Six excellent fine wines and manzanillas on the branch to enjoy at the fairs

April is the month of the celebration of Fino and Manzanilla, when consumption skyrockets in the heat of the fairs. Starting with the emblematic Seville Fair (from April 14 to 20), with more than a thousand booths and the expectation of receiving more than two million visitors. It is the great moment of Fino and Manzanilla, as evidenced by the 12 million half bottles consumed in previous years. However, Andalusian fairs are not limited to Seville, but extend to various Spanish towns. Like the Horse Fair in Jerez de la Frontera (from May 4 to 11), one of the most important, designed in the style of the one in Seville but with a public nature; or the Barcelona Fair (from April 26 to May 5) in the Parc del Fòrum, organized by the Federation of Andalusian Cultural Entities in Catalonia (FECAC), which this year celebrates its 52nd anniversary.

Likewise, cities like Catral (April 19 to 21) and Torrevieja (May 9 to 12), in Alicante, also have their own celebrations; in Valencia (from April 26 to May 5) they have their peculiar Andalusian fair installed in the Turia Garden, and organized by the Federation of Andalusian Cultural Entities of the Valencian Community, in collaboration with the Valencia City Council. Even Madrid (from April 17 to 28) has its own April fair to be held at the Mercado de Prosperidad with a live concert by David de Paloma. These events are just some examples of how during this month fairs, both public and private, flourish throughout the country, to the rhythm of sevillanas and bulerías, always accompanied by a glass of Fino or Manzanilla.

It is a good opportunity to enjoy these oenological wonders, biological aging and the magic of the soleras and criaderas, the first level of greatness in the unique world of fortified wines from Marco de Jerez and the Córdoba lands of Montilla and Moriles. And the best way to enjoy Finos and Manzanillas is, without a doubt, to taste them raw, those that go on the market without filtering or stabilizing, even if they lose some of the luminous transparency of their golden yellow and straw gold tones. Those who have had the opportunity to visit a winery where they are made and have participated in the ritual of the foreman serving the wine with the masterstroke of its venencia, know well what I am talking about. But this experience goes beyond simple juggling: it allows the fines and manzanillas to show all their splendor, with a masterful symphony of delicately sharp, dry and creamy chords, where the white fruit and the dried fruit dance to the slow and serene rhythm of the old American oak boot. This selection of the best offers a wide range of areas and prices, ensuring the best enjoyment during the fairs.

UNCLE PEPE TWO PALMAS

Gonzalez Byass

In 1884, González Byass created Tío Pepe, the first and most consumed fine wine. In 2010, with the help of the winemaker Antonio Flores, he created the Olympus of fine wines with his palms (one, two, three and four), all on the branch, with annual bags of old soleras, in this case from 2023. Dos Palmas preserves the character of a fine wine that Tres and Cuatro Palmas are losing. Pungent and extremely complex aromatic filigree of aromas evolved from dried flowers in a subtle landscape of biological aging with almond hints. Soft in the mouth, with an incisive flavor and elegant bitter touch with a saline final aftertaste.

·Phone:

956 357 000

·DO:

Jerez

·Type:

Fino, 15.5%

·Strains:

Palomino Fino

·Price:

34.80 euros (50 cl.)

·Score:

9.8+/10

GOYA XL CHAMOMILE IN BRANCH

Delgado Zuleta

The Delgado Zuleta winery, in Sanlúcar, stands out for its innovative approach and its courage in presenting and labeling its wines, all without giving up a deep-rooted tradition that spans more than two centuries. An example is their Goya XL en rama from an exclusive solera, with an average aging of 10-12 years. Pungent and slightly amontillado aroma, with nuances of baked yeast, toasted nuts, citrus peel. The palate highlights its intensity and breadth, the dry and creamy palate, the suggestive marine sensations finished off by an elegant bitter final touch.

·Phone:

956 360 543

·DO:

Manzanilla-Sanlúcar de Barrameda

·Type:

rested manzanilla, 15%

·Strains:

palomino fine

·Price:

23 euros (50 cl.)

·Score:

9.6/10

GREAT FINE BOATMAN IN RAMA

Perez Barquero

With grapes grown in the heart of the Sierra de Montilla and part of Moriles Altos, where limestone lands called ruedos abound, and the Pedro Ximénez varietal reaches its greatest splendor and value, Juan Márquez, technical director of Pérez Barquero, produces this fine grape with 10 years of aging in American oak casks through the criaderas and soleras system. This autumn bag has an incisive and fresh aroma, with notes of organic aging with hints of brioche, and an almond touch. Tasty, glyceric and dry, it has a long bitter aftertaste with saline hints.

·Phone:

957 650 500

·DO:

Montilla-Moriles

·Type:

chamomile, 15%

·Strains:

Pedro Ximénez

·Price:

17.50 euros (50 cl.)

·Score:

9.5/10

FINE FOREMAN

Alvear

The Alvear winery, with almost three centuries of history, not only produces excellent sweet wines, but also high-level fortified wines. Among them Fino Capataz stands out. Its 12 years of biological aging and prolonged maturation process in the Bodega de la Casa solera give a profile close to Amontillado. Incisive and complex, with aromas of sourdough, nuts (raw almond), and notes of baked apple. Glyceric, fresh and tasty, with a light palate, with a long finish and bitter tones, which slowly evolve towards saline, leaving a memorable persistence.

·Phone:

957 664 190

·DO:

Montilla-Moriles

·Type:

fine paste, 15%

·Strains:

Pedro Ximénez

·Price:

21.45 euros (750 cl.)

·Score:

9.4+/10

LA GUITA CHAMOMILE IN BRANCH

Jose Estevez

Popular and recognized chamomile on the branch made from grapes from one of the best coastal vineyards in Sanlúcar, Pago Miraflores, from the Hijos de Rainera Pérez Marín winery, today part of the Estévez Group. The wine has been subjected to a long aging of 10 years in specific soleras of aged manzanilla. On the nose it offers a splendid aromatic richness, typical of organic aging, with hints of yeast, the pungent sensuality of aromas of dried fruits (almond), caramel tones, and fresh saline hints. Powerful, incisive, fresh and dry mouth.

·Phone:

956 321 004

·DO:

Manzanilla-Sanlúcar de Barrameda

·Type:

aged manzanilla, 16%

·Strains:

palomino fine

·Price:

11.50 euros (50 cl.)

·Score:

9.4/10

LUSTAU FINO EL PUERTO 3 IN RAMA

Emilio Lustau

The winery that Lustau owns in El Puerto de Santa María benefits from the mild and humid climate that allows the flower veil to last longer. This translates into a more significant impact of biological aging, and an adequate evolution in the American oak soles, where the wine remains for five years. This 2023 release has an incisive aroma, where the notes of bread are enriched by those of ripe fruit and nuts, antique wood, dried grass and marine evocations. Fresh and sharp on the palate, very expressive and smooth, with an elegant bitterness and saline finish.

·Phone:

956 341 597

·DO:

Jerez

·Type:

Fino, 15%

·Strains:

Palomino Fino

·Price:

17.85 euros (50 cl.)

·Score:

9.3/10

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