News from Jerez 8.9.12

The super tastings at the Alcazar have begun

The first event in the series took place last night with a menu proposed by Alta Cazuela – a catering firm run by two local chefs - and the wines of Grupo Estevez. Maribel Estevez, enologist of the bodega, put forward Fino Inocente, Amontillado Tio Diego, Oloroso Ermitano, Royal Cream and Moscatel Promesa to match pickled fish, partridge pate with caramelised onion, Barbate tuna steak and mixed mushroom risotto, among other dishes.

Saturday’s event features the wines of Williams and Humbert matched with a different menu from Alta Cazuela. Antonio Fernandez Vasquez Maeso, enologist at the bodega, will lead the tasting. He is offering Fino Don Zoilo, Amontillado Coleccion 12 Anos, Oloroso Coleccion 12 Anos, Canasta Cream and PX Don Zoilo 12 Anos.

Meanwhile at the bullring:

The XLV edition of the Fiesta de la Buleria kicks off tonight. This is an absolute must for Flamenco fans, the Buleria is indigenous to Jerez, and its greatest exponents are here. Some great names will be performing such as Jesus Mendez - said by some to have inherited the greatness of La Paquera  (a legendary singer who died some time ago); Juan Moneo “El Torta”and Tomasa Guerrero “La Macanita” among others. The leading dancer will be Mercedes Ruiz and the guitarists will be Ismael Heredia and Isaac Moreno. These are all flamenco stars from Jerez but are famous far beyond.

Tomasa "La Macanita"

The Cooperative Virgen de la Caridad regains control from Ruiz Mateos

The Sanlucar Cooperative has regained ownership of all the shares of Bodegas CAYDSA which it sold to Nueva Rumasa in 2009 for 12 million euros – of which only 800,000 was ever paid - and which was renamed Bodegas Teresa Rivero. After “laborious and complex negotiations”, mainly with the administrators, the Coop, which has 700 members, is now awaiting the rubber stamp from the courts which should come through “in a few days”.

News from Jerez 7.9.12

Consejo asks for promotional support from Department of Agriculture

A meeting was held yesterday between the directorof the Consejo, Cesar Saldana, the Presidents of the Consejos of Sherry and Jerez Brandy, Beltran Domecq and Evariste Babe and the provincial delegate for agriculture, Federico Fernandez.

Sr Fernandez said that the meeting was very positive and that Sherry was a beacon for Andalucia, a sign of identity to the eyes of the world. He also has a calendar of meetings with the various interests in the Sherry sector to address any worries. “The future of the sector is for everyone to work together and for Agriculture to facilitate this and help with its promotion which is essential, and we will not spare any effort”, he said.

Sainsbury's Manzanilla Superior 15%

Appearance
Pale golden straw, legs.
Nose
Quite light, traces Marmite, bread, olive brine, quite yeasty but not very salty or particularly zippy.
Palate
Similar, with that touch of Marmite spread thinly on bread, brine quite tangy, clean with a rather savoury finish.
Comments
The wine is made by Emilio Lustau, and according to the back label is at least 4 years old. I was a little surprised to note that it had won an IWSC (International Wine & Spirit Competition) gold as best in class in 2010.
Price
About £6,99

News from Jerez 6.9.12

Fire at a cooperage in Jerez

Fire broke out yesterday in the 600 m2 roof of the Tevasa cooperage, a well-known supplier of barrels to the Scotch Whisky trade. It is thought to have been caused by a spark, and happened at about 6.00 when the 57 men were winding down from their day’s work. They managed to control the flames with their own hoses and cut off the electricity supply. The fire brigade hosed the place down to avoid any risk of the fire restarting, and unfortunately some of the machinery got wet, holding up work till it can be dried out. The civil Guard were also in attendance.

The Harvest

The coastal areas of the Sherry zone have now started picking. In Chiclana and Sanlucar thecrop is coming in to the presses albeit at a slightly lower must weight than the vineyards of the interior. In Trebujena the harvest is finished. In all the picking is on the home straight.

La Catedra del Vino: Why Sherry is good for you

Carmelo Garcia Barroso, director of Andalucian Centre of viti-vinicultural Investigation and chair of Analytical Chemistry at UCA (Cadiz University) was the first speaker at the event held at the Consejo’s own bodega, San Gines. He talked about the many benefits offered by Sherry.

 It prevents illness, preserves and lengthens life, it can even be eaten, it can be used in skin care and in cooking. It is effective against colds and flu – the old home remedy of a glass of sweet Sherry with an egg yolk in it. He quoted Alexander Fleming who said “If penicillin cures disease, then Sherry can surely waken the dead”.

Sherry contains nutrients such as amino acids, calories, vitamins. For that reason in the past, Spanish ships were provisioned with it. Sherry can prevent cardiovascular problems and augment good cholesterol. Its polyphenols act as antioxidants blocking dangerous free radicals. It fights degenerative diseases such as cancer, osteoarthritis, dementia and diabetes.

And it doesn’t even need to be drunk; it is as wonderful in a dish as out of it, it enhances flavours. If the alcohol and water are removed, the resulting essence can be made into delicious sweets, and chocolate with sweet Sherry is sublime. Even the leftovers from winemaking have valuable uses; jam or biscuits are made with pressings, and cosmetics and gels too.

What more can one say?!!

Sherry News 5.9.12

The Consejo has initiated the 5^th edition of the International Food and Wine Pairing Competition “The Sherry Cup”. Teams from seven countries (the biggest Sherry markets) are competing to represent their country for the cup which will be awarded at the final next year in Jerez.

To compete, a team need only comprise the chef and sommelier of the same restaurant who must propose a menu of two dishes and a dessert to be accompanied by wines from Jerez. A panel of experts will choose 3 teams who will have to cook the dishes and explain their menus to the panel, which consists of famous names in the world of Spanish gastronomy, at the national final to be held in Madrid in November. The winning team will compete in Jerez at the international final in 2013.

The Sherry Cup is a food and wine pairing competition which is held every two years. It is a prestigious affair, with a high level of judges and of participants and their ideas.

After a gap of 27 years The Consejo and the Jerez Town Council have revived as an adjunct to the Fiesta de la Vendimia the “Wine Conference”. The idea began in the 1950s and consisted of a multi-disciplinarian vision of Sherry through the mouths of eminent people. This year’s theme will be “The Goodness of Sherry” and begins at the Consejo’s base at the bodega San Gines tonight at 20.30. The conference had lapsed since 1985 through a combination of lack of municipal interest and of suitable personalities. 

News from Jerez 4.9.12

Three items today:

Grupo Etevez has announced the completion of its 2012 harvest. Production is down on last year by about 20%, but the company, being the largest vineyard owner in the area, has still picked one sixth of the entire Jerez harvest.

The quality of grapes harvested is good, however, with good acidity and a Beaume reading of around 12 degrees. But the grapes are small due mainly to the drought, with rainfall being just under half the usual 700 l/m2. The company used pickers during the mornings and machines during the night in order to bring in the harvest in the best possible condition.

Jose Maria Ruiz Mateos insisted yesterday that the man who bought Nueva Rumasa from him, Angel de Cabo, give it back to him because he has not, in almost a year, fulfilled his promise to pay back shareholders.

Ruiz Mateos has also been trying to avoid appearing in a court case against him in Mallorca. After being detained in Madrid, flown to Palma and physically taken to court at the behest of the judge, he exercised his right not to declare in a case in which he is accused of fraud in connection with the purchase of a hotel in Mallorca. He has also accused the judge at the court in Palma of being  ”A demon, a criminal. She has no heart or feelings. She is a bug proud and arrogant.”  This may not help his case…

Jerez Town Council has launched an initiative to promote and improve the ambience of the Fiesta de la Vendimia to be held between the 11^th and 16^th of this month. Officials met with the leader of local businesses and have come up with 2 ideas. One is to promote local wines: a copa of Sherry and a tapa for 2.50 euros, and the other to promote Flamenco. 18 bars will be involved. Complementary to this will be the Rutas Flamenco y Vino. Details can be had from discoverjerez.com. Looks wonderful! Meanwhile Fedejerez (the body which represents the bodegas) has agreed with the Consejo to display old Fiesta de la Vendimia posters from 1948 to 1985 in shop windows throughout the town centre. There will also be an exhibition of photographs about the vendimia by members of the Asociacion Fotografica San Dionisio at the Alcazar from tomorrow till the end of the month.

News from Jerez 1.9.12

A small part of the grapes harvested by Gonzalez Byass are destined for the Tio Pepe Kosher solera. On Thursday a group of rabbis visited to supervise the production of the 22,000 litres of must. Back in 1998 the bodega bottled the first kosher Tio Pepe. To be kosher, the raw material must be inspected, and all production processes and handling supervised by a rabbi. The wine will be labelled as usual but will bear the symbols of the Jewish certification authority and a clear reference in Hebrew to its method of production.