Those attending came from Valencia’s hotels, restaurants, catering, the wine trade, the press, and all were able to increase their understanding of one of the few genuinely unique wines in the world: Sherry. To further impart its singularities, three masterclasses were held: Crianza Biologica y Vinos En Rama; Sherry and Gastronomy and Treasures from the Sacristía: VOS and VORS wines. Each session was full with 250 people attending each one, keen to learn about the wine from the Sherry triangle comprising Jerez, Sanlúcar and El Puerto.
The president of the Federation of Associations of Sommeliers of the Comunitat Valenciana, María Luisa Martín Tejera, expressed great satisfaction on behalf of the local professionals at the efforts made by the bodegas for the festival. César Saldaña, Consejo Director General, wanted to express his thanks to the caterers for their extraordinary reception, saying that the restaurants made huge efforts to celebrate the activities which show the huge potential of Sherry in harmony with Valencian gastronomy.
Participating bodegas were: Arfe, Barbadillo, Barón, Delgado Zuleta, Diez Mérito, Emilio Hidalgo, Faustino González, Fundador, González Byass, Gutiérrez Colosía, Hidalgo-La Gitana, JoséEstévez, Juan Piñero, Lustau, La Cigarera, Rey Fernando de Castilla, Romate, Tradición, Williams & Humbert and Yuste.
The pivotal part of the Sherry Festival was the presentation, which took place at the Hotel Las Arenas, at which the local wine trade could meet the Sherry producers. But that was only part of it. Events open to the public were taking place all over town at restaurants, bars and wine shops with tastings, seminars and gastronomic experiences. In fact 40 restaurants participated offering specially created food and wine matches and menus designed for Sherry.
Sherry producers held exclusive tastings at specialist wine shops to introduce wine lovers to the wonders of Finos, Manzanillas, Amontillados, Olorosos, Palos Cortados… offered a special tasting pack free with a minimum 30 euro purchase, great for trying some Sherry at home. Another great event was the screening of the wonderful film “El Misterio del Palo Cortado”.
Sherry arrived in Valencia at a great moment. It is acclaimed by wine and gastronomic experts, regularly picks up medals and sales have begun to rise. In this optimistic spirit the bodegas are spreading the good word in Valencia’s bars, restaurants and wine shops.
