Croft Original 1L

Croft Original is a pale cream produced in the D.O. Jerez-Xérès-Sherry region. Specifically, this type of wine—also known as fortified wines—is crafted by blending a biologically aged wine (fino or manzanilla) with sweet wine or concentrated must (from Pedro Ximenez or moscatel grapes).

Interestingly, the origin of Croft Original, currently produced by the Jerez-based winery Gonzalez-Byass, can be traced back to Bristol. There, in 1796, the wine merchant William Perry established a wine business where he sold Jerez wines. With a keen sense of marketing, this entrepreneur named these sweet wines from southern Spain Bristol Milk, as they were promoted as the best possible nourishment for newborns and wet nurses. Inevitably, these dense, heavy, and mahogany-colored wines began to carry a feminine connotation, triggering the insecurities of English gentlemen. Who could imagine a true English gentleman drinking this type of wine in the social club with his friends? Unthinkable! Thus, a new audience emerged, still desiring a sweet wine but with the appearance of a dry fortified wine. And William Perry—who had by then rebranded as John Harvey & Sons—hit the mark, inaugurating the pale cream and with it, a new wine concept.

Although this style has been around for years, the Croft Original brand wasn't produced until 1970 when, during the prosperous years of Jerez wine, Harveys and Croft and Co. Ltd. (a union of John Harvey & Sons with Croft and Co. Ltd) decided to start doing business in this region. Many other wineries in the area followed suit, incorporating their own pale creams into their offerings... but none ever managed to overshadow Croft Original. Finally, in 2001, Gonzalez-Byass acquired Croft in its entirety, becoming the exclusive producer of this gem.