Category Archives: sherry

sherry twitter tasting

24 Saturday Oct 2015

Posted by in sherry, wine

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palo cortadoOn the heels of receiving my Sherry Educator Certificate I was also chosen to participate in one of two Sherry Twitter Tastings, being held during International Sherry Week. And I got chosen for the Palo Cortado tasting – bonus! Here is my set of samples, which I got in the mail this week. Including the one that inspired my sherry ephiphany – the VORS from Bodegas Tradición. Apparently that little one in the middle is especially rare. Anyhow, really looking forward to taking part in this.

If you want to follow along pop onto Twitter on November 3rd at 19.00h CEST and look for the #SherryTT hashtag.

sherry educator

17 Saturday Oct 2015

Posted by in andalucia, sherry

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sherry educatorI am now an Certified Sherry Educator!

I honestly can’t tell you how thrilled I am about this. The course was intense and a great combination of hard work and fun. The teachers were all outstanding, the visits, tastings, meals, etc all top notch. And the part of the exam I’d feared most (blind tasting) was very challenging, but I took my time (literally the last one to leave) and ended up getting a 6/6. Phew!

More on the course later, just wanted to put this up to show you before I head out for a final day in Jerez with friends, doing a “Tabanco Trawl”. I’m soooooo happy, guys. Truly a dream come true. Yay me!  🙂

#sherryed15 day one

15 Thursday Oct 2015

Posted by in andalucia, sherry

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se day1 (1)

I started off yesterday with a “off the schedule” visit to Bodegas Lustau, which was great. I first went there about a year and a half ago and this time we were shown around by Juan, followed by a tasting of their fabulous sherries.

In the evening the course officially started off with a history lesson in El Puerto de Santa María followed by dinner in the San Marco castle. There are 25 of us taking the course. So far I’ve only met and spoken with a few of them. Now dashing off for an action-packed Day Two. So thrilled to be doing this.

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Twitter hashtag: SherryEd15

practice makes perfect?

13 Tuesday Oct 2015

Posted by in food & drink, sevilla, sherry

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sherry testOn the eve of leaving for the Sherry Educator course I met up with dear friend Victor @WeLoveMalaga who happened to be in town for a few hours, and we ended up at Las Teresas, which gave me an opportunity to practice one of the blind tastings I’m dreading the most. Telling the difference between fino and manzanilla. So I asked the guys at the bar to set me up with a half-serving of each, but not to tell me which was which…

I was a bit confused at first, they kind of smelled the same to me. Then Victor said – “they smell completely different!” – and I realised I was just being nervous. So I took the two glasses again and took another sniff of both… and no question. I knew immediately which one was manzanilla. Ha! Without even tasting them. I sure hope I can do that again on Friday!

I also hope I can tell the difference between a palo cortado and oloroso when the time comes. Off to pack…