España · Est. 1835

González Byass (Croft)

González Byass is one of Spain's most iconic and long-established wineries, founded in 1835 by Manuel María González Ángel in Jerez de la Frontera. The following year it adopted the name Manuel María González y Cía, later incorporating English agent Robert Blake Byass to create the name we know today. From its earliest days, the firm positioned itself at the forefront of sherry winemaking, and was also a pioneer in introducing polo to Spain, establishing the country's first tennis court and installing the first electricity and running water services at its premises. The González family took full control of the business in 1988, and today the sixth generation continues this legacy by combining tradition with innovation, sustainability and quality under the guiding philosophy of 'People + Planet'. Among its most iconic products is Tío Pepe fino sherry, a world-renowned benchmark for the style. In 2001, González Byass fully acquired the Croft brand, which had been created in 1970 as a sophisticated, pale alternative to the traditional darker and sweeter sherries. Following the formal merger of both companies in 2003, Croft was fully integrated into the group. Its flagship product, Croft Original Pale Cream, became the second most exported product from the Jerez region and remains the second best-selling brand in the sherry category today. The González Byass group operates under the D.O. Jerez-Xérès-Sherry and Manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda appellations, and has a presence across multiple denominations through its estates: Beronia in DOCa Rioja and DO Rueda, Cavas Vilarnau in DO Cava, Finca Constancia in VdT Castilla, Finca Moncloa in VdT Cádiz and Viñas del Vero in DO Somontano. In 2010 the winery was named Winemaker of the Year at the International Wine and Spirit Competition, and in 2026 was recognised as Best Fortified Wine Producer over the competition's 25-year history.