Explore the soul of Andalucía through its iconic Sherry wines—shaped by sun, sea, and solera—then journey to Spain’s island outposts, where unique grapes and ingenious vine-growing traditions craft wines as distinctive as the landscapes themselves.
The dazzlingly white limestone-rich soils of the Andalucía wine region have been given voice by the Palomino grape. The combination of sea and heat and sun have taken wine and elevated it into something that reflects the passage of time—in barrel under a film of surface yeast or in barrels via a complex fractionalized blending process known as the “solera.” These fortified wines bear the salty tang of their birthplace, the heat of their climate and the soul of a winemaking process that honors wine with a hauntingly beautiful patina of age. Discover the intricacies of sherry wines!
Next we'll visit the Balearic and Canary Islands, where the vines compete with the tourists as the consummate sun-worshipers. Sunburn and wind burn are serious problems for human and grapevine alike! The islanders have developed some unique viticultural practices to block the westerlies, collect rainfall and trellis the vine. And the grapes they grow—Prensal, Listan Blanco, Callet, Manto Negro, and Listan Negro—are equally singular. Just as the islands themselves represent but a small fraction of the landmass below the waves, wine production is distinguished not by its volume but by its sizable sweep of character.
Online Info
- You will receive the zoom link and any handouts needed a few days before class via email. Check spam and contact [email protected] if you have not received it within 1 business day of your class/event.
- If you have a tasting kit, it may be picked up at San Francisco Wine School or delivered across the US.
- Wine parameter lists are available for those participating in locations where kits cannot be delivered. View pickup and delivery options here.
- Those who would like to attend online and forgo the wine tastings can choose "Skip the Wine".
- Wine lists and instructions are included in your kit.
