Which are the best Sherry wine bodega tours to visit?
It is hard to choose the best Sherry wine bodega tour from all the bodegas (cellars), as there are so many. However as locals living in Cadiz province and as a wine certified (WSET Level 2) we will give our own opinion from among the many cellars that we have visited. Hopefully it will help you to choose which sherry bodega tours to do from Seville or Cadiz.
First of all, Sherry wine is a Spanish traditional fortified wine aged in a solera system. It is famous worldwide, thanks to the Dukes of Medina Sidonia. They attracted English merchants and encouraged foreign trade since the 15th Century.
Spanish Sherry is one of the most versatile wines in the worlds. These wines range from extremely dry (the majority of the Sherry produced) to one of the sweetest wines in the world. The Sherry triangle is the only place in the world allowed to age Sherry wine. However the “Marco de Jerez” can produce Sherry, but not every part of it can age it. This area includes Rota, Chipiona, Trebujena, Lebrija, Chiclana de la Frontera, Jerez de la Frontera, Puerto de Santa Maria and Sanlucar de Barrameda.
The Sherry Triangle
The bodegas (cellars) in the Sherry triangle were the only places allowed by the D.O. committee where Spanish sherry can be aged until October 2022. Since then all the bodegas within the “Marco de jerez” can age sherry. These cellars are special warehouses and are locally called cathedrals. These are buildings of significant height and numerous arcs which allow for a better exposure of the wines to the influence of the special climate of the Region.
The Sherry triangle is formed by: Jerez de la Frontera, where the origin of the name Jerez/Sherry comes from, Sanlúcar de Barrameda and El Puerto de Santa María. We always like to make names in Spain short and easy to read…not. While the “Marco de Jerez” includes as well Chiclana de la Frontera, Chipiona, Rota, Trebujena and Lebrija (only one outside Cadiz province), and Puerto Real.
Below we will give my opinion of the 5 best Sherry bodegas tours to visit within the sherry triangle. The Sherry bodega options that I am giving you are those authentic tours that will provide you with a unique experience/ tour. I would recommend some bodegas outside the sherry triangle where I do the sherry tours and where some of my favourites are, but they are more difficult to get to unless you have a car.
1) Sherry wine tours in El Puerto de Santa María
Near the coast the temperatures are moderate and the humidity is a little higher. This helps some Sherries to have some salty notes in them. The best Sherry wine bodega tour that we recommend here is:
Gutiérrez-Colosía
A tour company runs the tours out of this bodega. The tour guides are very informed and the sherry wine tasting at the end is outstanding for the low price that it has. You will try 6 different types of Sherry wines and a brandy.
Information of the tours
Price of the tour: €10 adults/ €4 children
Length of the tour: 1:30h
Monday-Friday (except for bank holidays): 11:15 h.(English) & 12:30 h. (español)
Saturdays (except for bank holidays): 11:30 (English) & 13:00 h. (español)
Visitas en francés / Français – Con reserva previa / SurRéservation préalable
2) Sherry wine tours in Sanlúcar de Barrameda
Sanlúcar is near the coast, Guadalquivir river, and the wetlands of the National Park of Doñana. All this creates a microclimate moderating the temperatures and highly increasing the humidit. When the poniente blows (wind from the Atlantic) the salty air will also give part of its characteristic to this famous Sherry aged just here, the Manzanilla: Manzanilla Designation of Origin (D.O.) only allows Manzanilla Sherry wine to be made in Sanlúcar de Barrameda.
Bodegas Hidalgo La Gitana
Bodegas Hidalgo La Gitana opened its doors in 1792 and since then it passes from parents to children. Making it today, one of the few companies managed and directed by the family, is the eighth generation of the founder.
We recommend doing the VORS Sherry tour, even if the price is a little higher. Here you will be tasting 6 wines in total, 3 VORS (Very Old Rare Sherry), and different manzanillas. The guide will pour you sherry straight from the casks to your glass, even the VORS. They use a traditional method called Venencia to pour it. In this tour you will even taste a gem a ~60 years old Palo Cortado Sherry.
Information of the Sherry wine bodega tours (there are more tours, but we will focus on Sherry tastings)
Basic tour:
Price of the tour: €12 adults
Length of the tour: 1:15h
Monday-Saturdays (except for bank holidays): 11.30h (English) – 13.00h (Español)
VORS tour:
Price of the tour: €30 adults
Length of the tour: 2:00h
Monday- Saturdays: 12:00 h (Call in advance)
Bodegas Alonso
The Asencio brothers’ main purpose and passion was to continue and improve the work of three important wine cellars in Sanlúcar de Barrameda: Pedro Romero, Gaspar Florido and Fernando Méndez. For that purpose, Bodegas ALONSO bought Pedro Romero’s wine cellar (from 1860) and its Sherry wine soleras.
These sherry soleras already had a worldwide prestige. If you have the money to afford it you can do a tour with one of the owners and try Sherry wine (VORS from ~40-120 years old).
Information of their Sherry wine bodega tours
Basic tour:
Price of the tour: €20 adults
Monday-Saturdays (except for bank holidays): Call in advance to book
Standard tour (VORS ~40YEARS):
Price of the tour: €40 adults
Monday-Saturdays (except for bank holidays): Call in advance to book
Exclusive tour (VORS from ~40-120 years old):
Price of the tour: €300 adults
Monday-Saturdays (except for bank holidays): Call in advance to book
3) Sherry wine tours in Jerez de la Frontera
As Jerez de la Frontera is further away from the sea, the temperature range is bigger, becoming cold in winter and very hot in summer. It is also drier than the other two cities from the Sherry triangle. All this makes the “flor” to be more thin and therefore sometimes the Fino suffers a little of oxidation. The best Sherry wine bodega tours here for us are:
Bodegas Rey Fernando de Castilla
An unknown cellar from 1830 owned by a Danish since 1972. This makes the tour experience more exciting there tends to be smaller groups for a good price. The guide is knowledgable in Sherry wine, the wines are wonderful, and the price for the quality is great. If you also love brandy this is a place where you can have a wonderful time.
Information of the Sherry tours
Price of the tour: €15 adults
Monday-Fridays: 10:00h-14:00 (Call in advance)
Bodegas Tradición
Here you can enjoy a private Sherry wine bodega tour. The cellar is young, but not their wines. They bought very old remarkable soleras and the family of the owners were Sherry shippers since the 17th century. This place is also for those people who love art. It has one of the best private collections of painting in Andalusia. It has paintings of Spanish painters from the 14th to the 19th centuries. Their art museum includes artists such as Goya, Zurbarán, Velázquez, Murillo or El Greco, among others. Even if the price is a little higher, the private ambience, the VORS and VOS wine tasting, and the art display is worth the money.
Information of the Sherry tour
Price of the tour: €30 adult
Monday-Friday: 9:00h-17:00h. In July and August 9:00h-15:00h
Other types of sherries, from dry to sweet
If this blog makes you feel like you need a sherry in hand and it doesn’t fit, you may want to check out the following blogs. Click on any of the following links if you are interested in knowing my favorite sherry wines for each type of sherry.
Is your favorite sherry wine el palo cortado? If so, click here to see some of my favorites. For the amontillado sherry wine click here. If you prefer biological ageing and your favorite is manzanilla wine then click here. However, if you prefer sweet sherry wines, click here to see what I recommend within cream sherry.
On the other hand, if you want to learn more about: biological and oxidative ageing; the soleras system; and the “flower” (the layer of yeast that grows on some sherry), click here.
Full day tours in Vejer de la Frontera and Cadiz province
If you are looking for Andalusian culinary food, cultural and Sherry wine experiences for sightseeing Cadiz province, then keep reading. I will now take advantage to show off to you the great food tours in Vejer de la Frontera and throughout Cadiz province that we do. If you are here and you love sherry, please click here to read about the amontillado sherries I recommend in my tours.
Cultural and culinary food tours
If you want to learn the whole process of the Almadraba and Bluefin tuna in Cadiz province check our Bluefin tuna tour. You will learn the history of Bluefin tuna in the area since Phoenician times. You will go in a private boat ride to visit the Almadraba (if you are lucky it may be active); visit a local food market; and taste different parts of bluefin tuna in all ways, salt-dried, grilled, raw.
If you want to learn more about Vejer de la Frontera, its traditions and gastronomy book our Sherry & Tapas tour! Learn about sherry wine, wine tastings, and how to pair it with traditional gourmet food from the area. Taste different types of Spanish Sherry wines and local food like bluefin tuna, bull meat, salmorejo, eggplant with honey and pinenuts, etc. The tour includes 5 tapas and 5 Andalusian wines/Sherry wines.
If you would like to visit other beautiful white towns like Vejer, we can do a tour of the white towns in Cadiz province. On the other hand we can mix a visit to a beautiful white village with a visit to an olive oil mill. Or you can choose to do a private tour that we can design especially for you based on your interests. Come and join Explore la Tierra in Vejer de la Frontera, Cadiz, Spain!
Our latest addition is our become an artisan for one day tour. Make your own cheese and your own leather souvenir in Ubrique and enjoy its great history and panoramic views. This white village is famous worldwide for its importance for the international leather companies.
Sherry wine tours
Would you like to learn more about Sherry wine and immerse yourself in the local culture and traditions? If you want to learn and experience it with the company of a local guide and turn your visit to Cadiz into an exciting culinary adventure, book with us. Sherry wine love is very contagious, surely you will also become one!
If you have your own transport we can accompany you while learning about Sherry. Enjoy the best Sherry bodega tours, local culture and traditions and the local gastronomy. In case you do not have a car we can arrange transport, restaurant and the rest of your trip for you.
If you would like to learn all about Jerez-Sherry-Xeres D.O. then join us for our Ultimate Sherry wine Tasting tour. We can design a private tour just for you and your family.
Please watch the next video to see what do we do in the sherry winery tour:
If you are staying in Vejer de la Frontera or within Cadiz province we can organize a private Sherry wine tasting with local gourmet tapas for your group. We will go to your place and do a Sherry wine or Andalusian wine tasting for you privately. We can focus on premium Sherries; VORS and premium Sherries; or Andalusian wines in case you do not like Sherry wine.
Contact us
To learn more about sherry, culture and travel guides, please hit the big blue button to read other blog posts. If you have any ideas and suggestions, please do not hesitate to write us an email at info@explorelatierra.com. Please read our privacy policy before you get in touch with us. We will take your new recommendations into consideration.
