Tio Pepe, a renowned sherry producer, offers a wide range of sherry varieties that represent different flavor profiles and production styles. In Jerez, you have the opportunity to take part in a guided tour followed by a tasting at Bodegas Tio Pepe.
Tio Pepe is known worldwide for its sherry and so it is not surprising that tour groups and numerous individual visitors take part in the guided tours and tastings here several days a week. During our time in Jerez, we spontaneously decided to gain our first experience of sherry here. Out of season, it was possible to buy tickets shortly before the start of the German-speaking tour. In the high season, it is better to do this a little earlier as places are limited.
Our guide picked us and the 10 or so other German-speaking visitors up in a “waiting room” directly behind the ticket office. Tours in other languages also started here at the same time
We first went to a covered area that reminded me more of a riding arena. The bodega of La Concha was built in honor of the Spanish Queen Isabella II. The famous French engineer Gustave Eiffel designed this hall. There are 206 barrels of Amontillado La Concha stored here. Almost every barrel is marked with a flag to indicate the countries in which Tio Pepe sherry is sold. This is where we received our first information about sherry.
The history of sherry
Sherry is a world-famous wine that originated in the Andalusia region in south-western Spain. The center of the sherry region is in Jerez de la Frontera. The history of sherry can be traced back to the time of the Phoenicians, who arrived in the region around 1100 BC and planted the first vines.
However, the actual development of sherry as we know it today began during the Moorish period (8th to 15th century). Although the consumption of alcohol is forbidden in Islam, the Moors allowed the local Christians and Jews to make wine. The name “Sherry” is derived from the Arabic name “Sherish” for Jerez.
In the 15th century, after the Reconquista, sherry began to be exported to England and other parts of Europe, which developed a taste for this wine. This was the catalyst for a significant expansion of the sherry industry in the region.
In modern times, sherry remains an important part of Spanish culture and cuisine, known for its versatility and ability to complement a wide range of dishes. Sherry is not just a drink, but a symbol of the history and tradition of southern Spain.
Production of sherry
Our tour took us to museum equipment and tools that are important for the production of sherry. Here, and later in the huge warehouses of Tio Pepe, we were given an explanation of the production process.
The process of making sherry is a fascinating one. The producers have perfected it over many years. I have tried to give a simplified description of this process here, as I understood it during the tour:
It all starts with selecting the right grapes. Sherry is only made from three white grape varieties (Palomino, Pedro Ximénez, Moscatel). These grapes are grown in the Andalusia region in the southwest of Spain and are usually harvested at the end of September.
After the harvest, the grapes are pressed to extract the juice. The juice is then stored in large tanks, where it begins to ferment. During this process, yeasts convert the sugar into alcohol. This process takes around one to two weeks. After fermentation, the wine is divided into different categories depending on its taste and alcohol content. The young wine is then placed in oak barrels, where it undergoes its first maturation process.
The key to the production of sherry is the solera process. This is a complex system of continuous blending of different vintages. The barrels are stacked on top of each other in rows. The oldest wines are in the lowest row (solera), while the younger wines are stored in the upper rows. A portion of the wine (maximum 1/3) from the lower barrels is drawn off and bottled. This portion is then replaced with wine from the row of barrels above. This is then topped up with the wine from the top row of barrels. This results in a constant blending of the wines.
What types of sherry are there?
Even before we went to the tasting later, the guide tried to explain the different types of sherry and flavors to us. I found this a little difficult because I couldn’t even imagine the taste at the time, as I hadn’t drunk sherry before.
Sherry is a versatile wine with different styles that vary in taste, color and production process. There are different types of sherry, from dry to sweet, including Fino, Amontillado, Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez and Cream Sherry.
- Fino: A very dry, light-colored and light sherry. It matures under a layer of yeast, known as flor, which gives it a characteristic, fresh and sometimes slightly nutty taste.
- Amontillado: This sherry begins as a fino, but later loses the flor, resulting in a slight oxidation. It is darker than Fino, has a richer, nuttier taste and is dry to medium-dry.
- Oloroso: A dark, full-bodied sherry that matures without the flor, which leads to stronger oxidation. It has intense aromas of nuts, wood and dried fruit and is usually dry, although it can also be sweet.
- Pedro Ximénez (PX): A very sweet, dark sherry made from the Pedro Ximénez grape. The grapes are left to dry in the sun after harvesting to concentrate the sugar content. PX is syrupy with aromas of dried fruit such as raisins and prunes.
- Cream Sherry: A sweeter type of sherry, often made by blending Oloroso or Amontillado with sweet Pedro Ximénez or Moscatel sherry. It has a rich, smooth profile.
- Moscatel: A sweet sherry made from the Muscat grape. Similar to Pedro Ximénez, the grapes are dried to concentrate the sugar. Moscatel has intense aromas of honey and nutmeg.
Visit to the bodegas of Tio Pepe
The heart of Tio Pepe are the bodegas. The tour takes you through the historic cellars, where we were able to see the countless rows of barrels. The large warehouses are something very special. Large windows ensure sufficient air circulation and a relatively constant temperature. There is a slight smell of alcohol in the air everywhere.
As we walk along the rows of barrels, we also discover the “celebrity barrels”. Here, for example, prominent athletes such as Formula 1 drivers Alonso and Senna have left their autographs during their visit. But I also discover barrels from Holywood greats such as Spielberg and Orsen Wells.
Bodegas Tio Pepe is particularly proud of its royal barrels, which have been used to store sherry for many years.
There is a charming story about a mouse in the wine cellars of Tio Pepe. According to this story, a cellar worker once decided to enrich the lives of the little mice that lived under the barrels. He did this by giving them some of the sherry production. To do this, he placed a small sherry jar, filled to the brim, on the floor and placed a tiny ladder on it, the top of which was flush with the edge of the jar. This made it easy for the mice to reach the sherry. Although we didn’t spot any mice feasting on the sherry during our visit, there are pictures nearby showing some of the happy mice enjoying a sip.
Tasting at Bodegas Tio Pepe
The highlight of the tour was, of course, the tasting. This takes place in a former warehouse that has been converted so that the groups can always sit together in small areas.
We had opted for the tasting of 2 different sherries. Our guide briefly said something about the samples and then disappeared again to accompany the next tour. At this point at the latest, it was very clear that the groups had actually just been “passed through”.
First we tried the Fino Sherry from Tio Pepe. It is described as very dry, light and elegant. The sherry is made from 100% Palomino Fino grapes and matures for at least 4 years in American oak barrels. I found it so-so, with little flavor and little statement.
We were then served a Croft Twist. It is a refreshing drink with a light sherry note, combined with natural and fresh ingredients such as elderflower, lemon and mint. It reminded me a lot of a Hugo. It tasted good, but didn’t have much to do with the actual sherry.
Finally, we had the opportunity to browse through the souvenir store, where you could buy sherry and other local products.
Was the visit worth it?
I have to admit that I would have answered yes to the question immediately after the visit. However, as we took part in a total of 3 tours in different bodegas during our time in Jerez, the picture is different in hindsight.
The tour itself was very impersonal, stiff and told “down”. Questions were answered, but you quickly realized that they didn’t belong in the text we had learned about the tour. Perhaps it was due to the language and the guide might have been more interesting in Spanish. In terms of content, the tour was great and a good introduction for a sherry novice.
During the tasting, we received two samples compared to one of the other tours, which were similarly priced. On the other tour there were 4 different sherry samples. So if you want to try more, you don’t necessarily have to pay more!
Compared to all the other tours, Tio Pepe was the worst in our eyes.
Address:
C. Puerto, 19,
11401 Jerez de la Frontera, Spanien
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