of its wines, and commemorate key milestones in its history,” González Byass said, “a family legacy of incalculable value”.
The bottles, which have exceptional traceability and authenticity coming straight from the bodega itself, are being released specifically for the Christie’s online sale (5-19th June) direct from the historical archives at González Byass. They include wines that date back to 1846 and 1886 alongside “gems” such as the Viña Amorosa 1911, Matusalem (1908, 1909 and 1911), Pío IX, Dulce Nombre Vintage 1986, and Palo Cortado Añada 1978. More recent wines include Tío Pepe en Rama (2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023) and Tío Pepe Finos Palmas.
Tim Triptree MW, international director, Christie’s Wines & Spirits called it a “unique opportunities to acquire vinous gems that have never been offered for sale before”, especially the historic vintage-dated sherries that are “exceptionally rare and particularly sought-after”.
“Collectors today are often looking for stories and authenticity as much as prestige, and the great historic wines of Jerez deliver both in abundance,” he told db. “What makes this release particularly exciting is that these bottles come directly from the González Byass historical archives and many have never previously been offered for sale commercially. That combination of impeccable provenance, rarity and historical significance is what excites collectors.”
González Byass occupied a “uniquely important position within the world of sherry”, he continued, as one of the pain’s most historic and respected producers, with its “extraordinary heritage” in Jerez and access to remarkable ageing stocks and archival sherries.
“At the heart of González Byass lies the legendary Tío Pepe bodega, where the solera system has worked without interruption for generations, producing wines of a depth and complexity that are entirely its own.”
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Market evolution
The market for fine and rare sherry had evolved “considerably” over the last decade with growing appreciation for the extraordinary age, rarity and complexity that wines such as these can offer, he continued, particularly among experienced collectors looking for authenticity and provenance.
“Collectors and connoisseurs are increasingly recognising that the very greatest historic sherries deserve to be discussed alongside the world’s finest wines,” he said. “Historic sherries offer something genuinely different. The wines can possess extraordinary concentration, freshness and complexity, often after many decades – or even more than a century – of ageing. There is also an increasing appreciation for craftsmanship and heritage in the fine wine world.”
He also noted the important fact that many collectors recognise that these wines remain “comparatively undervalued” when measured against their rarity and historical significance.
Mauricio González-Gordon, president of González Byass called it “a privilege” to open part of its historic legacy to an international audience through Christie’s, with whom it has an historic relationship. This included an auction in 1994 with Michael Broadbent MW, the Christie’s head of the wine department for 30 years, which marked “a milestone in the international projection of these wines”, the company said.
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