There are so many ways to drink sherry, and for this Sherry Week (November 6-12) I tasted through four different styles with tinned seafood conservas — a pairing they love in Spain. Tio Pepe is a Fino style, delicate and the most neutral, aged for 4 years under the flor. I liked it with the fish in olive oil. The Fino en … Continue reading
Some great summer cocktails involve vermouth, which is made from a neutral base wine and lots of botanicals. A common misperception is that red vermouth is made with a base of red wine, but actually the color just comes from different botanicals. Lustau, a prominent sherry house in Jerez, Spain, even makes a “rosé” vermouth. … Continue reading
This year, Sherry Week is November 7-13, and to celebrate González Byass sent a sampling of sherries and Jasper Hill Farms cheeses. My favorite pairing was the hard Whitney with either the fino or the amontillado. The fino was the suggested pairing and I liked the mild oxidation in the Tio Pepe with the cheese, but there was a nuttiness to it … Continue reading
Fino sherry is super refreshing for summer – light, dry almond skin and served cold (often with a plate of great jamon) – but you can also put it into a cocktail. Make a bare-bones version with just fino sherry and soda water, or you can follow the official recipe: 2 oz Tio Pepe Fino … Continue reading
Giving anything but grapes would just be completely un-grapefriendy or friend-y at all pretty much. So here’s my rundown of some great and fun bottles to give to all types of people in your life! token cheer Ah, the perennial holiday must: the token gift as a small but happy thanks to all sorts of … Continue reading
Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis spent this past weekend in Jerez, the Spanish town where sherry is made. The Daily Mail said he’s “clutching a bottle of what looked like red wine” – good lord, please call grapefriend before printing these things. They’re in Jerez, and the bottle clearly says “Cream” on it which means … Continue reading
If you’re a grapefriend, St. Patrick’s Day is like being Jewish on Christmas. Until now. Grab a Firestone Walker beer, many of which are made in bourbon and sherry barrels. They. Are. Awesome. Here are the old spirits being pushed out of the barrel by the beer (beer is kind of territorial I guess). I tasted … Continue reading
“A dry sherry and salted almonds are quite the thing now and not quite as ‘old-generation’ as some think!” – pippa middleton We just finished a season of Downton Abbey that was quite tumultuous. If you’re going through that much dramz, a tipple of sherry comes in handy and they had their fair share – the … Continue reading
