Seville Spain - A Journey of Sherry, Olives and Flavors

*presstrip Spain*

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Planning a trip to southern Spain? Seville is the perfect base for exploring the best of Andalusia—flamenco, historic landmarks, world-class cuisine, olive oil estates, and famous Sherry wineries. 

If you are interested to see my Instagram stories from our trip (Seville and region) please go to my  Instagram highlights or click from here 

Seville is a city that seduces all the senses. With its golden sunlight, scent of orange blossoms, and deep rhythms of flamenco, it’s a place where culture and cuisine meet in the most memorable ways. Our 5-day journey through Seville and its surrounding included Sherry wineries in Jerez, world-class jamón in Jabugo and olive oil winery. 

Jerez – A Sherry Lover’s Paradise

Just an hour from Seville, Jerez de la Frontera is a must for wine lovers. It’s one of the three towns that form the famous Sherry Triangle and home of the region’s Sherry bodegas. Even if Sherry isn’t your drink of choice, the town itself is full of charm and well worth a visit and a nice day trip destination. 

 If you’ve ever wondered how this wine gets its distinctive character, here’s an insider look at how sherry is made in Jerez. The most commonly used grape is Palomino, which forms the base of dry sherries like Fino and Amontillado. Pedro Ximénez and Moscatel grapes are used for sweeter styles. 

One of the most unique aspects of sherry production is the aging process, especially the development of flor—a natural yeast that forms on the surface of the wine in barrels. Sherry is aged using a fascinating method called the solera system—a network of barrels stacked in tiers. Young wine is gradually blended with older wines, ensuring consistency and complexity. This fractional blending means a bottle of sherry can contain traces of wines that are decades old. It’s like a living history in a glass.

Here you can find a sort presentation of our three wineries where we visited and had our sherry tastings.

Bodegas González Byass/Tio Pepe

Our fist stop was Bodegas Tío Pepe, which is one of the most iconic and internationally recognised Sherry producers in Spain. As part of the González Byass group, it plays a key role in the history and global reputation of Jerez’s sherry-making tradition.

Founded in 1835, this historic bodega is known worldwide for its iconic Fino sherry, instantly recognizable by the signature bottle with a red hat and guitar.

One of the most enchanting parts of the visit was simply wandering the courtyards. Calle Unión, a former street of old Jerez, is now a romantic walkway lined with grapevines. And the Jardín de la Catedral offers a breathtaking view of Jerez’s cathedral, making it an ideal photo spot.

The guided tour took us through the elegant cellars and courtyards, where we learned how Tío Pepe sherry is crafted using the unique solera system, a fractional blending method that gives it consistency and complexity. We also saw the famous cathedral-style bodegas, where control or temperature and humidity are crucial for aging the sherry.

The tour ended with a tasting of several sherries. Whether you're a sherry enthusiast or a curious traveler, Tío Pepe offers a fascinating and accessible introduction to this iconic Andalusian wine.

Bodegas Fundador – The Oldest Sherry Bodega in Jerez

Founded in 1730, Bodegas Fundador is not only one of the finest wineries in Jerez but also the oldest bodega in the entire Marco de Jerez region. I was truly amazed when we stepped into Bodega La Mezquita—one of Jerez’s grand Cathedral Bodegas, home to over 40.000 barrels of wine. The bodega stays naturally cool year-round, thanks to its soaring ceilings and cleverly positioned windows. 

Bodegas Osborne

The third stop on our sherry journey was Bodegas Osborne, a name synonymous with tradition, innovation, and the unmistakable silhouette of the Osborne bull—a symbol that has become a national icon across Spain since 1956.

Founded in 1772, Osborne is one of the oldest and most prestigious producers in the Sherry Triangle. 

Of course, the visit ended with a nice tasting

Hacienda Guzmán & Olive Oil Experience

In the heart of the Andalusian countryside, you can truly feel the weight of 500 years of olive oil tradition. At Hacienda Guzmán, a historic estate dedicated to preserving this legacy, we walked among old olive trees and discovered the art of cold-pressing olives into extra virgin oil. It was a beautiful and sensory journey into Spain’s agricultural heritage. The tasting session—featuring Hacienda Guzmán’s finest oils paired with fresh local bread—was a highlight and reminded me a lot wine tasting. 

Hacienda Guzmán offers a unique journey into the world of olive oil production and Andalusian heritage. And of course the Andalusian Garden at Hacienda Guzmán was so beautiful with all the blooming flowers.

Our tour ended with nice olive oil tasting session with unique flavors and aromas,

Jabugo & the Art of Jamón

We took a drive to Jabugo, the home of Cinco Jotas, Spain’s legendary jamón ibérico. We toured the Cinco Jotas curing cellars, where jamón legs are aged slowly using time-honored methods. The experience ended with a premium jamón ibérico tasting.

The best part of this visit was to walk through the stunning landscape, where we had the chance to see Iberian pigs roaming freely under oak trees. These pigs are raised on a natural diet of acorns, herbs, and grasses, which gives the ham its distinct flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture. The pigs come here at the age 3-4 month and live here about to 18-22 months before they are slaughtered. If you compare these natural conditions with indoor pigsties, these Iberian pigs here have excellent conditions to roam freely and one pig has to have at least one hectare moving space. All the pigs are also castrated, so they can be in the same herds.

Seville, Jerez, and Andalusia’s countryside offered a perfect mix of food, culture, and history. Whether you're a wine lover, foodie, or culture seeker, southern Spain offers unforgettable memories.

Thank you Seville and Spain for these lovely 5 days!