Don Luis Caballero
Chairman of Emilio Lustau S.A.

The origins of the Caballero connection with the drinks industry can be traced back to 1830 when the Galician branch of the family, Cabaleiro, was involved in taking timber from Galicia to Oporto and Jerez for cooperage. Cabaleiro took up residence in Jerez de la Frontera and purchased vineyards in Sanlúcar de Barrameda.

Don Luis Caballero was born in Puerto de Santa María and his parents belonged to two prominent sherry families. He holds a Doctorate in Law from the University of Granada. After a period in the diplomatic service, in 1963 he decided to dedicate his career to the family business and manage the export side of the group. Following the death of his father in 1974, he became Chairman and General Director of the Luis Caballero Group and in 1990, after its purchase, became Chairman of Lustau. Under his astute leadership, the group has expanded rapidly and now has a turnover of 11,500 million Pesetas (£46m).

The House of Caballero has been present in the British market since 1930, represented at that time by the firm of Edward Young & Company in the South of England, and by Matthew Clarke in the North. At a later date, the Caballero family acquired the Burdon and Cuesta Sherry business and for 80 years were the exclusive suppliers to the Courage & Barclays breweries, also becoming partners in the firm Saccone & Speed International.

The total sales of the Group today reach 1,500,000 cases, of which 500,000 are Sherry, the United Kingdom being the largest market in Europe with a market share of 15% of the consumption of Sherry in the UK.

Don Luis Caballero was a key influence in the painful changes that had to be effected in the Sherry Sector in the decade of the eighties. He is an active member of the Consejo Regulador, the controlling body for the Sherry Industry. In 1996 he was nominated "Entrepreneur of the Year" in Puerto de Santa María for his services to a variety of interests.

An intense family man, Don Luis is married to Elma González Gordon and has a daughter and two boys. The boys are already showing an interest in the business.

His interests are by no means confined to sherry. In the '60s, he was responsible for the launch of Ponche Caballero onto the Spanish market, a drink that rapidly became a hit. More recently in 1997 he re-launched the famous Miura cherry liqueur from Seville, and in 1998 he lead the acquisition of "Bodegas Viña Herminia, S. L." in La Rioja.

A man of insatiable zest for work he took a close interest in the restoration of the family owned San Marcos Castle in Puerto de Santa María. In the summer, if you are lucky, you can attend superb concerts of classical music. A glass or two of Sherry make the perfect evening.

Luis Caballero has strong views on the quality of sherry and the protection of its great tradition. During the regular quality control tests, his views are keenly awaited with a certain amount of trepidation.

Although still in essence a family business, Luis Caballero has recruited a number of key executives to lead the business in the 21st century. He professes that his intention is to spend more time with his family. His wife, Elma, remains somewhat sceptical. "He loves his work and the challenges each day brings. With our sons showing such an interest in the business I think he means that he will be spending more time with the boys."