Valdespino, Aperitifs & Spirits, `Rare Spirits` Solera Gran Reserva Brandy de Jerez

Crowned 'Fortified Producer of the Year' at the 2024 Sommelier Wine Awards, Valdespino is one of the oldest bodegas in Jerez, with a history dating back six centuries. Today, Valdespino own 750 hectares of vineyards, a rarity in Jerez, allowing them close control over grape quality and resulting in some of the world's most revered Sherries.

The bodega takes its name from Alfonso Valdespino, one of 24 knights who fought against the Arabs for the city of Jerez with King Alfonso X in 1264. As a reward for his efforts, he was given the land that formed the basis of the bodega. Today, Valdespino belongs to the Estevez family, who purchased the bodega in 1999.

Valdespino are one of the very few bodegas currently producing single-vineyard Sherries, and the unfortified barrel-fermented Palomino, from their organically-farmed ‘Macharnudo Alto’ vineyard. It is a remarkable site, located at one of the highest points of the Jerez DO at 135 metres elevation on pure albariza soils.

The Fino ‘Inocente’ is made entirely from ‘Macharnudo Alto’ fruit and is the only Fino Sherry currently fermented in oak barrels. It is intense and complex, having gone through biological ageing in a solera system of ten ‘criaderas’ (most Finos only go through three) and is bottled without any fining or filtration ‘en rama’. The ‘Tio Diego’ Amontillado is essentially a continuation of the ‘Inocente’ solera, with additional dried fruit and nutty complexity from the oxidative ageing that comes about when the layer of ‘flor’ breaks down. The ‘Single Cask’ Palo Cortado is ‘Macharnudo Alto’ Palomino from a single vintage, aged in just one cask and released with considerable bottle age.

Valdespino are particularly renowned for their VOS (Very Old Sherry) with over 20 years of ageing and VORS (Very Old Rare Sherry) with over 30 years of ageing. The Oloroso Solera 1842 VOS, for example, is produced from a solera that was established in the mid-19th century.

Valdespino's 'Herencia' range is a collection of aperitifs made with VOS Oloroso following heritage recipes from the early 20th century. The Vermouth is a blend of Oloroso and Moscatel, steeped in a selection of botanicals including mugwort, elderberry, gentian, chamomile flowers, cinnamon, dried Seville oranges and juniper berries. The Quina combines Oloroso with Pedro Ximénez from the ‘El Candado’ solera, Cinchona bark (Quina), gentian root, natural liquorice extract, nutmeg and dried citrus fruits.

The range is completed by two premium spirits: the ‘Solera Gran Reserva’ Brandy de Jerez and the ‘Ron Viejo’ rum. Valdespino began importing, and solera ageing, rare distillates in the 1900s. Many of these stayed tucked away in a corner of the bodega until 1999, when the Estevez family acquired the firm and rediscovered these treasures. Over decades, the rum solera has been topped up with selected rums from Panama (70%) and the Dominican Republic (30%). On the nose, it beautifully blends complex notes of caramel, spice, sherry, and citrus. The Brandy de Jerez is a blend of the finest ‘holandas’ distillates, aged in the solera system for over 25 years. It is warm and complex on the palate with aromas of candied orange, oak, honey and hazelnuts and an exceptionally long finish.