As my desire to learn more about sherry keeps growing, I’ve been able to attend tastings and formal seminars that pop up around Portland. They’ve been so vital in shaping my education. My favorite and most memorable was given in March 2014.
I was given the invitation to attend Lemma Wine Company’s seminar for Lustau presented by Cristina Bilbao Alonso and Lucia Ramos. I was completely new to this experience and it left an amazing impression on me.
I took my place close to the front, and was thankful for the materials and snacks provided. Sherry shows its true colors best with food. Everyone there was in the industry, but I could not tell how familiar they were with sherry.
I loved hearing Cristina’s familiar accent. Her presentation was so full of information and details, I couldn’t write fast enough. It was exactly what I wanted from a tasting and I found myself envying Cristina’s job as Lustau’s ambassador. I wished I could lead others through a guided sherry tasting educating them about the history and aging process at the same time!
Later that night, the ladies also did a more casual tasting at Bar Vivant. No better way to enjoy sherry than in the company of friends. I was glad I could share my obsession with my husband Jason, my local artist friend Rachel Austin, and fellow sherry lover Anthony along with his wife.
The evening gave me more time to get questions answered and to make a new connection in Jerez. The best advice I took away from that time with Cristina was how to pair sherry best with food:
If it SWIMS – Fino or Manzanilla
If it FLIES – Amontillado or Palo Cortado
If it RUNS – Oloroso
Sherry Sips ~ obsession from grape to glass 
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