Jim loves dry Spanish sherry. I think it tastes like vile medicine, but I don’t mind the sweet after dinner variety. While in Spain we went to the home of sherry – Jerez. The name sherry comes from the English mispronunciaton of Jerez.
Jim's sherry
We went to Jerez with idea of going to one of the sherry Bodegas to taste different varieties. 2 that were supposed to be open were not, and the other one was only offering tasting if you went on their tour of fake vineyards – no thanks.
Jerez is also famous for the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art. We didn’t have time to do that, so we just wandered around the town.
Jerez has a fine looking church
and interesting roof line
very interesting
We would have gone in, but it wasn’t open. There is an alcazar, which the guide book says isn’t much good, so we didn’t go there either.
the alcazar
There is a monument near the church dedicated to Manuel Maria Gonzales Angel. He settled in Jerez in 1935 at the age of 23. He founded the Gonzalez Byass company, producing sherry and brandy including the famous fino sherry, Tio Pepe. He became the first exporter of sherry and greatly enhanced the industry.
monument to Manuel Maria Gonzales
Apart from adding to Jim’s sherry collection our trip to Jerez could not really be described as successful. Not to worry, from there we went on to Cadiz, which we loved. Click here for lovely Cadiz and here for a look at Gibraltar ( the monkeys are cute).
I’m not crazy about sherry either. But, gosh, the church is pretty incredible looking. Love that roof line!
Hope your week is going well, Deb!
Kathy
By: Kathryn McCullough on September 14, 2011
at 12:30 am
You should try some of the dessert sherries, they are very good. I’m off to Italy next week so this week I’m starting to get stuff organised.
By: bagnidilucca on September 14, 2011
at 12:35 am
Lovely old buildings! Manuel had some very impressive sideburns! 🙂
I’ve never been a sherry drinker either, although I am a great lover of fortified wines in general…
By: Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial on September 14, 2011
at 12:31 am
Some of the sweet sherries are delicious. I discovered it when I bought some for a recipe – yum!
By: bagnidilucca on September 14, 2011
at 12:36 am
Also I’m not a big sherry drinker but being that I enjoy cooking Spanish I must have the beverage on hand, adding sherry to a dish brings out wonderful flavors not noticed before its addition. Then, of course, there are the wonderful Spanish sweets that call for sherry… Hmm, I guess then if I’m not a sherry drinker then I’m a sherry eater. Thank you for the photos!
By: Gian Banchero on September 14, 2011
at 12:41 am
It was quite a pretty little town. I hope you have better luck finding things open if you go there.
By: bagnidilucca on September 14, 2011
at 12:58 am
Would like to know which sherry name/type/brand Jim’s thinks is the best served at dinner when serving soup. I am sure I can remember years ago that being a rather interesting combination for the start of a winter dinner? Oooops maybe I havent got that right!!
Di
By: dianne Cant on September 14, 2011
at 2:10 am
Take a look at the great response from Mulino Dominillo for your answer.
By: bagnidilucca on September 14, 2011
at 9:08 pm
I love sherry, particularly dry sherry and “manzanilla”. I can see that Jim has one of my favourite brands: “La Ina”, but all the other ones are great. Nothing better than having a glass of manzanilla and some prawns from San Lúcar de Barrameda (Cádiz) as an apéritif. Sweet sherry…. not my cup of tea, really, just different tastes, though I use it when cooking sweets.
It is funny to realize that the Muslims Moors were the ones who allowed the creation of this special fortified wine through the intrduction of the art of distillation. The area of Jerez (originally called Xèrès) was producing grapes since the times of the Phoenicians!!!
Sherry vinegar is also a delicious condiment for salads and cooking and I also use quite a lot of it.
I do not know whether this would help Di (I met her years ago through Carolyn), but the best known soup with sherry is a consommé. The strength of the stock (it could be oxtail, aged beef, veal, chicken or even fish) would determine the kind of sherry you use to cook and the one you serve with it. The stronger the stock, the stronger the sherry.
It is a pity that you could not see the Andalusian horses, they are magnificent and, according to tradition, the descendants of Pegasus. Anyway, the Lipizzaners from the Spanish Riding School in Vienna are related to them, as they were introduced to Austria at the time of the Emperor Charles I of Spain and V of Germany. Here are some interesting videos to watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GxOW1_tmL4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd_nYE4c790&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn6Jmqs9IHQ&feature=related
Gorgeous!
By: Mulino Dominillo on September 14, 2011
at 6:57 am
Thanks for the great video and thank you for answering Di’s question. You and Jim need to get together for a sherry.
By: bagnidilucca on September 14, 2011
at 9:07 pm
Spain looks nice. we still wondering if, next summer, we go to Italy or to another country…..but i think we’re gonna choose Italy, there’s so much we didnt see.
By: Fragolina on September 14, 2011
at 7:04 am
Italy is wonderful, and there is so much to see there.
By: bagnidilucca on September 14, 2011
at 7:16 am
I’d love to visit Spain-one day! Mr NQN has Spanish or Basque heritage so he is particularly interested in it let alone the sherry angle!
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on September 14, 2011
at 7:32 am
Spanish and Finnish – interesting combination.
By: bagnidilucca on September 14, 2011
at 9:06 pm
I love wine but don’t like anything stronger than that. Are you in Spain on holiday this week? Sorry I haven’t been in the loop. Very busy week with the kids starting sports, activities, etc. No time to blog or read blogs! Will catch up soon…thanks for sharing!
By: thirdeyemom on September 14, 2011
at 10:49 pm
No, I am in Australia. We did the Spain trip in April. I leave for Italy next week, with stops in Hong Kong, Helsinki and Paris along the way.
By: bagnidilucca on September 15, 2011
at 4:11 am
I do like a sweet sherry…. in cooking too.
Happy travels for next week Debra.
By: cityhippyfarmgirl on September 15, 2011
at 3:10 am
I have bought an I Pad so I can keep up on the trip. Now I just have to learn how to use it.
By: bagnidilucca on September 15, 2011
at 4:15 am
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at 9:00 am