10.9.15 It's All Happening in Jerez!

De Copa en Copa starts today at 20.30 in the Claustros de Santo Domingo in Jerez and runs till Saturday. It is a wonderful opportunity to taste a huge range of Sherries as no fewer than 16 bodegas are taking part. They are Diez Mérito,  Estévez, Delgado Zuleta, Grant, Gutiérrez Colosía, Wiiliams & Humbert, Garvey, Coop Las Angustias, César Florido, Harveys, Faustino González, González Byass, Barón, Álvaro Domecq, Sánchez Romate and Dios Baco. Entry is free but there are various tasting tickets at various very reasonable prices.

Los Claustros de Santo Domingo

Also starting today and running till Saturday is the II Feria ConVinoJerez featuring cocktails based on Sherry. This is in the Plaza Canterbury and runs from 20.00 till late with drinks priced at €2.50. There will be live music, some bodegas will have stands, and an exhibition of photographs of winemaking by Mariano Cano. Tonight it is the turn of Williams & Humbert to hold the Cata Magistral at the Alcázar which will be led by their oenologist Paola Medina.

If that were not enough, there are visits organised to the La Mezquita bodega, Bodegas Tradición and Cortijo de la Jara. Then there are guided cycle tours of the historic centre of Jerez or all-terrain vehicle tours of the countryside, the Ruta de los Tabancos de Jerez y la Vendimia, and a tour of the traditional bodegas Cayetano del Pino.

13.8.15 New Ruta Website; Vintage Latest; Ruta Tabancos; World Venencia Record

The new Ruta del Vino y Brandy Marco de Jerez website is up and running. It is very impressive and using this site you can plan an amazing number of interesting escapades in Sherry country, and even book them. Every aspect of the area has been considered, from wildlife to cuisine, from horses to bodegas, from art to golf, from tastings to Flamenco. If you have ever considered visiting this lovely and fascinating part of the world, it has never been easier or more fun. The site is in Spanish, English and German. All you need to do is type www.rutadeljerezybrandy.es into your browser and let it happen! 

The trade and the Consejo are still optimistic about the quality of the forthcoming harvest despite intense heatwaves and more forecast for next week. The hotter it is, the smaller the crop, yet so far it has not been dramatically reduced and is likely to be between 67 and 70 million kilos, unless the dreaded Levante wind appears which will certainly reduce the crop. The harvest commencement date looks like being the 20^th August and everyone has their fingers crossed.

Another great idea is the Ruta de los Tabancos. You can pick up a leaflet at the Consejo or at the tourist office. Tabancos are the lovely old traditional bars with barrels of Sherry and tapas, and sometimes Flamenco. The leaflet gives a picture of each with details of what they offer, where they are and opening hours. These places have a wonderful atmosphere.

In Tokyo recently the world record for the highest number of people using a venencia at the same time was broken. It happened on the rooftop of a big store in Tokyo, Mitsukoshi de Nihonbashi, and 72 venenciadores recognised by the Consejo took part. Up till now the record has been held by 61 Andalusian venenciadores. All the participants were awarded diplomas. The event was organised by the Consejo and sponsored by González Byass, Barón, Hidalgo La Gitana and La Guita.