Sherry, Wine and Brandy - Cellars to Visit
Jerez, Famous Sherry & Brandy Producing Wineries Open to the Public
Oct 31, 2009
Jerez in the south-west corner of Andalucia, Spain is famous for its wine and sherry. But it is the exceptional geographical location with the breeze from the Atlantic that makes these wines special.
Lying between the Gaditana Mountains and just a short drive from the Atlantic coast, Jerez boasts an average summer temperature of 25c and a winter temperature of 11c. Combine these factors with more than 3,200 hours of sun every year and they help to develop the distinct flavour of sherry, so carefully nurtured over the years.
The soil, which is chalky and the palomino grape are the key factors in the success story of this area. The grape must is carefully aged and left to mature in age-old wine cellars.
Grapes have been grown here for hundreds of years and the wines perfected over time. These days they are protected by the Official Regulating Body for the Authenticity of Jerez-Xeres-Sherry. So is the other famous product from this area – Brandy, which comes under the protection of the Regulating Body for Brandy of Jerez.
Jerez de la Frontera, El Puerto de Santa María and Sanlúcar de Barrameda are the three areas in the province of Cádiz that produce wines under these regulating bodies. The annual production of the area is approximately 90,000,000 litres.
There are four main types of sherry that are produced which are
- Fino - a light pale golden coloured dry wine
- Amontillado - an older fino, rich in character with an amber colour
- Oloroso - a rich dark dry wine
- Cream sherries - a blend of dry Oloroso and sweet Pedro Jimenez.
Both sherry and brandy are produced using a traditional method of ageing the grape must known as Solera and Criadera and are produced in the typical spacious and high-ceiling cellars which were especially designed to maintain a constant temperature and humidity. The wines are also kept in semi-darkness, another essential condition for the maturing process of sherry.
There are several famous name cellars that are open to the public, some offer tastings as well as museums and shops.
Jerez Wineries to Visit – Bodegas para Visitar
- Almocaden, Jardinillo 16
- Alvaro Domecq, Alamos 23
- Dios Baco, Medina s/n
- Domecq, San Ildefonso, 3
- El Maestro Sierra, Plaza de Silos, 3
- Emilio Lustau, Arcos, 53
- Garvey, Ctra. N.IV.Circunvalacion
- Real Tesoro y Valdespino, Ctra.N.IV,Km 640
- Rey Fernanado de Castilla, Jardinillo, 7
- Sandeman
- Tio Pepe, Manuel Maria Gonzalez, 12
- Tradicion, Cordobeses, 3
- Williams & Humbert, Ctra. N.IV,Km 641
See here for more information on Jerez and Andalucia
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