Alcademics

In September 2010 I visited several sherry bodegas. Here are pictures and a few notes from Bodegas Harvey's. 

(At the vineyard.)

(The white, chalky soil of Jerez not only seals in water to get the vines through the dry season, it reflects sunlight up to the bottom of the vines as well.)

(At the bodega, the famous Harvey's Bristol Cream.)

(Barrels of sherry at the Harvey's bodega.)

(Sherry, read for drinking!)

(The grounds at Harvey's are filled with animals like albino peacocks and...)

(a pair of alligators.)

• 75% of their grapes are machine harvested
• PX and Palomino grapes look similar but taste very different
• Vines last 30-35 years before being replaced
• Harveys sells 51% of all sherry in US. That’s most (all?) Harvey’s Bristol Cream
• Harvey’s VOS, VORS not yet sold in US. 
• The cream category of sherry was named for Harvey’s Bristol Cream
• Harvey’s has albino peacocks
• Alligators- Harvey and Kevin. Kevin didn’t get along with his former mate Sandra and killed her. Gay alligators?