Where does merino wool come from?

The wool comes from sheep, namely from the Merino sheep. The animals originally come from North Africa and are therefore one of the oldest breeds of sheep in the world. In the High Middle Ages, it then made its way to Spain, where the coveted wool immediately gained great economic importance. Interesting: Merino sheep were not allowed to be sold abroad until the 18th century. The export of the sheep was even punishable by death by the Spanish royal family. Spain had a monopoly on the so-called "Spanish wool" for a long time.

Today, the Merino sheep is at home in many places around the world, whether in Germany, South America or South Africa. The largest producers are in Australia and New Zealand. The Merino sheep has always been a hardy breed of sheep and can cope very well with extreme temperature fluctuations. In the New Zealand Alps, for example, it can sometimes happen that the animals have to endure fluctuations from minus 20 to plus 35 degrees. This strong adaptation to adverse climate makes the merino wool unique and so high quality.