4.5.16 Jerez Second Most Visited Wine Route

The Bodegas of the Marco de Jerez attracted no fewer than 449,326 visitors last year according to the 2015 report from ACEVIN, the Spanish Association of Cities of Wine. Last year’s figures for Spain as a whole were positive, showing continued growth with an increase in both visitors (5.59%) and expenditure (15.2%). The average spend in bodega shops was 18.03 euros. These figures include neither hotel accommodation nor expenditure in shops, restaurants and bars which will have increased similarly. The report says that the busiest seasons are spring and autumn, offering scope to improve figures for winter and summer. Given that of the 68 million people visited Spain last year only 2% came for wine tourism, so there certainly is plenty of scope.

29.11.12 CRDO Takes Reins of Rutas del Vino

The association of the Rutas del Vino y del Brandy de Jerez yesterday began a new era with a new board of directors which includes the Consejos Reguladores of both the Sherry and the Brandy, who take on full responsibility for improving facilities and giving more drive to enotourism. An extraordinary meeting adopted the motion unanimously, and Cesar Saldana, director of the CRDO Sherry will preside while the Council’s tourism chief, Antonio Real will be vice-president.

The new set up will re-structure internally and renew its on-line communication strategy,  emphasising the role of the vineyards as a first rate tourist attraction, as a priority. The CRDO website has been revised to achieve more consumer involvement, and the plan is to improve the Rutas del Vino site as well. Better cohesion among the over 100 associated establishments is also an objective. Vineyards as attractions and countryside catering are also to be improved. It should be remembered that the Sherry area is the most popular for enotourism, cycle tourism and horse tourism in Spain.

The Sherry Towns: Jerez de la Frontera

The Jerez area has experienced human habitation since Neolithic times, though little is known of the people. The first settlement is thought to have been the Greek Tartessians somewhere about 3,000 BC. The Phonecians, marine traders from the Eastern Mediterranean settled here around 1,000 BC, bringing with them, it is thought, the grape vine. Later the area was colonised by the Romans who did much for viti-viniculture, popularising Jerez wine as far as Rome itself. After the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, the Vandals arrived in the 5th century, followed shortly by the Visigoths. In AD 711 the Moors swept over from North Africa, remaining in the Jerez area till their defeat at the battle of Jerez in 1231. Alfonso X claimed the area for Castilla in 1264.

The Arab influence, lasting over 500 years was profound. It was a period of learning, science and the arts. They introduced pasas (raisins) and distillation as well as improving viticulture despite their Koranic beliefs. With the discovery of the Americas in 1492, Jerez prospered developing a considerable export trade and establishing Sherry as one of the world's best-known wines. During the XVIII and XIX centuries many now famous bodegas were established, laying the foundations of today's Sherry industry.

Today Jerez is a sizeable city of over 205,000 souls, making it bigger than the provincial capital, Cadiz. Apart from Sherry and its related industries, the economy relies on farming, cattle and horse breeding and tourism. The Rutas del Vino have been very successful, but there are many other attractions. The city boasts an international airport (La Parra); a world class motor racing circuit; a zoo; golf courses. The Royal Andalucian School of Equestrian Art is here as well as the Andalucian Centre of Flamenco. There is an excellent Archaeological Museum, and one of Clocks at the Atalaya.

The delightful timeworn atmosphere of the city centre is steeped in history and commerce. There are Moorish city walls and gates, the Alcazaba (Fortress), San Salvador Cathedral, the Renaissance Town Hall, various bourgeois palaces, and just outside town is the XVI C Cartuja. The medieval old quarter is full of tabancos (Sherry bars), old shops, and many of the older bodegas. There is a fascinating 1880s market, el Mercado Central de Abastos (known locally as la Plaza) and lots of lovely squares, such as the Plaza del Arenal with its statue of Miguel Primo de Rivera, and you must see the Teatro Villamarta, Spains first concrete building, almost Art Deco in Style.

Some famous people have come from Jerez:

Miguel Primo de Rivera, Spain's first Dictator
Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, an early explorer in the Americas
Manuel Alejandro, a well-known songwriter
And various flamencos: Guitarist Gerardo Nunez, and the singers El Terremoto, Jose Merce, La Paquera
                                                                                                  Lola Flores, Rocio Jurado (actually from
                                                                                                  nearby Chipiona)

For good information: www.turismojerez.com or the local council: www.jerez.es

That includes the many Fiestas, some of which are listed below:

Carnaval - February
Pasarela Flamenca - February
Festival de Jerez - Feb-March
Semana Santa - Easter
Feria del Caballo - May
Fiesta de la Vendimia - September
Dia Europeo de Enoturismo - November

News from Jerez 23.6.12

Department of Employment approval appears to be imminent for the agreement between the workforce and the administrators of Bodegas Valdivia to terminate 10 out of 12 employment contracts. According to sources  who know, this is a likely prelude to liquidation, a fate also faced by Garvey's 2 main bodegas: Complejo Bodeguero Bellavista and Zoilo Ruiz Mateos, bought from Nueva Rumasa by Back in Business. The workforce have reluctantly agreed mainly because they have faith that Valdivia will be bought by another firm. Three are said to be interested, including an american multinational who would retain the workers.

Moving on. According to the latest report from Rutas del Vino de Espana (Spanish touristic wine routes) which covers 2011, the Jerez area is the most visited with a total of 480,767 visitors. The Rutas del Vino comprise 21 routes and 546 bodegas, and are to be thoroughly recommended.