{"id":25354,"date":"2024-03-01T10:35:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-01T09:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fromplacetoplace.travel\/?p=25354"},"modified":"2024-02-23T13:36:19","modified_gmt":"2024-02-23T12:36:19","slug":"bodegas-tio-pepe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fromplacetoplace.travel\/spain\/andalusia\/jerez-de-la-frontera\/bodegas-tio-pepe\/","title":{"rendered":"A guided tour of the Bodegas Tio Pepe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bodegas<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Jerez<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The history of sherry<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"alte<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Production of sherry<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"alte<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It all starts with selecting the right grapes. Sherry is only made from three white grape varieties (Palomino, Pedro Xim\u00e9nez, Moscatel). These grapes are grown in the Andalusia region in the southwest of Spain and are usually harvested at the end of September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bodegas<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What types of sherry are there?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bodegas<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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 Xim\u00e9nez and Cream Sherry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Fino:<\/strong> 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.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Amontillado:<\/strong> 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.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Oloroso: <\/strong>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.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Pedro Xim\u00e9nez (PX):<\/strong> A very sweet, dark sherry made from the Pedro Xim\u00e9nez 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.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Cream Sherry:<\/strong> A sweeter type of sherry, often made by blending Oloroso or Amontillado with sweet Pedro Xim\u00e9nez or Moscatel sherry. It has a rich, smooth profile.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Moscatel:<\/strong> A sweet sherry made from the Muscat grape. Similar to Pedro Xim\u00e9nez, the grapes are dried to concentrate the sugar. Moscatel has intense aromas of honey and nutmeg.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \"Bodegas<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Visit to the bodegas of Tio Pepe<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n