A mild climate and abundant natural resources have encouraged people to settle in the region since ancient times. Nowadays there are a number of major towns in the area, some but a few kilometres from each other. Nine of these have vineyards belonging to the Denomination of Origin within their municipal boundaries.

IMPORTANT WINE CITIES

Jerez, El Puerto de Santa María, Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Rota and Chiclana are some of the most noteworthy towns on this route. They boast more than 3,200 hours of sunshine per year. This, combined with the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, the properties of the soil and the region’s characteristic winds guarantee perfect ripening of the grapes through to the moment of the harvest.

These are charming towns with long-standing traditions, as can be seen in the equestrian art of Jerez and at the bullrings of El Puerto de Santa María, Jerez and Sanlúcar.

JEREZ D LA FRONTERA

Jerez de la Frontera is the largest city in the area and capital of the wine region to which it lends its name. Located upon one of many hills which dominate a wide open landscape of albariza soil, mid-way between the nearby mountains of the sierra and the shining white towns and villages of the coast, Jerez is forceful and dynamic, a place where sherry wines share the stage with other age-old symbols of the city, such as flamenco and horse breeding. A modern city of around 200,000 inhabitants but one which is well aware and proud of its past heritage in which the wine-growing industry has had an essential role to play, helping to mould both the cultural and architectural characteristics of the city itself.

PUERTO DE SANTA MARIA

Where the River Guadalete flows out into the Bay of Cádiz, just a few kilometres from Jerez, stands the historic town of El Puerto de Santa María, part wine producer and part fishing port, these days a first class tourist resort thanks to the exceptional quality of its beaches and its privileged location right in the heart of the Bay.

SANLUCAR DE BARRAMEDA

Further to the north, standing opposite the impressive Coto Doñana reserve at the mouth of the most symbolic river in all Andalucia, the Guadalquivir, we find the remaining vertex of the mythical Sherry Triangle: Sanlúcar de Barrameda. City of noble lineage and origin of Manzanilla, a wine of special characteristics fruit of this proximity to the sea and which reaches the summit of excellence when accompanied by the wonderful local dishes.