Spain and Sherry

I love my job! Following a conference in Granada (Spain) a group of us will be spending 4-5 days in Andalucia. Much of the time will be tourist stuff but we will visit Jerez and so if anyone has any experience tasting at the sherry houses I'd like to hear about it. We will also be visiting Cordoba and I'm thinking of visiting either Alvear or Toro Albalá (or both!). If anyone has visited either I'd like to hear about your experince.

Thanks,
Mike

[Jenise]

Mike, haven't seen a post from you in awhile, good to see you. Don't have the experience to help you but look forward to visiting ourselves some day, as my husband has major love for sherry. someone more helpful should be along shortly--was a slow day online today, must be great weather around the globe.

In March 2009 I could spend couple of days in this region and visit several wineries in Jerez, Salnlúcar de Barrameda, El Puerto de Santa Maria and Chipiona. All were different from each other but all of them very interesting to visit. Very impressive – the ageing bodegas, huge ground-flor cathedrales full of soleras, very nice experience. Almost every bodega could offer for tasting also their brandies, worth to try.
Since my visit in Jerez I become the big fan of this kind of wine without any doubt...

In Jerez the first one was Emilo Lustau, very traditional, the specialist in Almacenista sherry wines, huge line of very special and fine wines – from Fino up to PX. That time one of the best tastings. http://www.emilio-lustau.com

Then the well known Gonzáles Byass, very refined and polished, everything tip-top, but for me a little bit touristic. But our tasting and the wines there without any objection as well... http://www.gonzalezbyass.com

A smaller one, but again more traditonal – Sánchez Romate, nice sherries, but do not forget to taste their brandy Cardenal Mendoza... You may find one barrel chalk-signed by ourselves there... http://www.romate.com

Bodegas Tradición – amazing bodega for their philosophy, they started their activities buying old soleras with the best quality sherries, they age them and only then bring on to the market. Fantastic 30-years Oloroso, 20-years Pedro Ximenez. My favourite... Do not forget to visit they picture gallery inside the bodega. http://www.bodegastradicion.es

One of the biggest producers in the region (if not the biggest one - at least the biggest Manzanilla producer for sure...), Barbadillo in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, worth to visit, interesting line of sherries. http://www.barbadillo.com

In El Puerto de Santa Maria – Gutiérrez Colosia, smaller bodega, very good QPR. Our lunch in Romerijo restaurant - simple, but best mariscos (sea food) in the town. http://www.gutierrez-colosia.com

Special visit in Moscatel land – in Chipiona – Bodegas César Florido, completely different from the above mentioned, but if interested in Moscatel sherries, then the must... http://www.bodegasflorido.com

When spending the time in Jerez de la Frontera, try to visit „Bar Juanito“, wide choice of tapas and extended sherry-wine list, one of the best in the city.
And if some free time, then visit Cámara Oscura in Alcázar de Jerez, interesting, not more than one hour visit...

If you need some more infos, including photos, do not hesitate to ask.

Stanislav from Slovakia

...and I forgot - the best restaurant we visited - Mirador Doñana, Bajo de Guia, outside of Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Savoury seafood and... at the end an ice cream with Pedro Ximénez... do not leave the restaurant without...

Stanislav,

Excellent. Thank you very much.

Mike

Go to Casa Balbino in Sanlucar. A tapas bar with excellent seafood, very reasonably priced. Have the Tortillitas de Camarones for a transcendent experience. Also, a visit to Bodega La Cigarrera in Sanlucar, which is not especially beautiful but is one of the last small, independent sherry houses in the town.