Jerez De La Frontera (Andalucia, Spain)
If you are looking for one of those unforgettable, unmistakably Andalusian experiences, Jerez de la Frontera absolutely belongs on your list! This wonderful city gives you two great reasons to visit: it is the undisputed heart of Spanish sherry—Jerez—and it is also home to the magnificent Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre, the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art.
The equestrian performance alone is worth the trip. During the summer, the school’s magnificent Andalusian stallions perform on Thursdays at the royal riding school beside the elegant 19th-century Palacio de las Cadenas. These horses are powerful, graceful, and incredibly disciplined, and their performances are every bit as memorable as the famous Lipizzaners of Vienna. The riders and horses move together with such precision and elegance that the entire presentation feels more like a ballet than a riding demonstration.
Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art
After the horses, it is time to experience the other great passion of Jerez: sherry. There are several famous bodegas in the city, but one of my personal favorites is Sandeman. The tours are fascinating, and the best part comes at the end, when you sit down for a tasting. I always recommend ordering the full flight so you can sample six different styles of sherry, and if you really want to do it properly, add a few tapas and make an afternoon of it.
Tio Pepe Sherry Caves
Another excellent stop is Tío Pepe, where you can take a wonderfully atmospheric journey through the history and production of sherry. The enormous cellars are especially pleasant on a hot Andalusian afternoon, because stepping inside feels like escaping into another world—cool, quiet, aromatic, and filled with rows upon rows of aging barrels.
The tour is both educational and entertaining, and when you finish, there is an excellent gift shop where you can purchase bottles of sherry and souvenirs to take home. On one of my visits, I bought a 15-year-old sherry for my uncle, which made for a wonderful and very appropriate souvenir from Jerez.
Last time there, I purchased a 15-year-old Sherry as a gift for my uncle.
One of Tio Pepe’s Guest Tasters
And then there are the mice!
While wandering through the cellars, you may hear one of the most charming stories associated with Tío Pepe. According to local tradition, a winery worker once noticed mice living in the cellars and decided that if he was able to enjoy the sherry, perhaps the mice deserved a taste as well.
So he built a tiny ladder leading up to a small glass of sherry and left it out for them. The tradition continues today, with a little ladder and a glass of sherry placed out for these rather sophisticated cellar residents.
It is one of those quirky little stories that makes a visit to Jerez so much fun.
Unfortunately, I should warn you in advance: the mice are not available for purchase in the gift shop!
