Must-try wines from Andalusia – my very subjective choice – My Slow Travels

The cultivation of vines in Andalusia goes back over many centuries, but nobody really knows when wine-making was first introduced there. It could have been brought by the Greeks 2500 years ago, or even earlier by Phoenician traders from the east.

What is sure, is that the tradition is long and strong – it has survived even the times of Muslim domination. The Moors was producing wine and using it for “medicinal” purposes. They even introduced the technique of distilling into Spain.

When you go to Andalusia and you want to try best wines from this land, remember just this 3 names: Tierra Blanca, Moscatel and Sherry.

Tierra Blanca ⭐⭐⭐

My first choice is Tierra Blanca. This refreshing andalusian white wine produced from Palomino, Riesling, Moscatel and Palomino Fino grapes is best for vegetable meals, fish and of course seafood. You will appreciate its lightness and freshness under the Andalusian sun. And the affordable price!

Moscatel ⭐⭐⭐

Moscatel is a completely different story. This traditional sweet dessert wines are made from the Moscatel or Pedro Ximénez white grape varieties. You can buy it directly in bodegas or wine shops, poured into a bottle in front of you straight from the barrel. For the best ones go to Chipiona town located on the Atlantic coast. When you want to drink Moscatel served directly from the barrel, search for bodegas and tabernas like La Sorpresa in Cadiz or El Pimpi in Malaga.

Sherry wines ⭐⭐⭐

At the end general category of Sherry wines, produced primarily from the Palomino grape. It’s magnificence comes from the fact that all wine labelled as Sherry can only be made in one tiny corner of the world. The unique winds (levante and poniente), humidity, soil and seasonal changes in Andalusia give a singular character to the wines produced there. This corner is called Sherry Triangle – an area in the province of Cadiz between Sanlúcar de Barrameda, El Puerto de Santa María and Jerez de la Frontera, where is located most famous bodega of the region, Tio Pepe.

What makes it unique is the fact that all Sherry is fortified after fermentation with high-proof brandy. It’s common that the same houses producing Sherry also distill brandy.

The main styles of sherries, listed from driest to sweetest are Fino (for example Tio Pepe – very good for cooking), Manzanilla, Amontillado, Oloroso, Cream and Pedro Ximénez.