Nannas come one come all! Wine snobs may turn their noses and exclude it from their festivals but your favourite tipple is celebrated in September in Jerez – the world’s sherry capital. The wine harvest in Jerez is celebrated with the feast of the Nativity of Our Lady around the 8th of September. It’s one of only three sherry producing towns so they have a corner in the amontillado and fino market, so they really make this into a big deal. Women, who probably aren’t Nannas play the honour roles in the festival and preside over events which include motorcycle races, bullfights, concerts, flamenco dancing and loads of sherry fuelled parties. They ride around on floats decorated opulent, Bacchus-style, throwing sweets and treasures to the children – lots of countries wouldn’t allow this kind of advertising of alcohol to young children, but this is tradition! Her final stop is the church where a ceremony to bless the vines is held before the party proper starts.

Frankly, this region of Spain is one of the most beautiful, the lifestyle chilled and the countryside has a golden light to it, but with a shot of sherry inside you it all seems to glow. I’m assuming they don’t combine the sherry drinking with the motorcycle races but I wouldn’t be surprised considering the driving skills on display, but it’s definitely combined with the flamenco. This festival is fantastic fun and will probably make me share a sherry toast with my Nanna in future, so the traditional advertising still works.

Written by  Fabian Condello.

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