Brandy Gran Duque de Alba was first launched in 1945. Documents in the possession of the Medina family, current owners of Bodegas Williams & Humbert, describe how the bodega’s wine merchant in Madrid at that time was a great friend of the Seventh Duke of Alba, Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart y Falcó (father of the current Duchess of Alba), and prior to the launch of an exclusive brandy asked if he could baptize it with his name.
After tasting it the aristocrat was pleasantly impressed and suggested that for such a noble product it would be far more appropriate to use the name of his ancestor the Great Duke of Alba, Fernando Álvarez de Toledo y Pimentel, who had ennobled the House of Alba and was an important historic figure. This appears in a written document which authorizes the brandy to use the name.
In 1973 a strong international campaign was launched in which numerous international visits were made to promote the brand. In addition one of the leading ceramic designers of the 20th Century, an artist of great international prestige, Antoni Cumella, was asked to design a new bottle and top.
Founded in 1877 by two British brothers-in-law, Alexander Williams and Arthur Humbert, Willams & Humbert signature brands are Dry Sack Sherry, Gran Duque De Alba Brandy, and Dos Maderas Rum. Over the years, the company has grown to more than 1,200 acres of vineyards in Jerez and to include the largest bodega in Europe, with capacity for 60,000 casks of sherry and brandy.
Brandy de Jerez is one of only three place-specific appellations for brandy, the others being Cognac and Armagnac in France and Gran Duque de Alba is the world's number one Solera Gran Reserva Spanish brandy. Gran Duque D'Alba was first launched in 1945 and named for the Great Duke of Alba, Fernando Alvarez de Toledo y Pimentel, an important historic history responsible for ennobling the House of Alba. Today, Gran Duque D'Alba is known for exceptional brandies made in the traditional Solera method.
