Jerez Culture - Ten Star Tapas

Jerez

Jerez - or Sherry, or Xérèz - has been the home to Sherry making for around 3000 years - find out more about this ancient city with a thoroughly modern atmosphere.

Tasting Guide

View our interactive tasting guide and learn the essentials to matching Sherry with food.

History

One of Britain's most popular wines for nearly 500 years - learn about the multi-cultural influences that have added to Sherry's rich history.

Culture

A year in Jerez is full of festivals, both religious and non-resligious. You can find a full list of festivals and events through www.turismojerez.com. However if you're planning a visit, look out for the following major events:

Feria del Jerez (early May)
A week long celebration of all styles of Sherry in the three main Sherry villages.

Sanlucar Manzanilla Fair (May)
A celebration of Manzanilla - a Sherry only produced in Sanlúcar de Barradmeda.

La Vendemia (September)
The grape harvest festival is one of the most important in the calendar and its cultural programme of events lasts throughout September.

Bodega Tours

It's essential to pay a visit to at least one of the Bodegas (the large warehouse-like buildings where Sherries are aged and bottled). The largest are well equipped for tourists with visitor centres and English-speaking guides while the smaller ones are more informal, often offering a more personal experience.

The larger bodegas are:

Domecq (www.domecq.es) Gonzalez Byass (www.gonzalezbyass.com) Harvey's (www.bodegasharveys.com)

Visit their websites for contact details and information on how to book

Smaller bodegas include:

Emilio Lustau (www.emilio-lustau.com) Bodegas Tradicion (Plaza Cordobeses 3, Jerez, tel + 34 956 168 628) La Guita (www.laguita.com) Fernando de Castilla (www.fernandodecastilla.com)

Flamenco

With one of the largest gypsy populations in the region, it's no surprise that many flamenco stars come from Jerez, particularly the Santiago region which is home of the Centro de Andaluz de Flamenco (Piaza de San Juan, Jerez, tel +34 956 349 265) - a museum, gallery and cinema dedicated to the art.

Many of the town's bars and restaurants offer flamenco shows - try Bar Arco de Santiago (Barreras, 3 Jerez, tel +34 956 303 081), one of the town's most famous flamenco spots, often attracting the biggest artists or La Taberna Flamenca, a popular touristy restaurant bar with a 60-minute flamenco show. For a truly authentic experience try one of the penas (flamenco clubs), such as La Buena Gente (Plaza de San Lucas 9, 956 338 404).

If you want to immerse yourself in the passion and excitement of flamenco then plan to visit during the Festival de Jerez in February/March. This two-week festival is dedicated to music and dance with performances and courses from the biggest names in flamenco.

Horses

Jerez is renowned for its horses - and perhaps best known for the Dancing Horses at the Royal Riding School (www.realescuela.org). The latter is one of the most popular attractions in the town with shows every Thursday - it pays to book ahead.

Horse-lovers should note the two big equestrian events of the year: the Feria del Caballo (in May) and the Carreras de Caballos de Sanlucar (in December). The former is the Jerez May Horse Fair, one of the most spectacular equestrian events in the world with international horses and riders competing in a range of events - thousands flock here to witness one of the best displays of horsemanship anywhere.

The latter is an incredible horseracing events where thoroughbred horses race along a 1,800m stretch of sand at the mouth of Rio Guadalquivir.