The World Corporate Golf Challenge is pleased to welcome Montaraz, the Spanish family house that has produced acorn-fed Iberian ham since 1890, as Official Partner of the WCGC 2026 World Final. As Montaraz Official Partner of the championship, the brand will accompany corporate teams from around the world at Qinghe Bay Golf Country Club, Beijing, from 19 to 23 October 2026.
The partnership brings together two organisations built on the same conviction: that lasting value is earned through patience, consistency and attention to detail.
In this article
- A family house since 1890
- Three ingredients: Iberian pork, sea salt and time
- From the dehesa to the world’s finest tables
- Why the Montaraz Official Partner agreement fits the WCGC
- In their own words: highlights from our interview
- Next stop: Qinghe Bay, Beijing
A family house since 1890
In 1890, José Manuel Martín began curing Iberian hams and sausages in Frades de la Sierra, Salamanca, for his family’s own table. More than 130 years later, Montaraz is led by the fifth generation of the Martín family, Ramón and Victoria Martín Galán, who continue the work begun by Ramón and Jaime Martín Sánchez in the 1990s.
The company now controls the entire production cycle. It has developed its own genetic line of Iberian pigs of the Lampiño variety, valued for their fine limbs, hairless skin and exceptional natural fat infiltration. Every animal is raised freely in the dehesa of Extremadura, a unique ecosystem of holm oak and cork oak woodland.
Three ingredients: Iberian pork, sea salt and time
Montaraz follows a 100% natural process, free of additives and preservatives and compliant with the strict Iberian quality standard. Its products are made only with sea salt and a slow, controlled cure in natural cellars.
Half of its hams and shoulders are cured in Salamanca and half in Olivenza, Extremadura. Salamanca’s cooler climate produces a delicate, mild profile, while Extremadura’s warmer temperatures yield a more powerful and intense one. The result is a duality of flavours under a single brand and a single quality standard, something rare in the sector.
From the dehesa to the world’s finest tables
Montaraz is present in more than 50 countries across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas. Its facilities in Salamanca and Extremadura are approved for export to China and by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the company operates offices and warehouses in New York.
Its products are served at leading hotels such as Marbella Club, Rosewood Villa Magna and Hotel Marqués de Riscal, and at Michelin-starred restaurants including Ramón Freixa, Joël Robuchon and Alinea.
Why the Montaraz Official Partner agreement fits the WCGC
Since 1993, the WCGC has brought together business leaders from more than 30 countries through corporate golf. Our community values what Montaraz represents: a family business that has grown internationally without compromising the way it works.
The parallel with golf is natural. Neither a great round nor a great ham can be rushed, and both reward preparation, discipline and respect for the process. With its China-approved facilities, Montaraz is also ideally placed to accompany our finalists in Beijing.
In their own words: highlights from our interview
We spoke with the Martín family about time, growth and the future of Iberian ham. Three ideas stood out.
On growth. “For us, growth does not necessarily mean producing faster. There are certain processes that simply cannot be accelerated, and curing is one of them.”
On inheriting a legacy. “The generations before us have passed down, above all, a way of working and a sense of responsibility towards what we have inherited. Our generation now has the challenge of bringing that experience into a different context.”
On sustainability. “The dehesa is the origin of our product, so protecting it is not something separate from the company; it is part of our work.” For the family, sustainability also means supporting rural communities and the employment they depend on.
Asked what Iberian ham ultimately means, the family’s answer would resonate with anyone who has shared a table after a round: some things “are worth doing slowly, and that when the moment comes, they are worth taking the time to enjoy.”
Read the full interview with the Martín family →
Next stop: Qinghe Bay, Beijing
The WCGC 2026 World Final takes place from 19 to 23 October at Qinghe Bay Golf Country Club, the culmination of a season of qualifying rounds and National Finals across the #RoadToBeijing2026.
We are delighted to have Montaraz as Official Partner in Beijing, and we warmly welcome the Martín family to the WCGC family.
#WCGC #WorldCorporateGolfChallenge #RoadToBeijing2026 #Montaraz
