Sherry and Flamenco

Puerto de Santa Maria is one of the three towns that form Andalusia’s Sherry Triangle (the other two are Jerez de la Frontera and Sanlúcar de Barrameda). Here, Spain’s famous fortified wine, sherry, has been produced for centuries.

A Short History

Hominids, ancient ancestors of humans, first arrived in Spain approximately 1.2 million years ago. Neanderthals were in nearby Gibraltar 50,000 years ago. 8,000 years ago, tribes from northern Africa settled in the region. In 1100 BC, the Phoenicians built the port city of Cadiz. Later, the Carthaginians ruled southern Spain, followed by a 700 year Roman rule.

 El Puerto de Santa Maria was conquered by north African Moors in 711 AD. In 1260 Alfonso X of Castille drove out the Moors for the Spanish Crown.

Christopher Columbus visited the city prior to his first voyage to the New World and subsequently sailed from El Puerto on his second New World journey.

Sherry

Wine has been made in Spain for over 3,000 years. But, it was the Moors who introduced distillation to Spain, the key innovation in the Sherry making process.

Distilled wine spirit, called destilado, is added to the wine which is then added to barrels, where it is aged and some of the liquid evaporates. As the sherry evaporates, some younger sherry is added, a process that continues until the desired age is reached.

 Bodega Osborne, El Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain
Bodega Osborne, El Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain

After Sir Francis Drake sacked Cadiz in the 16th century, he brought sherry back to England and its popularity took off. British and Irish families founded sherry bodegas in Spain which is why you will find sherry labels with very un-Spanish names like Osborne.

Many sherry bodegas offer tours in English. Be sure to call ahead. But, the best way to sample sherry might be visiting one of the many sherry and tapas bars who offer glasses of sherry served straight from the barrel.

Beaches

Lots of people travel to southern Spain for the warm weather and beaches. But, most go to the Costa del Sol on the Mediterranean side of Andalucía. The Costa del Sol is beautiful but also incredibly crowded.

 Blanca Paloma’s amazing outdoor seating, Peurto Sherry, Spain
Blanca Paloma’s amazing outdoor seating, Peurto Sherry, Spain

Puerto de Santa Maria and Cadiz on the Atlantic Ocean side of the coast, while still popular, is much less crowded. You won’t find the huge resorts of the Costa del Sol in Puerto de Santa Maria, but that also means you find a hotel for a reasonable price.

The best beach is Playa de la Muralla in Puerto Sherry. It hugs a small crescent along the shore and there are several good places to eat nearby. My favorite is Blanca Paloma. They have a spectacular view of the Bay of Cadiz. There’s a bigger beach across the Guadalupe River and camping near the beach at Las Dunas de San Anton.

Or, take a trip to Cadiz. People refer to Cadiz as an island, but it’s really a peninsula connected to the mainland by a bridge. As such, you might be tempted to drive or take the bus to Cadiz. Don’t! There’s a ferry that sails from Puerto de Santa Maria to Cadiz.

Upon arrival, you’ll be accosted by taxi drivers and bus tour operators. Avoid them and keep walking. Cadiz is small and you won’t get lost. Keep the water to your right and you’ll eventually see Baluarte de la Candelaria, a 17th century fortress. Continue along the shore to Parque Genovés for more spectacular views. Further on is the Santa Catalina Castle. While it looks like it was built in 17th century, the castle is actually a 20th century reproduction. We thought we had stumbled onto a set from the movie El Cid.

Unlike other parts of Spain where the parks can be dusty and unkempt, there are several in Cadiz that are wonderful for a stroll. We happened upon a wedding near a park in Cadiz. All the women dressed in their finest clothes with flowers in their hair and the men in their suits, we watched the procession for several minutes.

If you’ve come to Cadiz for the beaches, there are several good ones to choose from. La Caleta beach is small but the best known. Remember Halle Berry in her bikini in Die Another Day? That was filmed at La Caleta.

La Victoria is one of the biggest and busiest beaches, but also a lot of fun because of the beach sports and nightlife.  Santa Maria del Mar is a better choice for families with children.

Foodie Puerto de Santa Maria

Pizza on a Vespa

Puerto de Santa Maria has several high end restaurants like Aponiente where the Groundswell menu goes for well over 300€ per person, including wine. But, the thing to do is walk along Ribera de Marisco and sample seafood for several restaurants. The shellfish is incredibly fresh, coming from the local markets scattered along the waterfront.

If seafood isn’t your thing, Blanca Paloma has a second location inland from Ribera de Marisco. What they say about the Spanish is true. They eat dinner late. Go out at 8 o’clock and you’ll be dining with tourists. 9 is the earliest you’ll see a local. We saw families with young children coming in to dine at Blanca Paloma after 11pm on a weeknight.

We were mesmerized by the pizza delivery operation. Young men on vespas zipped in and out of the restaurant’s parking lot, picking up six or eight boxes before tearing off again, quicker than an Indy car at a pit stop. They were still going strong well after midnight.

If you go to Blanca Paloma be sure to try the crescentina. It’s a lightly fried dough topped with greens and raw vegetables and maybe some cheese. I’ve never seen it anywhere else and it’s divine in its simplicity and subtlety.

Tapas

Nowadays you can find tapas, the famous small plates of food, in any town in Spain. But, tapas originated in southern Spain as a way to increase alcohol sales. Salty meats and snacks were served covering the glass of sherry to keep out fruit flies. These salty snacks made patrons thirsty who, in turn, ordered more sherry. While some tapas places may set out some olives or other small snacks gratis, at most tapas bars you will be charged by the plate.

Cool, funky, quirky, and delicious-that’s Bespoke, one of the best tapas joints in El Puerto. Their chef doesn’t stay tied to traditional recipes; instead creating innovative tapas along with popular favorites. And perhaps best of all, they have lots (and lots) of sherry choices.

Another great tapas place is El Faro de Cadiz. They also have an upscale restaurant next door, but the tapas bar is where you want to be, jammed in with the locals. La Candela has attractive décor to go with their top-notch tapas. The focus on local and fresh ingredients makes La Candela one of the top places in Cadis for tapas. Quirky and small La Sorpresa has been in business since 1956. Peppers, olives, tomatoes, garlic, and, of course, tuna. Big plus for the sherry served from barrels.

Jerez de la Frontera

Jerez de la Frontera, commonly shortened to Jerez (Spanish for Sherry), is the largest city in the province of Cadiz, and the birthplace of flamenco. As such, Jerez hosts the annual Flamenco Festival from the end of February until the beginning of March. The finest flamenco artists from around the world meet in Jerez to perform during the 2 ½ week celebration.

Jerez is also home to the Andalusian Centre of Flamenco, a cultural center and museum. Flamenco artifacts from the center’s collection are on display and videos of flamenco are regularly shown. In addition, scholars of flamenco and Andalusian culture can study the extensive archives. This is a great spot to go and ask about upcoming flamenco performances in Jerez.

Don Antonio Chacón Cultural Centre, named after the famous singer, is one of the best places to see flamenco in the city, although shows are not regularly scheduled. Peña Flamenca Los Cernícalos also often has shows on Saturdays. For regularly scheduled flamenco gigs, seek out Tabanco el Pasaje. The cramped bar hosts shows every Thursday through Sunday and the tapas is top notch.

Speaking of tapas, Jerez has a unique kind of bar called a Tabanco. You’ll see tabancos in other towns in Andalucía, but in Jerez, they’re everywhere. They’re kind of a cross between a tapas bar and a wine shop. You’ll find plenty of tapas and sherry served out of barrels. But customers can also buy jugs of sherry to take home. Tabanco Plateros, where the seating spills out on to the sidewalk, and Tabanco a la Feria, with its incredibly cheap drinks and tapas, are two tabancos to try, but there are dozens and dozens to choose from. That’s what is great about tapas and tabancos. If one place doesn’t strike your fancy, move on to the next and you’re only out a couple of bucks for a plate and a drink.

The Moors were driven from Spain 800 years ago, but some remnants of Moorish history remain. One of the most interesting is the Alcazar of Jerez de la Frontera, a castle built by the Moors about 1,000 years ago. The mosque in the castle is the only one left of the eighteen that once dotted Jerez. Climbing to the top of the castle gives great views of the city, but the highlight is the large garden in the courtyard laid out in pleasant geometrical designs.

And, for an extra couple of bucks, you can see the city projected onto a circular table in the castle. Two large lenses have been mounted atop the castle. They are maneuvered manually to reflect live images from the city below. It’s an odd and exhilarating experience to watch as cars whizz by and minute details of buildings in Jerez come into crystal clear focus.

Flamenco

Andalusia is the home of flamenco, the folk music and dance of southern Spain. Almost every city in Spain has flamenco performances, but to get the authentic experience, see it performed in Andalusia. Larger venues host flamenco, but we saw a sign tacked up that advertised a show at a small bar. Actually, it looked more like a low rent rec room than a bar. Chairs were set up in front of a makeshift stage and an enthusiastic crowd of what seemed like family and friends of the performers filled the room.

Several performers, each of varying skill levels, took their turn and received riotous applause from the partisan audience. They were all quite emotional in their interpretation, just as you would want to see.

At the back of the room was a busy bar. They were serving only two drinks; soda and Tinto de verano (red wine of summer). Called tinto for short, the drink is a combination of red wine and lemon lime soda. It’s a sort of simple sangria that the locals in southern Spain drink.

The wine is of no particular vintage; various bottles from Spanish vineyards were opened and mixed together with no reluctance in the same glass. This is not a drink to be lingered over but a summer drink to quench one’s thirst.

Tinto Recipe

Ingredients:

1 part red wine

1 part lemon soda (La Casera is the favored brand in Spain, 7 Up or Sprite mixed with carbonated water will do as well)

Serve over lots of ice and garnish with a lemon slice

Variations

·         White wine can be substituted for red wine

·         Rose wine can be used with lemon or orange soda

·         Orange soda can be substituted for the lemon soda

·         Rum is sometimes added to the Tinto

·         Cola is said to be sometimes substituted for the soda. This is called calimocho.

Transportation

Seville Airport

Seville has the closest international airport serving most of Europe and the UK.

A-4, Km. 532, 41020 Sevilla, Spain

Local transportation

There is bus service throughout the area and a ferry runs to Cadiz (much more scenic than the bus). There’s also a bike service. Uber and taxis are also available. If you’re planning to road trip to other small towns, a car might be a good idea.

Index of Things to Do in Puerto de Santa María and the Sherry Triangle

Bodega Gutierrez Colosia

Sherry bodega. No reservations required for the tour. English tours usually at 11:15 weekdays and 1 pm Saturdays (check with bodega to confirm). Flamenco show available for extra charge.

Avenida de la Bajamar, n40, El Puerto de Santa María, Spain 11500

Bodegas Osborne

The most famous sherry bodega. English tours at 11am. Reservations required.

C. los Moros, 7, 11500 El Puerto de Sta María, Cádiz, Spain

Peña Flamenca Tomás El Nitri

Flamenco shows in El Puerto.

C/ Diego Niño, 1, El Puerto de Santa María, Spain

Castillo de San Marcos

800 year old castle built on the site of a mosque. The Caballero family owns the castle and has a winery next door.

Plaza Alfonso X El Sabio, El Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain

Jerez Flamenco Festival

Annual 2 ½ week festival in Jerez from late February through early March. Beware, prices, especially for hotels, spike during this period.

Andalusian Centre of Flamenco

Cultural center and museum dedicated to the art of flamenco in Jerez. Stop by and ask about local shows.

Plaza de San Juan 1, Jerez de la Frontera, Spain

Don Antonio Chacón Cultural Centre

Good place to see flamenco, but shows are not regularly scheduled. Best to ask at the Andalusian Centre of Flamenco about any upcoming performances.

C. Salas, 2, 11403 Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz, Spain

Peña Flamenca Los Cernícalos

Flamenco shows on Saturday (usually).

Calle Sancho Vizcaíno, 25, 11401 Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz, Spain

Alcazar Jerez de la Frontera

1,000 year old Moor castle and garden in Jerez.

Alameda Vieja, Jerez De La Frontera, Spain

Jerez Free City Tour

Walking tour of Jerez. Don’t forget to tip your guide.

Index of Food & Drink in Puerto de Santa María and the Sherry Triangle

Bespoke

Funky tapas bar near the ferry terminal. Lots of sherry choices as well.

Calle Bajamar 36, 11500, El Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain

Blanca Paloma

Pizzeria with two locations. The Puerto Sherry restaurant has outdoor seating with sweeping ocean views. It is a short walk to one of the best beaches in the area, Playa de la Muralla. Their second location, in Puerto de Santa Maria, has a more extensive menu. Get their amazing fried dough “crescentina.”

La Bodeguilla del Bar Jamon

The most popular tapas place in El Puerto.

Calle Misericordia 5, 11500, El Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain

El Faro de Cadiz

 El Faro de Cadiz
El Faro de Cadiz

Excellent tapas in Cadiz.

Calle San Felix 15, 11002 Cadiz, Spain

La Candela

Tapas made with fresh local produce.

3 Calle Feduchy 11001 Cádiz España – 11001 Cadiz, Cádiz

La Sorpresa

Great tapas with sherry served from wooden barrels.

Calle Arboli 4, 11005 Cadiz, Spain

La Veganesa

Fantastic and cheap vegan restaurant in Cadiz.

Calle de San Antonio Abad n0 5, 11005 Cadiz, Spain

Tabanco el Pasaje

  Tabanco el Pasaje
Tabanco el Pasaje

Cramped and lively bar with excellent tapas and regular flamenco shows. In Jerez.

Calle Santa Maria 8, 11402 Jerez De La Frontera, Spain

Tabanco Plateros

Sherry served from the cask at this adorable Tabanco in Jerez.

Calle Algarve,35, 11403 Jerez De La Frontera, Spain

Tabanco a la Feria

Cheap drinks and tapas.

junto Plaza Arenal, C. Armas, 5, 11403 Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz, Spain

Index of Shopping in Puerto de Santa María and the Sherry Triangle

Joyeria Antonio Collantes

 Joyeria Antonio Collantes, Cadiz
Joyeria Antonio Collantes, Cadiz

Original, high-end jewelry.

Calle Isabel La Catolica 9, 11004 Cadiz, Spain

Alandalus Club – Gourmet Selection

Deli and store featuring organic and local products.

C. del Pueblo Gitano, 13, 11008 Cádiz, Spain

Index of Places to Stay in Puerto de Santa María & the Sherry Triangle

Hotel Duques de Medinaceli

Converted 18th century palace.

Plaza Jazmines 2, 11500, El Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain

Monte Puertatierra Hotel

Modern, trendy hotel on the main drag in Cadiz.

Avenida Andalucia 34, 11008 Cadiz, Spain

Hotel La Catedral

Prime location opposite the cathedral. Rooftop terrace and pool with a large ground level indoor and outdoor bar.

Plaza Catedral 9, 11005 Cadiz, Spain

Palacio Garvey

Former home of the famous Garvey winemakers. The hotel overlooks Plaza de Rafael Rivero.

Calle Torneria 24, 11403 Jerez De La Frontera, Spain

Hotel Casa Grande

 Roof terrace at Hotel Casa Grande
Roof terrace at Hotel Casa Grande

Elegant, if dated, hotel with a lovely patio and roof terrace.

Plaza Angustias 3, 11402 Jerez De La Frontera, Spain

About the Author

Brent Petersen is the Editor-in-Chief of Destination Eat Drink. He currently resides in Setubal, Portugal. Brent has written the novel “Truffle Hunt” (Eckhartz Press) and the short story collection “That Bird.” He’s also written dozens of foodie travel guides to cities around the world on Destination Eat Drink, including in-depth eating and drinking guides to Madrid, Lisbon and Porto. Brent’s podcast, also called Destination Eat Drink, is available on all major podcasting platforms and is distributed by the Radio Misfits Podcast Network.