Tour Dates: 14 - 20 February, 2010.
We are very pleased to have been invited to the Consejo Reglador, the governing body of the Sherry Industry as special guests. After explanation of the Industry, there will be a fascinating tasting of the many styles with good examples being shown. The tasting continues over dinner at the Consejo. Sherry is fascinating and versatile with a vast array of styles that can be drunk as aperitifs, digestifs and wines to accompany meals as this tasting and dinner shows.
In the morning we visit Gonzales-Byass, famous for their ‘elegant dry Tio Pepe’ Fino. Our special tasting will also focus on their rare and ancient sherries including the profound Methusala Old Amontillado, the Noé, the best of all of the ‘sticky’ P.X.s. Osborne in Puerto de Santa Maria, is better known in Spain for brandy, than for wine. Osborne produce good sherries, including a very good Fino and the top of the range ‘Family Reserve’ that is about the oldest sherry on the market. It is a rare opportunity to be allowed to taste a wine that is 100 years old. Our tasting continues over lunch. We have an early evening invitation to Bodegas Marques del Tesoro to taste the wines of Valdespino, famous for “Innocente” rated by many cognoscenti as the greatest of all Finos. There cannot be many aperitifs better than this, especially if tasted fresh from the barrel.
Next day we head to Sanlucar on the coast, where a tasting awaits us at Hidalgo. ‘La Gitana’, their outstanding Manzanilla, straight from the sherry-butt, is an ultimate in dry sherry. Because ‘La Gitana’ is so good, the other Hidalgo wines tend to be overlooked - a shame as they are superb and include rare styles such as Palo Cortado and Manzanilla-Amontillado. Lunch is at a leading seafood restaurant overlooking the Gualquiver River. This afternoon you can explore in Jerez de la Frontera. You might visit La Colegiata, a curious pseudo-Gothic church, the Alcazar or the Andalusian School of Equestrian Art. Dinner is at one of the oldest tapas restaurants in Jerez, which will be a themed dinner with Lustau, pairing their famous Almacenistas (stock-holders) sherries with Andalusian tapas.
Our final day is spent in the historical port of Cadiz. After time to explore, we drop into a traditional bar, the last of its kind in Cadiz, with its own ‘soleras’ on site where they ‘finish off’ wines made by the bodegas. You come here to sample their own Manzanilla and other styles, super fresh, served straight from the barrel. Authentic and simple this is a special experience. Lunch is at ‘El Faro’, one of the best restaurants in Andalusia.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Meet at hotel in Jerez. Tasting and dinner. 4 star Boutique hotel.
Day 2: Visits and lunch in Jerez.
Day 3: Visit in Sanlucar. Tasting over dinner.
Day 4: Visit Cadiz. Manzanillia tasting and lunch. Then drop off at Jerez airport, and Seville for clients who are staying on.
Notes:
Airfare is included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- 5 nights 4 star boutique palacio hotel
- Breakfasts
- 5 meals with wines / sherries
- Coach
- Wine Guide & Tour Manager
Notes:
- Extend your stay in the city of Seville or Cadiz
- Sole Occupancy: £160.00
- Deposit: £200.00
- Room Upgrade: £90.
This tour is not suitable for children.
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Spain
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