Varietal: 100% uva Palomino Fino
Region: Jerez-Xérès-Sherry
Tasting Notes: Pale straw colored. Firm structure, salty touches, tense acidity, details of mushrooms, Marconi almonds, lemon peel, and the textured sensation of drinking lime, this is a mirror of the white albariza soil of Jerez. The Fino must be served very cold, between 7 and 9º C. Summer vibes!
Pairing: Ideal wine for the aperitif and for all kinds of tapas, especially olives, nuts and Iberian ham. Ideal companion for seafood and fish, especially those with a marked salty flavor (anchovies) and raw (sashimi). Due to its low content of acetic acid, it combines exceptionally with dishes of outstanding acidity (salads with vinaigrette, marinades, etc.) as well as cold soups (gazpacho, white garlic …). This Fennel Salad With Anchovy and Olives by David Tanis would be a great way to start a light meal paired with Cesar Florido Sherry Fino.
About: César Florido was founded in 1887 and is currently maintained by César Florido, a fifth-generation descendant of the founder. The winery is the oldest bodega in the town of Chipiona, located five miles from Sanlúcar de Barrameda along the road which continues to Rota. César Florido is one of only two bodegas in Chipiona that are still operating outside of the cooperative. César Florido is one of the few wineries that still bottles its own wines in the enchanting beach town of Chipiona. The Cruz del Mar is the paradigm of summer Fino, ideal to drink at the beach.
Chipiona, famous for its lighthouse which is the tallest in Spain, is an area dedicated to growing the moscatel grape, but most of the wine produced here is sold in bulk to the Sherry Houses of Jerez de la Frontera, El Puerto de Santa María, and Sanlúcar de Barrameda. César Florido, by contrast, is one of the few bodegas that is estate bottling and who presses his own mosto, or base wine, from family vineyards planted to palomino fino, as well as purchased grapes from long-time growers. Utilizing native yeast fermentation, César crafts wines of incredible personality.
A longtime almacenista, César began estate bottling in 1988, and recently has emerged from obscurity to cult-status for his enthralling range of wines which are uniquely Chipiona and have become among the best in the zone. Although technically Chipiona lies outside the Zona de Crianza for the D.O., he makes some of the most singular wines in the area, sought out by true believers in César.
