Weather forecast Jerez

Jerez (including rainfall and temperature averages)

Most Spanish people agree that people from Jerez are a little bit “different”. Perhaps what they mean is “a little bit English” – the thriving sherry and brandy industry here has attracted more than its fair share of British families, who arrived a few hundred years ago as Catholic refugees from Protestant England and stayed to become some of the richest people in the area. Or possibly they are referring to the unique flavour it acquired as an independent Arab emirate on the frontier between Muslim and Christian Spain in the eleventh and twelfth centuries; poised between two contrasting cultures, it was forced to forge a new identity. Whatever it is, there’s certainly something slightly other-worldly about Jerez, which makes it an intriguing place to visit.

Like everywhere in Andalucía, the town has a warm climate with temperatures ranging from around 10°C in January to highs of 33°C in summer; indeed, even in April, wandering the bleached white streets can be exhausting. Timing is crucial when planning a trip here, as you won’t want to miss one of the two great festivals that attract visitors from all over Spain. Jerez is known as the capital of sherry, horses and flamenco: these are celebrated passionately throughout the year but most of all at the May Horse Fair, the most refined of the Andalusian ferias. Great pavilions are constructed on the outskirts of the town, and the aristocracy (still a very important concept in these parts) host large parties there. Virtuoso displays of horsemanship go on throughout the day, admired as much for the rippling strength and grace of the animals as the prowess of their riders, and flamenco performers often choose to debut new songs here. As the evenings draw in, the dancing begins… In September, the celebration of the sherry vintage, or Vendimia as it is known, is an occasion for joyful drinking – a week of it, in fact.

These are probably the best times to visit, but you can enjoy the city’s specialities the rest of the year. Most of the sherry and brandy bodegas offer tours, demonstrating the processes before allowing you to taste. The Andalucian Centre of Flamenco is based here and stages regular performances; you can also take classes if you’re here for a while. The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art is comparable to the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. Although less showy than those of nearby Seville or Cadiz, the medieval quarter is very pretty – don’t miss the Palace of Bertemati or the lovely old Monastery of Cartuja. Typical of Jerez’s eccentricity, there is a Museum of Watches here, for no obvious reason. The Archeological Museum is also well worth a visit.

Festivals aside, nightlife is not a priority in this town, and you’re likely to find little beyond small local bars. Food, on the other hand, is delicious – and of course themed around the local tipple. Try chorizo, mushrooms or kidneys cooked in sherry. Hearty chickpea or lentil stews are also delicious…