During a recent trip to Jerez De La Frontera to learn more about sherry, we planned ahead and were lucky to have the @delfgroup assist with making an appointment at Bodegas Lustau.

Originally founded in 1896, today Lustau is a medium sized enterprise that exports sherry on a global scale.

Our guide through the 20,000 sq/m of the Los Arcos cathedral complex was Isabel (the iconic white buildings which all face westward to the Atlantic ocean, and where sherry is aged in the solera system, are called cathedrals).

She explained all the details everyone was there to devour about sherry – including one I hadn’t known; Lustau is the only bodega which ages wine in all three cities of the sherry triangle – Jerez De La Frontera, Sanlúcar de Barrameda and El Puerto De Santa Maria.  Each venue gives a different palate and aromatic profile to the wine because of differences in humidity levels and grapes used, among other factors.

We tasted through 9 sherries with Isabel, including the only one made of Moscatel grapes we had while in Jerez.  Three white grapes are allowed in the DO for making sherry – Palomino Fino, Pedro Ximénez and Moscatel (Muscat of Alexandria). 

The Moscatel Emilín is an average of 8 years old and is surprisingly elegant and refined with good acidity to balance the 200 g/l of residual sugar.  First impressions include almonds with raisins and figs, followed by orange blossom, lime, sweet marzipan and creamy coffee.

WSET Very Good and part of what made the trip to Spain so worthwhile.