Alvaro Domecq Romero Passed Away

Breeding

Spain

Alvaro Domecq Romero, a legendary Spanish horse breeer and bull fighter as well as founding father of the Real Escuela in Jerez, has passed away on 18 November 2025. He was 85 years old.

Bull Fighting

Born on 8 April 1940 in his life-long home town Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, Alvaro Domecq grew up in a renowned family of bull-fighter. He grew up amongst horses at the family estate Los Alburejos.

At the age of 19 he made his public debut as a bull fighter and developed a career in which he fought more than 2,000 bullfights across Spain, Portugal, France, and Latin America. He retired from bull fighting in 1985.

Domecq owned the Torrestrella cattle breeding line, a prestigious hierro (cattle brand).

Real Escuela

In the dressage world, Alvaro Domecq is better know as the founding father of the Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre in Jerez. Founded in 1975, the Real Escuela celebrated the PRE horse, classic dressage, and doma vaquera. The picadero (riding arena) of the Real Escuela bears his name.

At the Escuela the dressage show “Cómo Bailan los Caballos Andaluces” became a staple and its music is still featured today at the CDIO Aachen or any major championship when a Spanish rider enters the arena.

Under his sponsorship riders such as Rafael Soto and Ignacio Rambla made it onto the Spanish Olympic team. He also fostered the start of the career of Spanish Olympian Jose Antonio Garcia Mena.

Domecq is lauded for his deep commitment to preserving and promoting Andalusian equestrian traditions

Jerez de la Frontera

In 1999, Domecq ventured into winemaking: he acquired the former Pilar Aranda bodega and relaunched it under Bodegas Álvaro Domecq S.L. He mainly produced sherry .

Domecq's name and the city of Jerez de la Frontera are close-knit. He assisted in bringing the 2002 World Equestrian Games to Jerez.

Don Alvaro Domecq received many honours and accolades in his lifetime. He received the Caballo de Oro in 1973 from King Juan Carlos I. In 2002 he became Honorary Member of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. He was named "Favourite Son of Jerez" in 2022. He received the Medal of Andalucia in 2024.

Domecq was married to Maribel Domecq Ybarra and they have 10 children and 20 grandchildren.

Domecq's death is widely mourned in Jerez and the broader Andalusian community as the city even declared two days of official mourning in his honour.