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Bucket list experience:

Last updated: 10 November, 2022
Expert travel writer: Dana Facaros

Jerez de la Frontera is synonymous with sherry (the very word is an Anglicization of Xeres or Jerez), and according to DOP regulations it can only be made in the ‘Sherry triangle’ – Jerez, Sanlucar de Barrameda and El Puerto de Santa Maria.

Made with white Palomino grapes, the wine is then fortified to various degrees, from pale dry Fino and Manzanilla to Oloroso and the very sweet, very alcoholic (up to 22%) Pedro Ximenez.

Many of the bodegas (wine cellars) have a British connection, a love affair that began in 1587 when Sir Francis Drake brought back 2,900 barrels of sherry after destroying the Spanish navy in Cadiz. The tours, some including serious tastings, food and even art, are fascinating; the grandest bodegas are breath-taking wine cathedrals.

While you’re there

After a bodega tour, linger in Jerez to sip more sherry-like a local in its traditional, often quirky tabancos – wine shops combined with tapas bars.

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Price: Free
Minimum age: 18
Age suitable: 18+
When: All year around

Getting there & doing it

With its many downtown bodegas, Jerez  is perhaps the only wine region you can visit without a car – but’s also a beautiful area to explore behind the wheel. Get inspired by downloading the free Big Book of Sherry Wines and check out the sherry wine road website crammed with useful practical information on visiting the bodegas outside of Jerez, along with restaurants, museums, and a remarkable range of experiences you can book along the way. If you don’t want to drive, Toma and Coe offer 4-day tours of the Sherry Triangle.

When to do it

The bodegas are open all year roundseven days a week, although April and May are ideal, when it’s not too hot, the vines are in full leaf and you can often combine a visit with a fiesta. Late summer, when temperatures have dipped and the vines are laden with grapes is beautiful too; the vineyards will be busy but visitors are welcome, and you can combine a visit to the beach.

Looking through an arch down a row of columns
Experience

Bodega Barbadillo

Cadiz, Andalusia, Spain

Sanlucar de Barrameda is renowned for its Manzanillas, and Barbadillo, founded in 1821, makes one of the best; visits to their cathedral-like bodega includes a Manzanilla Museum. They also do optional self-guided visits and tastings.

Best for ages: 18+ | Free

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Exterior of Osborne Bodega, a white low rise building with a bull statue in the foreground, El Puerto de Santa Maria
Experience

Bodega Osborne

Puerto de Santa Maria, Andalusia, Spain

In Puerto de Santa Maria, book morning tours in English and learn about the sherry and their famous hilltop Osborne black bull silhouettes, so striking they’ve become a symbol of Spain itself.

Best for ages: 18+ | Free

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Close up of oak barrels containing sherry
Experience

Bodegas Tradicion

Jerez del Fontera, Andalusia, Spain

One of the oldest bodegas, from 1650, and supplier to the British Royal family in the 18th-century, where the tour includes one of Andalusia’s top private art galleries, with works by Goya, Velazquez, El Greco and Zurbaran.

Best for ages: 18+ | Free

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Sherry wine in oak barrels
Experience

Diez Merito

Jerez de la Frontera, Andalusia, Spain

In the centre of Jerez, a bodega in beautiful vaults dating back to 1760; they also do sherry cooking and vineyard tours, and special tastings of VORS (Very Old Rare Sherry).

Best for ages: 18+ | £10

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Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Sherry and Tapas Wine Route in Vejer de la Frontera

Sherry and Tapas Wine Route in Vejer de la Frontera

Cádiz

Carlos is an expert and passionate about local cuisine and wine, as evidenced by his Wine Certification, WSET (Level 2). He will explain an...

€71 | Rating 5 / 5 [8 ratings]

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Cadiz and Jerez Sherry Tasting Day Trip

Cadiz and Jerez Sherry Tasting Day Trip

Seville

Explore Cadiz, the oldest city in Europe, savor first quality sherry in Jerez on a comfortable day trip from Seville. Immerse yourself in th...

€279 | Rating 5 / 5 [7 ratings]

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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

Andalusia

Andalusia, Spain

A big dazzling region, packed with fascinating cities, beautiful landscapes and beaches, colourful fiestas and oodles of sunshine.

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Malaga

Andalusia, Spain

A big, vibrant city with a fascinating old centre, lively contemporary art, sandy beaches, great restaurants and buzzy nightlife.

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Seville

Andalusia, Spain

Extravagant and sensuous, Spain’s fourth city entices with brilliant monuments, gardens, tapas bars, flamenco shows and full-on nightlife.

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Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first

Jerez’s May Horse Fair

Jerez del Frontera, Andalusia, Spain

A big, week-long fiesta, featuring beautiful horses, traditional costumes, music and flamenco – and sherry.

Best for ages: 4+ | Free | 1 week

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