Jerez

[idj123]

Visiting Jerez for the first time in late March (for a couple of nights). Anyone got any suggestions for hotels, restaurants and bodegas (including sherry tastings ofc)? Anything that is a ‘must do’?

[Alex Bridgeman]

Are you on your own, with your wife or with the family?

[nac]

Have been a few times.
Will give some suggestions when I see you, but definitely need to go to Lustau.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Jerez as a town is a bit of a sad place. The out-of-town shopping centre has ripped the heart out of the city and there are an awful lot of empty shops.

But there are still places to visit.

The nicest place to stay is probably the Tio Pepe hotel on the Gonzalez Byass site - and the food in the hotel restaurant is excellent. You’re also a very short walk from the Alcazar and the cathedral, the two key non-wine places to visit.

(The Tio Pepe gift shop sell a nice pair of branded socks and the tour’s not bad if you upgrade to one of the premium tastings - but don’t ask for a spittoon! I caused no end of kerfuffle when I did.)

Neil’s suggested Lustau. I loved William’s & Humbert.

But I also strongly recommend you spend a day in Sanlúcar de Barrameda. It’s a short taxi ride (or bus if you’re feeling adventurous) but, for me, it’s a much nicer town with lovely beach walks, a bustling market square full of cafes and covered fish market with restaurants around the edges. Good bodega visits are to Barbadillo (top of the hill, great views) and Hidalgo La Gitana (in the heart of the town) - which also has a nice restaurant on site.

There’s also a quirky little church worth a visit - a church which was established and funded by Henry VIII!