Jerez de la Frontera

Jerez is another city whose name is (literally) synonymous with sherry, jerez being the Spanish word for the fortified wine produced in and around the city.

Jerez has been a center of winemaking since the age of the Phoenicians, but it was the Moors who introduced the process of distillation that is key to developing sherry. Later, it would be the British who would dominate the city’s sherry industry, with many of the city’s bodegas founded by families from Britain, which in turn was the largest importer of the beverage. Jerez’s most famous bodega is González Byass, founded by a Spanish winemaker and his English agent; the bodega produces the well-known fino brand Tío Pepe and makes for a fascinating visit. It is located in the heart of the city’s lively historic center, between the 17th-century Catedral del Salvador and the Moorish Alcázar.

Jerez is also highly regarded for its horses, particularly the caballo cartujano, a strain of the Andalusian breed raised by monks of the Carthusian Order since the 15th century. The city is home to the Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre, one of the world’s premier classical riding academies. In addition to its work training both riders and horses in the traditions of Spanish Baroque horsemanship, the school also holds performances of a sort of ‘equestrian ballet,’ where the horses quite literally dance before your eyes to traditional Spanish music, much to the delight of the audience. I highly recommend planning your trip around one of the shows, which are held on the school’s beautiful campus not far from the city center.

Stop for lunch at Bar & Restaurante Albores, located on a lively street in the historic center, not far from the Plaza del Arenal.