This coming week, November 7-13 is International Sherry Week, a fantastic week-long, worldwide celebration of the top class wines of Jerez, Sanlucar and el Puerto promoted by the Consejo Regulador and the team at sherry.wine.  They have an absolutely brilliant search tool to help you find local events, of which there appear to be no fewer than 71 planned in Madrid.

I am feeling a little bit sheepish about the whole thing since my other commitments have limited my availability a lot lately and I am not sure of being able to take part in many of the events over the next week. In fact doubly sheepish, since all the events are probably sold out and this post is thus probably too late to be of practical use for many people. Even so, I wanted to celebrate some of the outstanding events that are lined up (and you never know there may be the odd place available).

Monday, November 7 –

• I will be going to a brilliant vertical tasting of Bodegas Tradicion hosted by Reserva y Cata and am really looking forward to seeing the evolution of these top class wines
• There is also a dinner and tasting of the wines of Gonzalez Byass at La Cabra which looks absolutely top class

Tuesday, November 8 –

• Reserva y Cata will be hosting a tasting of the Williams & Humbert Colección Añadas (and if there were any places left that would be really worthwhile); and
• La Malaje have organized a cracking paired menu hosted by top sherryman Pepe Ferrer
• (In the virtual sphere there will also be the 2016 edition of the fantastic #SherryTT by SherryNotes)

Wednesday, November 9  is a holiday in Madrid and there isn’t as much going on

Thursday, November 10 –

• Taberna Palo Cortado has arranged a pairing menu matching the wines of Bodegas Tradicion and the salazones and conservas of Herpac
• Although not on the official Sherryweek program – and sold out long ago – Taberna Verdejo will be hosting Paola Medina of Williams & Humbert and Juancho Asenjo for another tasting/paired menu based around the excellent Colección Añadas

Friday, November 11  –

• Reserva y Cata will be hosting an intriguing looking cata of “lost wines” – El Jerez Perdido
• Vila Viniteca has lined up a fascinating tasting “Siendo Generosos” including the wines of Jerez and other fortified wines (not on the official sherryweek program).

But this list is really only scraping the surface – you can take a look at the 71 official events in Madrid, the 889 in Spain or the many hundreds or even thousands around the world on the official website.

And neither should we forget the other places where every week is Sherry Week. At Enoteca Barolo they will be hosting the 11th sessions (two groups) of their awesome course on the traditional wines of Andalucia and at Surtopia, Angelita, la Fisna, Territorio ERA and elsewhere it will be sherry business as usual. I am looking forward to another great week and to getting my sherry on. Don’t be surprised if your twitter timelines take on a radically pro-sherry flavour in the coming days!