13.12.16 Great Idea from Sherry Boutique

One of the great joys of Sherry is tasting the wine bottled at different stages of development and observe how fascinatingly and beautifully it matures, gaining more intensity and complexity with the passage of time, without ever losing its identity. Well, Helen and Stuart of http://sherryboutique.com/ have come up with a brilliant way to do this with two special vertical tasting packs of wine from Viña Callejuela in Sanlúcar. The first consists of three bottles; Manzanilla Fina at around 3 years old, Manzanilla Madura at around seven years and Manzanilla Pasada Blanquito at around 10 years old. The second is the same but with the addition of the Amontillado La Casilla at around 20 years old. These packs will give you a rare and delicious opportunity to watch Sherry evolve.

2.12.16 Manzanilla Raises Funds for Mentally Handicapped; Festive Sherry

José and Francisco Blanco of Viña Callejuela have bottled a specially labelled Manzanilla en rama to help raise funds for Afanas, a local non-profit organisation dedicated to helping the mentally handicapped. Afanas has day centres which take some of the strain off families, but this worthy cause is always in need of financial support. The Manzanilla is available now in Sanlúcar.

Callejuela/Afanas bottles (foto:andaluciainformacion)

Naturally you will be looking for exquisite Sherry from small artisan bodegas for Christmas, so if you’re in the UK you are in luck! Check out http://sherryboutique.com/. Based near Edinburgh, Helen and Stuart have superb wines from Bodegas Urium, Faustino González, Vina Callejuela and the rare Palo Cortado from Arfe. Not only that, but they are offering gourmet goodies with any purchase including recipes for dishes to match each wine. The wines are available online and from selected bars, restaurants and shops, but hurry!