The new tasting room at Bodegas Luis Pérez. Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. June 10, 2024.
Rachel King
Set upon an idyllic Spanish hilltop, Bodegas Luis Perez disrupts the status quo in Jerez de la Frontera, the global capital of sherry production. Here, tradition meets innovation as the winery revives old red grape varietals and challenges sherry’s dominance with exciting new wines gaining international acclaim.
Luis Perez vineyards offer a glimpse into a passionate winemaker’s journey to revive forgotten … More traditions and create unique red wines in an unexpected region. Bodegas Luis Pérez. Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. June 10, 2024.
Rachel King
Luis Perez, unsatisfied with the region’s sole focus on sherry, launched his winery in 2002. Similar to many European wine regions, some local producers resisted change.
The winery began modestly, utilizing existing farm buildings. A key mission was reviving nearly extinct local red grapes devastated by 19th-century phylloxera, an insect pest that loves to attack grapevines for which there is still no cure. It is originally native to eastern North America before finding its way to Europe around 1860.
By focusing on red and white still wines and reviving old grape varietals, the winery is carving its … More own niche in the Spanish wine scene. Bodegas Luis Pérez. Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. June 10, 2024.
Rachel King
Luis Perez employs a blend of modern and traditional methods. To ensure top-quality grapes during Jerez’s hot climate, they harvest at night, avoiding midday heat that can damage fruit. Unlike sherry, their wines are not fortified, meaning alcohol content is not increased artificially.
MORE FROM FORBES ADVISOR
Luis Pérez offers a selection of single-varietal and blended wines. Bodegas Luis Pérez. Jerez de la … More Frontera, Spain. June 10, 2024.
Rachel King
Focusing on red grapes like syrah, merlot, cabernet sauvignon and the Andalucian indigenous grape tintilla de rota, they even cultivate palomino fino (also a local grape typically used for sherry) for educational purposes in a dedicated vineyard with 100% albariza soil. For red wines, French oak barrels impart distinct flavors, though used for shorter periods than traditional methods that require at least one to two years. White and rosé wines mature in steel tanks, preserving their pure character.
Palomino Fino grapes on the vine. Bodegas Luis Pérez. Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. June 10, 2024.
Rachel King
And during the aging process, the winery uses French oak barrels for aging red wines (albeit for a shorter period compared to traditional methods that call for at least one to two years of barrel aging), imparting a distinct flavor to the wines. White and rosé wines are matured in steel tanks to avoid oak flavor influence.
An emblem of (and memorial for) the family dog. Bodegas Luis Pérez. Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. … More June 10, 2024.
Rachel King
Looking ahead, Luis Perez plans to increase production of their sherry wines made using the original “flor” method. Flor is the thin layer of yeast cells that lives on top of biologically aged sherry wines, and it transforms fino and manzanilla sherry. The winery is also looking to expand its distribution network, including exports to the United States.