Short Stories

First Prize: 2,000 euros, a bottle of Cardenal Mendoza Non Plus Ultra brandy from Jerez, and a case of Sánchez Romate sherry.

Second Prize: 700 euros, a bottle of Cardenal Mendoza Carta Real brandy from Jerez, and a case of Sánchez Romate sherry.

Third Prize: 600 euros, a bottle of Cardenal Mendoza Clásico brandy from Jerez, and a case of Sánchez Romate sherry.

Non Plus Ultra Award: a bottle of Cardenal Mendoza Non Plus Ultra and a box of NPU amontillado. This distinction is awarded to the micro-story that, in the jury’s opinion, best enhances the image of Jerez brandy.

The jury may also award the Cardenal Mendoza Special Mention, consisting of a bottle of Cardenal Mendoza Non Plus Ultra brandy from Jerez, to the most outstanding micro-story among the finalists.

Bodegas Sánchez Romate Hnos., with the aim of fostering literary creativity related to Jerez brandy, is announcing the 15th “Cardenal Mendoza” International Microfiction Contest.

Submission to this contest implies acceptance of the following rules:

1. Any individual of legal age of any nationality may participate in the contest.
2. The theme is open, provided that the micro-story references Sherry brandy in some way.
3. The length of the text shall be a maximum of one hundred fifty (150) words—including the title.
4. The works will be written in Spanish.
5. Entries must be original and must not have been published in any medium or format. They must not have previously received any prize or honorable mention in another contest or competition.
6. The original works will be presented exclusively in digital format.

Submissions should be sent to the following email address: microrrelatos@romate.com

The subject line of the email must specify: XV Cardenal Mendoza Contest, and it must include two attachments (in .doc or .docx format).

The names of the attached files will have the following structure:

– For the story: title of the story.

– For the entry: title of the story_entry.

Example: If the title of the story is “Atardeceres,”

For the story: Sunsets

For the bid: Atardeceres_plica

The stories will be signed under a pseudonym.

The file containing the bid shall include: title, pseudonym, first and last names, date and place of birth, full address, nationality, Tax ID number (or your country’s national ID number, or passport number), phone number, and email address.

The organization will not correspond with contest participants.

The contest offers the following prizes:

First Prize: 2,000 euros, a bottle of Cardenal Mendoza Non Plus Ultra brandy from Jerez, and a case of Sánchez Romate sherry.

Second Prize: 700 euros, a bottle of Cardenal Mendoza Carta Real brandy from Jerez, and a case of Sánchez Romate sherry.

Third Prize: 600 euros, a bottle of Cardenal Mendoza Clásico brandy from Jerez, and a case of Sánchez Romate sherry.

Non Plus Ultra Award: a bottle of Cardenal Mendoza Non Plus Ultra and a box of NPU amontillado. This distinction is awarded to the micro-story that, in the jury’s opinion, best enhances the image of Jerez brandy.

The jury may also award the Cardenal Mendoza Special Mention, consisting of a bottle of Cardenal Mendoza Non Plus Ultra brandy from Jerez, to the most outstanding micro-story among the finalists.

The corresponding withholdings required by the General Tax Law (L.G.T.) will be applied to the prizes.

The submission period begins upon publication of these guidelines and ends on September 30, 2026.

The jury will be composed of individuals with recognized literary qualifications and at least one professional from the Jerez brandy sector. Its composition will be made public after the contest concludes.

The jury’s decision will be announced publicly during Cardenal Mendoza Golden Week, between October 25 and 31, 2026, via the website www.cardenalmendoza.com.

The jury may declare any of the awards void if it considers that none of the submitted works meets the required standard.

All winning entries will become the property of Bodegas Sánchez Romate Hnos. and may be used in any promotional medium, such as books, brochures, various publications, websites, blogs, or any other format the organization deems appropriate for dissemination, without any need for prior notice to the author.

Participants shall be personally liable for the legitimate ownership and originality of the work under the terms set forth in the Consolidated Text of the Intellectual Property Law, guaranteeing the ownership and the original and unpublished nature of the work.

Participation in the contest implies acceptance of the rules, full compliance with the jury’s decisions, and a waiver of any claims.

In compliance with the provisions of Organic Law 15/1999 of December 13 on the Protection of Personal Data, we inform you that all data and information you provide to us, along with any documentation you submit to SANCHEZ ROMATE HNOS, S.A., will be included in a database owned by SANCHEZ ROMATE HNOS, S.A. and will be used solely for the administration of this micro-story contest.                                   

We also inform you that you may exercise your rights of access, rectification, cancellation, and objection at Calle Lealas 26, 11404 Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz).

SANCHEZ ROMATE HNOS, S.A. shall in no event be liable for the legality, truthfulness, or accuracy of the information provided. It is your sole responsibility to notify SANCHEZ ROMATE HNOS, S.A. of any changes to such information.

Completing the information request is mandatory and constitutes your express consent to the processing of your personal data for the purposes indicated; completing the remaining fields is optional. 

2025

• First prize: “Noche jerezana,” by Roberto Marín Luque.
• Second prize: “Sobrevivir a papá” (Surviving Dad), by Pedro Pablo López Pertíñez.
• Third prize: “Instructions for Melancholy,” Francisco Xavier Lama López.
• Cardenal Mendoza Non Plus Ultra mention: “La travesía del holandés” (The Dutchman’s Journey), originally by Francisco C. Ayudarte Granados.

2024

• First prize: “Dicotomía post mortem,” by Esteban Torres Sagra, a resident of Úbeda (Jaén).
• Second prize: “De locos,” by M. Carme Marí Vila, from Barcelona.
• Third prize: “Con el escalpelo” (With the Scalpel), by Jesús Jiménez Reinaldo, a resident of Rivas Vaciamadrid (Madrid).
• Cardenal Mendoza Non Plus Ultra Mention: “Qué va a ser,” originally by Sergio Rozalén Gil, a resident of the United Kingdom.

2023

• First prize: “Ficciones,” an original work by Víctor Niso García, from Cáceres.
• Second prize: “The Happiest Day of Your Life,” by Hermenegildo Altozano García-Figueras, a resident of Madrid.
• Third prize: “Una nube buena,” by Elena Olivella of Barcelona.
• Cardenal Mendoza Non Plus Ultra Mention: “Los trabajos,” originally by Javier Izcue Argandoña, from Pamplona.
• Cardenal Mendoza Special Mention: “Milagro,” created by Nicolás Medina Cabrera, a resident of Alicante.

2022

First prize: “Jaque de coz,” created by Jorge Accame of Buenos Aires (Argentina).

Second prize: “Loba de mar,” created by Miguel Ángel Escudero Eble, from Madrid.

Third prize: “(Irrational) Declaration of Love and Wine in an Elevator,” by Miguel Barreras Alconchel, a resident of Valderrobres (Teruel).

Cardenal Mendoza Non Plus Ultra mention: “Madera vieja,” originally by Agustín Celis Sánchez, from Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz).

2021

• First prize: “Vigilia,” by Alberto Menéndez García, a resident of Oviedo (Asturias).
• Second prize: “Campiña,” created by Miguel Campos Martín, from Málaga.
• Third prize: “Los del quinto,” originally by Miguel Ángel Escudero Ebble, from Madrid.
• Cardenal Mendoza Non Plus Ultra Mention: “Resurrección,” created by Raquel Traverso Rodríguez, a resident of Madrid.

2020

• First prize: “Continuidad de las copas,” by Raúl Óscar Ifran, from Buenos Aires (Argentina).
• Second prize: “Deshoras,” by Jorge Accame, from Buenos Aires (Argentina).
• Third prize: “Olor a brandy” (The Scent of Brandy), originally by María Loreto Corbi, from Madrid.
• Cardenal Mendoza Non Plus Ultra mention: “The First Kiss,” originally by Graci Bordón Artiles, from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

2019

First prize: “Baeza, April 29, 1913,” an original by Juan de Molina, from Ubrique (Cádiz).

Second prize: “Carne de imprenta,” by Laura Escriche Andrés, from Zaragoza.

Third prize: “Destino,” by Ezequiel Tambornini, from Buenos Aires (Argentina).

Cardenal Mendoza Non Plus Ultra Mention: “La bala,” created by Nieves Jurado Martínez of Albacete.

2018

First prize: “Materials of a Relationship,” by Gabriel Pérez Martínez, from Málaga.

Second prize: “Suplentes,” by Nicolás Rodríguez Sanabria, from El Paso, Texas (United States).

Third prize: “Una copita,” created by Ignacio Elguero, from Madrid.

Cardenal Mendoza Non Plus Ultra quote: “The delirium of the world,” originally by Joan Graell Piqué, from Orgañá (Lérida).

2017

• First prize: “Salto de página,” by Concha Fernández González, a resident of El Casar (Guadalajara).
• Second prize: “A New Home,” by Alberto Díez Domínguez, a resident of Valladolid.
• Third prize: “Intemperie & delirio,” by Ricardo Bermejo Álvarez, a resident of San Fernando (Cádiz).
• Non Plus Ultra Mention: “Brindis,” created by Juan Carlos Pérez López, a resident of Bormujos (Seville).

2016

• First prize: “Sherry Tango,” created by Ramón Camacho Rodríguez, a resident of El Puerto de Santa María (Cádiz)
• Second prize: “Vacío,” by Alodía Villasante Marín, a resident of Algeciras (Cádiz).
• Third prize: “La última palabra” (The Last Word), by Victoriano Alcalde Azcune, a resident of Irún (Gipúzcoa).
• Non Plus Ultra Mention: “A Brief Philosophical Dictionary,” by Sergio Estébanez Sáez, a resident of Burgos.