The sommelier's favorite sherry

From November 6th to 12th it's Sherry Wine Week and Le Club des Vins is of course happy to participate. We already published a blog about it Valdespino , we combined our favorite sweet sherry with desserts We asked sommeliers and other seasoned wine enthusiasts for their favorite sherry. And that resulted in this laundry list of tips.

From light to heavy, the favorite sherry of the sommelier and other wine professionals.

Karel de Graaf: Delgado Zuleta Manzanilla 'La Goya'

My favorite sherry is Manzanilla 'La Goya' from Bodegas Delgado Zuleta in Sanlúcar de Barrameda. It's a very dry, minerally wine with a lovely floral aroma and a beautiful structure, with a complex, long finish.

Karel de Graaf specializes in Burgundy and Sherry. Delgado Zuleta Manzanilla 'La Goya' is available at Wine merchant de Logie for 14.50 euros.

Aukje Wouters: González Byass Tío Pepe Fino and Rama:

A stunningly dry fino-style sherry that's perfect for an aperitif. Enjoy it ice cold with some Spanish Iberico Bellota ham, smoked salted almonds, and olives. Yes please! I'm coming!

Aukje Wouters is a sommelier at De Klepel. Tío Pepe Fino and Rama is available at Grandcruwijnen.nl for 14.95 euros.

Jan Jaap Altenburg: Sopla Poniente Manzanilla Pasada Santa Maria de la O Sacristía 2022

I absolutely love the crisp, dryness of manzanilla: the salty, elegant flavor. It tastes a little different than a fino because of its proximity to the sea. Many people don't (yet) appreciate this flavor, but you can wake me up in the middle of the night for it. This is everything you need on a scorching hot day or just the pick-me-up on a cool winter's day. Either way, with manzanilla, you always score in my opinion.

Jan Jaap Altenburg is co-owner and sommelier at Vindict Wine Bar. Sopla Poniente is available at The Suenos for 29.95 euros.

Randy Builder: Equipo Navazos Bota 103, Manzanilla Pasada

Choosing was incredibly difficult. It's like having to choose your favorite among your children—how can that be? Ultimately, I chose the sherry that has most recently touched me—indeed, moved me. Equipo Navazos Bota 103, Manzanilla Pasada, produced only in magnums (only 900!). Average age around 13 years, it has vigor, or strength, and is so complex, yet at the same time, such a fine balance of freshness. Elegant oxidation, so easy to drink… and also so versatile with its rich flavors at the table. Unique, emotionally satisfying.

Randy Bouwer is a sommelier at restaurant Vigor (and winner of the national Copa Jerez ). Equipo Navazos Bota 103, Manzanilla Pasada is available at Grandcruwijnen.nl for 89.95 euros (magnum).

Vera Krijnen: Bodegas Poniente Fino Saca 1/21, El Aljibe (pago de Añina)

A single-vineyard fino made organically and traditionally, aged for approximately eight years. An impressive age for Alberto Orte's relatively new project. And you can taste that age: salted almonds, dried thyme, and toasted brioche. Salty and dry. Layered, refined, and long. A glass I'd love to be surprised by.

Vera Krijnen is a sommelier at Zoldering. Bodegas Poniente Fino Saca 1/21 is served by the glass at Attic .

Sounds delicious, but no idea what fino, manzanilla, amontillado mean? Check this page >

Magda van der Rijst: Valdespino Fino Inocente

Valdespino Fino is always chilled. One sip is so much wine. Fresh, refined, powerful, long-lasting, captivating, intelligent, uplifting, terroir-inspired, exciting, crafted, relaxing, and also incredibly delicious.

By Magda van der Rijst, wine writer, lecturer, and jury member of the Dutch Copa Jerez. Valdespino Fino Inocente is available at bovino.nl for 20.95 euros.

Heleen Boom: Hidalgo La Panesa

My favorite sherry is Hidalgo's La Panesa Fino. During the Copa Jerez, I visited this bodega on the last morning. Mr. Hidalgo gave us a tour and let us sample several sherries from the criaderas. La Panesa Fino is a remarkably long-matured sherry from a 1961 cask with an impressive flavor. A nose full of nuts and a very complex salty flavor that lingers endlessly. For me, this sherry was a revelation: so beautifully complex.

By Heleen Boom, owner and sommelier of Restaurant Bouwkunde and jury chair of the Dutch Copa Jerez. Difficult to find in the Netherlands, but occasionally available at The Secret Sherry Society .

Vladimir Sarkisyan: Luis Perez La Barajuela Fino 2016

A complex style of sherry not fortified with wine alcohol. This is primarily due to the heat of the El Corregidor vineyard. We pair this sherry with a dish featuring langoustine, almonds, grapes, and Ajo Blanco dressing. The sherry has a distinctive floral (iodine) aroma on the nose, and the flavors reveal ripe stone fruit, nuts, saltiness, and minerality. It perfectly balances the sweetness of the langoustine, the fresh acidity and fruit of the grapes, the nutty flavor of the almonds, and the intense flavor of the Ajo Blanco.

By master sommelier Almar Wessels and sommelier Vladimir Sarkisyan of De Heeren van Harinxma. Luis Perez La Barajuela is available at Anfors for 86.95 euros.

Afterwards the Fisherman: Urium Amontillado

Of course, I can't resist sharing a sherry myself. You could really put my name to anything, because I'm crazy about all the sherries I've mentioned. Since we don't have an amontillado on the list yet, I'll share one of my favorites with you. It's the amontillado from Bodegas Urium, one of the smallest (and youngest) bodegas in Jerez. A top-notch amontillado with intense aromas of raisins, vanilla, coffee, caramel sea salt, and toasted walnuts. I've written about the Palo Cortado before – also a party !

By Nadien de Visser, founder of Le Club des Vins. Urium Amontillado is available at Xpertvinum for 32.20 euros.

Job Seuren: Callejuela El Cerro Oloroso

Sherry beyond the category, Sherry fuera categoría (is that an expression?). Once received in a glass by the winners of the Copa Jerez: Goos and Leon. At first I thought it was some obscure dry muscatel, so fruity and aromatic. Enormous intensity and complexity, rich yet fresh and airy, and above all, incredibly delicious. It's amazing that a rich oloroso could be so fresh, especially now that it's about 20 years old. A truly magnificent wine.

Job Seuren is co-owner and sommelier at Zoldering. Callejuela El Cerro Oloroso is available at Xpertvinum for 42.20 for half a bottle (sometimes also at Anfors available).

Cas Kratz: Rey Fernando de Castilla Oloroso Antique

This sherry is truly fantastic at this time of year, especially when paired with porcini mushrooms, venison, hare, truffles, and all the other delicacies autumn has to offer. The extended aging of the sherry truly brings out the complexity of these ingredients. Thanks to the use of individual soleras, a precision is achieved that keeps the wine beautifully balanced.

By Cas Kratz, sommelier at Spectrum in Amsterdam. Rey Fernando de Castilla Oloroso Antique is available at Past support for 34.95 euros.

Adriaan Visser: Tradicion Oloroso VORS 30 years

All in one: power, intense aromas of roasted nuts, and orange jam combined with a tremendously elegant finish. Enjoy!

Adriaan Visser is head sommelier at Harry's. Tradicion Oloroso VORS 30 years is available at Anfors for 75.50 euros.

Zappa Spruit: Rey Fernando De Castilla Palo Cortado Antique

Looking to go a little further for the holidays? Then this Palo Cortado is a real showstopper. Castilla produces two lines of each sherry. The Antique series is made up of individual soleras that are not blended, fined, or filtered. This is a distinctive yet detailed style. Think toasted pecans, maple syrup, porcini mushrooms, and mandarin zest. Intensely gastronomic. Barolo and truffle? Not if we're allowed to serve this sherry!

By Zappa Spruit, sommelier at Bistro Dubac. Rey Fernando De Castilla Palo Cortado Antique is available at Past support for 39.95 euros.

Karel Klosse: Valdespino Isabela Cream

For me, it's incredibly difficult to choose a favorite sherry, not only because we at The Secret Sherry Society represent all the sherry houses, but also because of the diverse styles. Sherry styles vary enormously! From bone-dry to sweet and everything in between. Because of these diverse styles, there's a sherry to enjoy at so many different times; from a warm afternoon at the beach, with a cigar on a late summer evening, to a bleak winter day!

Anyway, I'll choose one that's both fitting for this time of year (Sherry Week / November), and almost always a favorite of many visitors at our events: The "Isabela" Cream Sherry from Valdespino. Valdespino is a house known for letting the terroir speak (for example, they produce a number of single vineyard wines) and the long aging of some styles with great complexity. The cream is semi-sweet; a blend of Oloroso and PX (some find it quite sweet, but when you taste the pure PX, you understand why a cream is called semi-sweet). The glass has a fantastic balance between the warm, sweet notes (with the typical figs, dates, and raisins, but also walnut and a touch of orange) and yet maintains a refreshing drinkability. It's incredibly delicious on the rocks with a slice of orange. Irresistible.

Find the cream too sweet? Or are you looking for more complexity? Then try González Byass's Apóstoles. It's not a completely fair comparison, as the latter is over 30 years old, but it's a delight of flavors that always reminds me why I love sherry so much!

By Karel Klosse, founder of The Secret Sherry Society. Valdespino Cream Sherry is available at The Secret Sherry Society .