A visit to the Sherry Triangle had been on my list for so long. Finally, the time had come – early October 2021 – which, by the way, is the perfect time to visit this region weather-wise. Not a cloud in the sky and an average temperature of 25 to 28 degrees Celsius. And the Manzanilla grapes were within easy reach. What more could you ask for?
Below you will find a list of tips in Sanlúcar de Barrameda.
How to get there? It's a little over an hour's drive from the Seville airport .
Restaurants
El Espejo – hip dining
On our first evening, we ate at El Espejo, a small restaurant just outside the old town of Sanlúcar. Fewer fluorescent lights, more plants, and an industrial yet cozy decor. Very nice. The wine list is also excellent, featuring, of course, some great local producers, such as Cota 45 , Muchada-Léclapart and La Callejuela.
El Espajo – Calle Caballeros, 11
Casa Balbino – tortillitas de camarones
If you are in Sanlúcar, then – as it turns out – you really have to tortillitas de camarones Try Casa Balbino. Loosely translated, I would call them flat shrimp fritters. You can relax on the terrace or tortillas Order at the bar. We stand at the bar for fifteen minutes until a local reminds us that you just have to shout loudly. They don't do numbers or "first come, first served" here. Whoever shouts the loudest goes to the next round. Good to know. We order some tortillitas para llevar (to go) and in the meantime, crack open a manzanilla at the bar. Life is good in Sanlúcar.
Casa Balbino, Plaza del Cabildo, 14
Eating with a view of the Guadalquivir
You can also enjoy a delicious lunch by the river in Sanlúcar. A big tip: make a reservation! It gets incredibly busy here. We received a tip, but unfortunately, we couldn't get in. See if you have more luck and make a reservation. Avante Claro . On the beach, classic cuisine, and a great wine list. What more could you ask for?
Jerez de la Frontera is a 15-minute drive from Sanlúcar de Barrameda. We stayed at Tio Pepe 's hotel . It was fantastic (you can safely skip the tourist tour of the bodega).
Great bodegas to visit in Sanlúcar de Barrameda
Cota 45
The name Cota 45 refers to its location at 45 meters above sea level, where—according to founder Ramiro Ibáñez—the best Albariza soils can be found. Ibáñez is part of a new generation of winemakers who are revitalizing the region. He's reviving old traditions, abandoning grape distillation, and making unfortified sherry. One of my favorites is the UBE Miraflores, a biologically aged white wine. A fantastic pairing with oysters. We would recommend it manzanilla light It has been aged for eight months, has those salty notes characteristic of Sanlúcar, and is incredibly drinkable.
Want to know more? I wrote about it in this blog post earlier .
For sale at Olaf Kerstens (Netherlands) and Xpertvinum (Belgium)
Muchada-Léclapart
The thought alone gives me FOMO – you really want to try this, don't you? Muchada-Léclapart is a collaboration between two winemakers: Alejandro Muchada from Andalusia, and David Léclapart from Champagne. Through connections, Alejandro was able to experience a harvest in Champagne and ended up at Léclapart. He became captivated by the biodynamic methods and David's philosophy. The opposite happened a few years later, when David came to Sanlúcar and was blown away by the Albariza soils there. In 2015, they decided to join forces and establish a winery in Sanlúcar. In total, they own three hectares of vineyards, divided into three plots, the majority of which are in the famous Miraflores pago. Their goal is to make a wine that expresses the terroir and the grape, without flor and without the addition of alcohol. Mind you, these are wines for the more experienced. Decant and drink from large glasses.
Curious? Available at De Bruijn Wine Buyers >
Wine Callejuela
Viña Callejuela is definitely worth a visit. We unfortunately didn't have time, but I definitely want to visit this winery next time. This is where it's happening: at Viña Callejuela, you can feel the region's new energy. They make beautiful wines, including a stunning Oloroso (called El Cerro), as well as various vino de pasto (from different pagos). Also fun: they're working on a sparkling wine.
For sale at Anfors (Netherlands) and Xpertvinum (Belgium)
Juan Piñero
Judging by the label, you'd think they'd been around for decades, but no: Juan Piñero is a relatively young bodega. The bodega was founded in 1992, when Juan Piñero – a real estate magnate – bought a 3,000-acre winery. Bought a 1000 m² bodega in Sanlúcar de Barrameda. It would be helpful to speak some Spanish, as they don't speak a word of English there.
For sale at Xpertvinum
The Guitar
The La Gitana manzanilla is a true classic. Light, crispy, salty, and above all, thirst-quenching. Pair it with a plate of prawns and you're ready for lunch. Sherry aged under a layer of flor is essentially a fino, unless it's aged in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, in which case it's called a manzanilla. Although the wine must be aged in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, the grapes can come from anywhere in the region. In the case of La Gitana, a large portion of the grapes come from Jerez, and even the base wine is made there. The aging then takes place in the bodega in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, just a few kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean. It's cooler and wetter there, which results in a different development of the flor and therefore a different (usually lighter and more delicate) style of sherry.
For sale at The Golden Barrel.
Domingo Pérez Marin (La Guita)
We can't finish this list without mentioning La Guita, Sanlúcar's benchmark. And it's available for less than five euros at Gall & Gall. Grab it on a nice summer day, create a jamon and Manchego cheese platter, and immerse yourself in Spanish ambiance.
For sale at Gall & Gall
Hotel Albariza – boutique hotel
You had me at albariza. Albariza refers to that famous soil: white limestone. A soil with an extremely high pH, which means very little grows there besides grapevines. This, incidentally, is a nice link to the average Andalusian menu, which usually consists of jamon, jamon, and oh yes – jamon. Vegetables are nowhere to be seen here.
Albariza is a boutique hotel, centrally located in Sanlúcar, a stone's throw from Bodegas Juan Piñero, as it turns out. It has everything you'd expect from a boutique hotel: a good (à la carte) breakfast, comfortable beds, and an outdoor area where you can relax.
Boutique Hotel Albariza – Calle Bolsa, 63
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