Jerez - the Feria - Fashion
by elucas
You will see a fashion parade of ladies in flamenco dress – some wearing traditional styles, some in the latest fashion, all colourful, all dressed in their best. Carmen explained to us some of the differences in the fall of the skirt, the number of frills and the style of the flounces on the arms. Some ladies wore a matching top and skirt, which is cooler on a hot day than a dress.
Pictures here show a girl wearing the traditional dress with three tiers of flounces and big sleeves and another shows a couple of girls in slightly less traditional styles of dress.
The smartly dressed woman, who is greeting guests at the entrance to the company Canesta, is wearing the black trousers, short scarlet jacket and hat which is in the distinctive uniform of Gonzalez Byass.
The horseriders in the parade were very smart indeed as were some of the more formally dressed ladies.
On the other hand you could just wander in dressed as you please - though I don't expect you would be on the same invitation lists !
Raciones in the square
by alucas about Taberna La Alameda
Taberna La Alameda is typical of the bars that make up the Tapa Centro during the Festival. In 2003 we sat outside watching the street theatre, drinking fino and dining on raciones of surtido iberico, gambas and calamares. The raciones were 8 or 8.50 euros each, the fino 1.20 euros a glass, and we had a splendid evening for 33 euros in total.
We returned to Taberna La Alameda in May 2006, and had a great paella. I made quite a lot of notes about their menu, so have produced a seperate tip for this return visit. The specialities of this taberna are listed as chacinas, carnes ibericas, and pescados de la bahia ( which loosely translates to sausages, cured meats and seafood).
Wine Making
by FredMaine
Gonzales Byass winery (bodega) has a wonderful and interesting tour. It appears that there was a serious problem with mice gnawing into the wine barrels. So to keep them out of the barrels they decided to simply give the mice all the wine they want. What a life!!!
Sherry - only in Jerez
by elucas
Real Sherry is only made in Jerez. It is a trade that has been established here for generations and has brought wealth to the town. The wine, from the Palomino grape, is made from small low growing vines which do well out in the chalky dry hills of this part of Andalucia.
A visit to a bodega is interesting, fun, something different and you will be given a tasting at the end of the tour. One of the bodegas is so large that visitors are transported in a small train, and others are much smaller. Our map of Jerez listed 17 Bodegas, almost all of which have web sites for more details. The bigger companies will run regular guided tours that do not need advance booking, whereas some of the smaller ones may only be visited by appointment.
Just some are, in no particular order, Bodegas Williams & Humbert, Grupo Garvey, Lustau, Sandeman, Pedro Domecq, Gonzalez & Byass, Sanchez Romate and Dios Baco.
Many bodegas are within easy walking distance of the town centre.
The Alcazar Parade Ground
by alucas
The parade ground within the Alcazar dates from the Christian period after the reconquest of Jerez in 1264 by King Alphonso X, the Wise. It was the area where troops were assembled and reviewed. It is quite a compact area, so the formations must have been quite small !
The building behind is the Villaviciencio Palace built by Bortolome Fernandez de Villavicencio after he inherited the alcazar in 1664. Much of the beauty and decoration of the original rooms remains.
The Camara Obscura is situated in the tower at the end of the top floor.
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La Maceta
Sherry Barrel
Gonzales Byass, range of brandies, Spain
a welcome drink of sherry poured by the expert
