Yes, Jerez is worth a visit, as a day from Seville rather than a base, and for two things most visitors do not expect: the Andalusian horses of the Royal School and a private visit to a mansion that has been in the same family for more than 600 years. The sherry is the famous reason to go, and the honest one is the horses.
In our founder’s words: Jerez is a smaller Seville with the same warm, easy mood, plus world-class thoroughbred horses and historic wine bodegas.
See where Jerez fits: 7-Day Private Southern Spain Tour: Seville to Granada. Or talk to a planner, who replies within one business day.
The horses
The Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre stages its performance, How the Andalusian Horses Dance, on Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon, 90 minutes with a short break, with extra Friday shows from August to October and the occasional Saturday. The arena is small and sells out, so we book it when we confirm your trip. Clients who have no particular interest in horses leave talking about it. On non-show mornings you can watch the training sessions instead.
The mansion
A handful of our American clients each year visit a private palace in the old town that has stayed in one noble family for six centuries, filled with Spanish paintings and family antiques. Some visits include meeting a member of the family. We arrange it by request and it is not bookable online.
The sherry
Jerez gives its name to sherry, and the bodegas are grand. Sandeman sits near the horse school, and Díez Mérito is another we like. We will say plainly that most of our clients, and most of our team, prefer Spain’s reds, whites and cava, so we suggest one bodega rather than three unless sherry is your passion.
Where to eat
Jerez keeps its old taverns, called tabancos, where sherry is poured from the barrel with simple plates. They are small, and we hold our favorites for clients traveling with us.
How to get there
A regional train runs from Seville to Jerez in about an hour, with a taxi to the horse school. With us, a private driver collects you at your Seville hotel, so the horse show, one bodega, a tabanco lunch and the mansion fit in one day without watching the clock.
Clients have come back to Spain three and four times and still not finished it. Tell us what you want from Andalusia and a planner replies within one business day.
