The city of Jerez has announced in Madrid its title of Spanish Capital of Gastronomy for 2026, in a presentation promoted together with Fundador and led by the Madrid mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, the mayor of Jerez, María José García-Pelayo, and the general director of Grupo Emperador International Brands, Ángel Piña.
Representatives from the sector also participated in the event, including Alfredo Carrasco, president of the Jerez Hospitality Association, and César Saldaña, president of the Jerez Wine Regulatory Council, in addition to the president of Gastronomic Capital of Spain, Mariano Palacín Calvo, and the president of the Spanish Hospitality Business Confederation, José Luis Álvarez Almeida, along with more than a hundred attendees from the gastronomic, tourism, and business fields.
The mayor emphasized that "The City Council continues to advocate for the promotion of gastronomy as a strategic product for the city of Jerez through promotional work of significant importance for the hospitality and gastronomic industry," also remarking that "by highlighting the gastronomic offer, the aim is also to strengthen the sense of belonging, cultural identity, and to turn gastronomy into a true engine for generating value, employment, and economic and sustainable development."
This meeting is the first of three planned with Fundador to disseminate Jerez's designation as Spanish Capital of Gastronomy nationwide, with upcoming stops in Barcelona and Santiago de Compostela, with the objective of projecting the 'Marca Jerez' and its culinary richness throughout the country.
The program included the participation of the Jerez-born chef with a Michelin star, Israel Ramos, who performed a "showcooking" for the audience, explaining two of the best "typical Jerez" tapas. Afterwards, an appetizer organized by Fundador was offered, paired with wines from the Torre de Macharnudo range by Harveys and a selection of cocktails made with Brandy Fundador.
García-Pelayo has highlighted that "Jerez is a benchmark tourist destination supported by national and international events and festivals throughout the year with events of the caliber of the Spanish Motorcycle Grand Prix, the Horse Fair or the Zambomba, among others". In his opinion, "Gastronomy further deepens this consolidation and reaffirms it as one of the main motivations for travelers and visitors, creating a complete ecosystem of wine, cuisine, culture, hospitality, and territory".
The mayor of Jerez has emphasized that "Jerez is in fashion and we are working to ensure it remains so with the Capital of Gastronomy, we come to Madrid to invite all Spaniards and tell them that Jerez is their home", thanking Martínez-Almeida for his presence and especially highlighting that "the mayor of Spain is here today supporting the Spanish Capital of Gastronomy".
Martínez-Almeida, for his part, has described the city's cuisine as "a hallmark of our country" and has insisted that "gastronomy unites us to Jerez and Madrid". In his words, "There are few pairings in Spain like the one between Madrid and Jerez".
Fundador has supported the Jerez City Council in this presentation, reaffirming its support for the city and the promotion of its gastronomic and wine heritage. Ángel Piña, general director of Grupo Emperador International Brands (owner of the brands Fundador, Terry, Harveys, Torre de Macharnudo, Garvey, among others) has underlined the company's willingness to "support initiatives that connect people and generate shared experiences".
In the same vein, he recalled that "Our history has always been linked to moments of meeting, celebration, and enjoyment, therefore, this sponsorship is not just a collaboration, but a natural extension of our commitment to local development and to highlighting what makes our cities unique".
As explained by the City Council, Fundador's participation in this event is part of a broader involvement of the company on the occasion of Jerez's Gastronomic Capital 2026. Throughout the year, the company promotes and supports various actions aimed at consolidating Jerez as a destination associated with gastronomy, wine, brandy, culture, and experiential tourism.