In 1967, Don Ramon Ortez began growing tobacco in Condega, Nicaragua at Don Leonardo Ruiz' farm. Working for the recently emigrated first-Cuban tobacco specialist, Humberto Diaz, Don Ramon’s dedication & determination led him to manage the fertile farm he would ultimately obtain once again for the Ortez family. Condega, proving to have exceptional conditions for growing black & blonde tobaccos, as well as citrus, was the first locations of premium cigar wrapper grown in Condega.

At Don Leonardo's farm, Don Ramon’s son, Omar Ortez, began working at the farm with his father at the age of 10 years old. This is where his passion of becoming an agronomist was birthed. In 1977, Don Omar Ortez graduated as an agronomist from Nicaragua’s agricultural university, fueled by the theoretical knowledge passed onto him by his father. The very soil that birthed Condega tobaccos had now developed two generation of tobacco growing expertise.

In 1990, Don Ramon and his son purchased their first 18 manzanas in Condega, located in the same area as the fertile land they labored on. In 1992, after leading tobacco growing in the regions of Condega & Jalapa Valley, Don Omar used his decades of experience to open the family’s first pre-industry business, dedicated to the growing, fermenting & production of raw materials for the worlds many cigar manufactures.

At the take-off of the cigar craze in the 90’s, Don Omar saw an opportunity for the Ortez Family to establish the family’s first cigar factory, further cementing the family’s tobacco heritage. The Ortez Family cigar factory is to this day the only premium cigar producer in Condega, Nicaragua.

Having vertically integrated the family in the tobacco industry, the Ortez Family’s philosophy became the expectation of creating well aged, fermented, & balanced cigars. This philosophy is proven from field to fermentation & finalized in the rolling room of the Ortez Cigar Factory.