What's New in May

Around the World with Elcano

Magellan who?

Anyone who has completed a high school history course can tell you that Ferdinand Magellan was the first person to circumnavigate the globe, but the part of the lesson that is always forgotten is that Magellan died in the South Pacific before his great voyage was completed. So what happened next?

Magellan's crew carried on. One of the fleet's captains, Juan Sebastián Elcano, took command of the expedition and arrived in Sanlúcar de Barrameda on September 6, 1522. Elcano was named a national hero and honored across Spain, from his home of Getaria to the place of his arrival in Sherry. He was even awarded a coat of arms, by King Charles I, that bore an image of the globe and the motto "Primus circumdedisti me", Latin for "The first to go around me."

Elcano and Sherry

Even today, the people of Spain adore Juan Sebastián Elcano. Nowhere is the adoration more apparent than the two places that have the closest connection to Elcano: the Basque Country of his birth and his adopted home of Sherry. It's not uncommon to find restaurants, parks or other places that bear his name, but it is more than just places that are named after Elcano.

Gutierrez Colosia of El Puerto de Santa Maria in the D.O. of Jerez - Xérèz - Sherry named their Fino Sherry in honor of this local hero and even decorated the label with an image of his ship, the Victoria. Gutierrez Colosia's Fino Elcano is now available here in the US as one of our three finos from the three villages of Sherry.

Three Villages, Three Sherries.

The D.O. Jerez - Xérèz - Sherry y Manzanilla is divided into three villages. Each of these villages, El Puerto de Santa Maria, Jerez de la Frontera, and Sanlúcar de Barrameda, provide a unique microclimate that permiates the flor and gives the finos of each town their own distinct flavor.

Gutierrez Colosia, Fino Elcano - El Puerto de Santa Maria
Aged in the solera for four years and then freshly bottled straight off the lees with only a minimal cold stabilization before bottling.

El Maestro Sierra, Fino - Jerez de la Frontera
The non-vintage Fino offers up aromas and flavors of sea salt and roasted nuts. It is excellent as an aperitif or as an accompaniment to sushi. –J.M. (Wine Advoate #169, 2-28-07)

La Cigarrera, Manzanilla - Sanlúcar de Barrameda
Vibrant and fresh with aromas of yeasts and salinity. The wine on the palate is rich and substantial with a long finish. -A.T.

Also new...

Now Available - Porróns

We now have porróns available for your personal use. Please contact your local distributor for more information.

Now Available - Txakolina

Xarmant Txakolina 2006
Txakolina from D.O. Arabako Txakolina made from Hondarribi Zuri with some Izkiriota, Izkiriota Ttippia and Hondarribi Zuri Zerratia.

Ameztoi Txakolina 2006
Txakolina from D.O. Getariako Txakolina made from Hondarribi Zuri and Hondarribi Beltza.

Ameztoi Rubentis Txakolina 2006
Rosé txakolina from D.O. Getariako Txakolina made from Hondarribi Beltza and Hondarribi Zuri.

Coming Soon - More Txakolina

Uriondo Txakolina 2006
From the D.O. Bizkaiko Txakolina, this Txakolina is made from Mune Mahatsa and Txori Mahatsa with some Hondarribi Zuri.

Doniene Txakolina 2006
Also from the D.O. Bizkaiko Txakolina, this Txakolina is made from only Hondarribi Zuri.

Gorrondona Txakolina 2006
From the same producer of Doniene Txakolina, this red Txakolina is made from only Hondarribi Beltza.

Links of Interest

>What's New Archive
>André's Report
>André's Travel Blog