24.5.16 González Byass Launch Vermouth; Feria de la Manzanilla

Vermouth La Copa is produced according to a formula from 1896 which had been preserved for more than a century in the company archives. Even the label is a reproduction of the original, though adjusted to match the new bottle presentation.  In the past many bodegas produced vermouth till it went out of fashion, but thanks to a resurgence of interest they are re-launching it.

La Copa is produced from a blend of fine Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez of at least eight years of age with carefully selected botanicals including wormwood, savory, clove, orange peel, cinnamon, nutmeg, angelica and quinine. The name La Copa is historical as it was the branding iron of the horse breeding ranch of the Marqués de Torresoto, son of GB founder Manuel María González. The new (?) vermouth has a very complex spiced aroma and on the palate it is smooth and elegant with a slightly bitter finish while its Jerez origins can be detected. Price is around 10 euros and it is 15.5ᴼ.

The 2016 Feria de la Manzanilla starts tomorrow. The mayor of Sanlúcar, Víctor Mora, will switch on the more than 400,000 lights at 23.00, and they will be switched off again at the end of the Feria at midnight on Sunday 29^th. The avenidas Bajo de Guia and Las Piletas will also be brightly lit. There will be music aplenty, a parade of horses and all sorts of horse drawn carriages and a bullfight, not to mention feasting, dancing and the consumption of vast amounts of Manzanilla.

The portada (entrance gateway) foto:Raul J Bustillos/andalucia informacion

20.4.16 Yuste BIB; Osborne Beer; Feria de la Manzanilla

It was inevitably going to ruffle feathers. Recently Bodegas Yuste won a gold medal at Toulouse for the quality of its Manzanilla Pasada in a 10 litre BIB. The Consejo intends to denounce it as the precintas (DO seals) on the box had been issued for glass garrafas, the only legal container for bulk wine. The Manzanilla rebels had applied for suitable precintas, as BIBs come in different capacities to garrafas, but had been denied as BIB is seen by the Consejo as illegal. Also disliked was Yuste’s promotion of the prize, which was seen as distancing even further the positions of the rebels and the Consejo and Fedejerez.

The famous BIB. You can see 2 precintas have been used (foto:barramedia)

Osborne has teamed up with Premium Beers of Spain to produce a beer aged with Sherry wood. Toro is a premium artisan beer, full bodied with a deep copper colour and a strength of 5.5ᴼ. Notes of Sherry wood can be detected in both the aroma and flavour. Osborne has licensed the name “Toro” to the brewers, something it has also done with fashion items and gourmet products. It is interesting to note that this is not Osborne’s first connection with beer; they founded Cruz Campo in Sevilla in 1904 (now owned by heineken).

The 2016 Feria de la Mnazanilla will take place from 24-29 May. The mayor, Víctor Mora, various officials and the creator of this year’s poster, photographer Emilio mayolín announced the launch today. It is the first time in over 40 years that the poster has not been a painting.

4.6.15 Feria de la Manzanilla

Sanlúcar’s annual Feria de la Manzanilla got underway last night with the acting mayor, Víctor Mora switching on the lights. The feria, which lasts till next Sunday, has 67 casetas and is at the Calzada de la Duquesa. There will be horse parades on Friday and Saturday, dancing, fairground attractions, gastronomy and of course Manzanilla will be flowing. The main change this year is the relocation of the grand entrance arch at the paseo marítimo end, so that the feria can look out to sea.

Meanwhile, work is being carried out to reinforce with concrete parts of the paseo marítimo which have been eroded, and more sand has been put on the beach in preparation for the horse racing.

18.4.15 27 More Sherry Educators; Giant Tio Pepe Bottles; Feria de la Manzanilla 2015

The XIII Sherry Educators course has come to a successful conclusion. Over the15th, 16^th and 17^th April, 27 people participated: restaurateurs, wine educators, sommeliers and wine journalists from all over Spain.

The title “Formador Homologado del Vino de Jerez” requires professional candidates who have a high level of wine knowledge, as in practice they are an extension of the Aula de Formación del Vino de Jerez, the education side of the Consejo Regulador in destination markets, and thus ambassadors for Sherry.

Some of the Educators doing the right thing (foto:+jerez)

An intense programme on winemaking with seminars, tastings and vineyard and bodega visits was undertaken to obtain this prestigious title. The course which takes place twice annually, is regarded as one of the best of its kind.

Two Tio Pepe bottles 2.58 metres high have arrived to greet travellers at the duty-free in Madrid airport terminal 4 and 4 satellite. The bottles are made from expanded polystyrene, wood and polyurethane resin and are unmissable.

Tio Pepe in action (foto:lavozdigital)

The poster for this year’s Feria has been presented by the mayor of Sanlúcar, Víctor Mora alongside the artist who created it, Mikel Urmeneta. The Feria will be celebrated from the 2^nd till the 7^th of June.

The mayor (l) with the artist and his poster (foto:sanlucar.tv)

29.4.14 Sherry and Tapas; Feria de la Manzanilla

A new “Gastronomic Route” is being planned in Jerez to take place from the 5^th – 15^th June, coinciding roughly with International Sherry Week. Titled “Imprescindibles de la Tapa y el Vino de Jerez” (Essentials of Sherry and Tapas), the three Sherry towns of Jerez, Sanlucar and El Puerto will all be taking part, matching typical Sherries with traditional tapas. A similar event took place in Sevilla last year with enormous success. Consumers will be asked to vote for the best.

Classic beef with Oloroso (Imagen +Jerez)

This year’s Feria de la Manzanilla has a poster. Jose Antonio Casado Ahumada is the artist whose poster was presented by the mayor of Sanlucar at the bodegas of Elias Gonzalez Pinto along with this year’s speech.

(Foto Ayto. Sanlucar)

18.4.14 Feria de la Manzanilla

Sanlucar’s Feria de la Manzanilla starts soon, so get booking!  It runs from the 27^th May till the 1^st June. Officially a five day event, it does tend to overrun as people let their hair down. Colour, crowds, music, bullfights, horses, food and…Manzanilla – it is a magical combination. It starts when the lights at the fairground are switched on and ends with a firework display.  The 27^th is actually Manzanilla Day, but this last till 26^th June. That’s the kind of Manzanilla Day I like!

3 girls, 1 rebujito and 2 fans

24.5.13 Feria de la Manzanilla; Sanlucar and World Sherry Day; Jerez Carousel

Preparations for the Feria de la Manzanilla in Sanlucar are nearing completion. The fair starts on Tuesday evening at the Calzada de la Duquesa. There will be illuminated porticos in th Bajo de Guia and Las Piletas, avenues which lead to the fairground. Tuesday morning will see the inspection of all installations by the fire brigade and public health. Special bus services are also organised.

The Councillor for Tourism in Sanlucar, Antonio Reyes, has announced the town’s plans for the celebration of World Sherry Day. Over the next month, many bodegas will host doors open days, tastings and visits. Reyes said that really, Sanlucar has reason to celebrate 365 days a year, given the “natural and permanent theme park of wine and gastronomy” which attracts ever growing numbers of visitors. The town tourism department will organise vineyard visits, historical tours, visits to the Wine Interpretation Centre, all sorts of guided visits, even activities on the Guadalquivir, the common thread of all of which, is Manzanilla. Manzanilla Day is the 26^th June. More information at www.sanlucardebarrameda.es

The vintage carousel, long a summer attraction in the Plaza Arenal in Jerez will open from tomorrow till the middle of November. For the first day, a kilo of food will be donated to Caritas for every ride taken. The food will go to the Salvador dining room, which provides food for the most needy.

6.5.13 Poster for Feria de la Manzanilla; Spectacular Feria del Caballo

This year’s Feria de la Manzanilla has its poster. It was unveiled last Thursday in the bodegas Hidalgo La Gitana by the mayoress of Sanlucar, Irene Garcia. It is the work of Jose Manuel Velazquez Ibanez, and is an allegory of Sanlucar and its buildings and vineyards in the form of a woman.

Imagen WebSanlucar

Meanwhile over in Jerez, the Feria del Caballo has begun in spectacular fashion. No sooner had the motorcyclists gone (after a very successful weekend) than the Feria broke out. 

Imagen MasJerez

Instead of thousands of motorcycles, the town is now thronging with thousands of horses. Needless to say, the local refreshment will be enjoyed to the full!

24.4.13 Help for Small Bodegas; Feria de la Manzanilla

Small bodegas have been given a helping hand by the Junta to sell their wines on the open market. The minimum stock holding requirement has been reduced from 500 to 50 butts by The Agriculture Ministry of the Junta de Andalucia. The proposal, by Fedejerez (the bodegas association) was approved at a plenary meeting of the Consejo Regulador, and the modified Reglamento (regulations governing Sherry production) will be published in the Junta’s official Buletin in good time for the deadline of 29^th May stipulated by Brussels.

Leaving the 500 butt minimum in place would have meant many small bodegas and almacenistas would have been unable to market their wines, some of which are fantastic. According to Sr Planas of the Junta, the industry has the Junta’s full support and it will help Sherry where it can to adjust to the new market realities. “I am convinced that if we all do our bit we have a future”, he said.

The Feria de la Manzanilla 2013 will take place in Sanlucar between the 28^th May and the 2^nd of June. The lights will be switched on on Tuesday 28^th and the event will close with a fireworks display on the Sunday night. It takes place in the recinto ferial (fairground) in the Calzada Duquesa Isabel, which will be decorated in traditional festive manner, where during the feria there will be bullfights, flamenco, dancing competitions, eating and drinking – Manzanilla, of course, and much more.