#WorldsBestVineyards2023⠀ ⠀ Lucky number 21, Gonzalez Byass! ⠀ ⠀ -Our founder was young entrepreneur Manuel María González. Well versed in the world of wine trading, he decided to try his hand at the production side of things too. His maternal uncle, José Angel (known as Tio Pepe!) offered plenty of help and guidance, and thus Gonzalez Byass was born. ⠀ ⠀ -Still very much a family affair, the 5th generation still run the business today, spreading the sherry and wine love to over 100 countries in the world.⠀ ⠀ -Almost a miniature city in itself, one can lose themselves in the charm of the bodega with its vine decorated alley ways and stunning architecture. A highlight being the grand barrel hall, designed by French engineer Gustave Eiffel - yes, that’s the Eiffel behind the famous Eiffel tower.⠀ ⠀ -On the other end of the spectrum, keep an eye out for the beloved ‘drunken mice’ with their tiny step ladders and taste for Pedro Ximenez.⠀ ⠀ -The 100% electric train transports visitors around the inner workings of the bodega, ending with the all-important tasting of tapas and sherry. ⠀ ⠀ -For the full immersive experience, a stay in the Tio Pepe hotel is a must! Opened in 2020, the 150-year-old building has been transformed into a light, airy, modern space. Enjoy breakfast on the terrace and a dip in the rooftop pool, and rest assured a glass of sherry is never far from hand. ⠀ ⠀ #gonzalezbyass #sherrylovers #wineryexperience

'You're gonna need a bigger boat'...⠀ ⠀ Tio Pepe and a spot of punting from Gonzalez Byass and friends 🥂🛶⠀ ⠀ #gonzalezbyassuk #tiopepe #welovesherry

Pictured is Quinta Do Noval's 10 year old Tawny Port (and some tasty looking Pastéis de Nata..)⠀ ⠀ This port is a celebration of the region and its traditional winemaking techniques. The grapes are foot trodden and fermented in the traditional ‘lagares’ of the Quinta. The wine is then moved to 640 litre old oak barrels for ageing. ⠀ ⠀ The finished wine is a blend across vintages with an average age of 10 years, and is bottled according to demand. ⠀ ⠀ ...and what does it taste like? ⠀ ⠀ Vibrant young fruits nestle comfortably amongst lashings of rich dried fruits and nuts. Rich, smooth, and delectably moreish, serve chilled as an aperitif, a digestif, or both! (who are we to judge...)⠀ ⠀ #quintadonoval #tawnyport #gonzalezbyassuk

A terrific trade lunch at the @swanglobe hosted by senior winemaker Emma Wood from @wirrawirrawines ⠀ ⠀ While the 'core' range of Wirra Wirra is particularly well known in the UK market, you can spot two of the 'Flagship range' in the second image; wines which really encapsulate the nuances of the terroir in McLaren Vale.⠀ ⠀ An interesting insight into one of these wines from Emma below:⠀ ⠀ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟔 𝐀𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞⠀ ⠀ 🍷 Emma speaks of the excitement about grenache coming out of McLaren Vale in general. ⠀ ⠀ 🍇 A vine pull scheme as the result of a drop off in popularity of fortified wine styles led to the demise of many old grenache vines, but those that survived are an impressive 100+ years old, a huge contributing factor to the buzz! ⠀ ⠀ 🌱 Planted in a 'rougher' area of the region with shallower soils, makes the vines really 'fight' to survive. This contributes to the superb balance and texture of the wine, as well as the stability that lends itself to successful bottle aging - something often overlooked with grenache wines.⠀ ⠀ Now how's this for a delicious sounding wine:⠀ ⠀ Heady and lifted with liqueur cherry and wild raspberry. Asian spice, ginger, red licorice and rose petal florals form a deep and complex bouquet. On the palate, the combination of succulent red berries, Turkish Delight and darker, concentrated brooding fruits and florals is framed by lithe, sandy tannins. A wine of layers and grace.⠀ ⠀ Our stocks of this remarkable wine are very limited, so do get in touch if you're interested!⠀ ⠀ #wirrawirrawines #oldvinegrenache #gonzalezbyassuk

Quinta do Noval Nacional 2021 ⠀ ⠀ We've chosen to focus on the truly unique Nacional port, produced from ungrafted vines, completely untouched by phylloxera.⠀ ⠀ The term 'Nacional' refers to the concept that these special wines are 'attached to the soil of the nation'. Produced from Portuguese vines in Portuguese soils with no foreign rootstock, they are amongst the finest expressions of terroir in the Douro Valley. ⠀ ⠀ This unique little enclave in the heart of the Quinta do Noval vineyard marches to the beat of its own drum. Sometimes declared when a vintage port is not, and other years not performing as a vintage port shines. When both are declared in the same year, it is always remarkable to discover how distinctly different they are from one another.⠀ ⠀ The 2021 is initially rich and uninhibited in the nose, revealing fragrant floral fruits as it opens in the glass, a rare expression for this wine at this stage. Rich on the palate, displaying delicious plum and berry flavours, supported by layers of silky tannins and a touch of liquorice, culminating in a smooth, long and slightly spicy floral finish. This wine exhibits a remarkable elegance and purity.⠀ ⠀ #quintadonoval #winesofportugal #gonzalezbyassuk

Another day, another tasting and training of Gonzalez Byass products at a 5* hotel. ⠀ ⠀ This time at the @panpacificlondon with an incredible line up of Champagne Deutz 🥂 👌⠀ ⠀ #gonzalezbyassuk #deutzchampagne #winetasting #winetraining