Lacave & Echecopar: Strategies and businesses in the second half of the nineteenth century

Abstract

The wine business has traditionally been one of the main economic activities in the province of Cádiz. For this reason, this chapter provides a brief history of one of the winemaking companies established in the city, Lacave & Echecopar, during the latter half of the nineteenth century. Although this Cádiz-based company was founded in the first third of the century, it became particularly prominent from the mid-nineteenth century on, a time of growth and prosperity. However, towards the end of the century, a crisis that struck the Andalusian wine industry brought with it serious difficulties for the winemaking companies in the region. Based on an analysis of company accounts, notarial records and publications from the time, the aim is to gain an understanding of how this company developed its activity and what its main businesses and strategies were.