Sanlúcar de Barrameda
- Will Gerson
- Mar 30
- 1 min read
Sanlúcar de Barrameda occupies an important place in the history of the Age of Exploration: situated on the Atlantic coast at the mouth of the Guadalquivir river that flows down from Seville, the town’s port served as the point of departure for many of Spain’s explorations of the New World, most notably Columbus’s third voyage to the Americas as well as Magellan’s circumnavigation of the globe.
Today, the town is a popular summer destination known for its cuisine as well as its access to the Parque Nacional de Doñana, a wetland nature preserve located directly across the river.
Sanlúcar was named the 2022 Gastronomic Capital of Spain, but, even more than the food scene, the star of the show here is sherry, especially the Manzanilla variety, similar to dry fino sherry but produced exclusively in the town. Some of the town’s bodegas have been operating for centuries, and you can visit one to learn more about the production process and sample different varieties; I recommend Bodegas Hidalgo La Gitana or Bodegas Barbadillo.
The sherry can be quite strong (it is generally a bit higher in alcohol content than red wine), so you should probably indulge in some food beforehand; I recommend a leisurely lunch on the patio at El Espejo. After filling yourself with food and drink, head downhill to the beaches for a pleasant stroll along the shore. Be sure to admire the tiled facade of the Fábrica de Hielo, an old ice factory that is now a cultural center.
