Jerez is sharing its great passion for wine with the rest of
Spain. The European City of Wine designation is the perfect excuse for
winemakers, sommeliers, restaurateurs, members of the wine trade and consumers
to seize the slightest opportunity to celebrate wine’s very existence, and
especially those of Jerez, host of many of this year’s best wine events.
Alongside the many public and institutional events – The Gala
of European Cities of Wine, the Iberoamerican Wine Forum, Sherry Festival, the
Annual Horse Fair, Vinoble... there is the privately organised event “Vinos de
España, una Pasion”, which yesterday transformed the cloisters of the church of
San Domingo into a veritable wine tasting Heaven.
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| A scene at the tasting (Foto Diario Jerez) |
Around 50 bodegas from 20 Spanish Denominaciones de Origen
made available some 200 wines. Juan Martin Hidalgo of Bodegas Hidalgo turned a
dream into reality by organising a large range of Spanish wineries from Rioja,
Ribera del Duero, Rueda, Toro, Priorato, Mentrida, Penedes, Bierzo, Mallorca,
Madrid, Extremadura, Castilla and many more – not forgetting Jerez and Vinos de
la Tierra de Cadiz, all unified in the spirit of making excellent wine.
The event attracted many more participants than it could
cope with at the Hidalgo bodegas, so Martin Hidalgo asked the Council for
larger premises. Sherry was represented by Hidalgo, Lustau, Sanchez Romate and
Fernando de Castilla along with 4 Vinos de la Tierra de Cadiz. According to the
Mayor, Maria Jose Garcia Pelayo, Jerez is now putting itself back on the map,
the city is in fashion again thanks to its wine, and the brand is recovering.
The other bodegas present were impressed and hope that more
such events can be arranged. They were
delighted to be face to face with the consumer, and recognised that however
good Spanish wines might be, they have a lot to learn in selling them. They were,
however impressed with Sherry and the place it comes from. Aren't we all?!
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