t Gleaming fermentation tanks used to make beer at Cervezas Río Azul
Andalucía’s searing summer heat makes seeing the sights thirsty work. Fortunately the range of local tipples is as varied as the myriad tapas dishes which invariably accompany them. Whether your preference is for wine, beer, spirits or all three, there’s no end of ways to quench your thirst here.
t Gleaming fermentation tanks used to make beer at Cervezas Río Azul
When the mercury begins to rise, many Andalucíans forgo fino in favour of a refreshing beer. Many towns and cities have breweries, including Seville. Sip the city’s best brews at Cervezas Río Azul (www.cervezasrioazul.com) or Maquila (Calle Delgado 4; 955 18 23 20). A Córdoba hotspot is Cervezas Califa, where you can sample everything from stouts to wheat beers (www.cervezascalifa.com).
If you like the strong stuff, Andalucía has got you covered. Gin is popular and Málaga, in particular, is the source of some interesting infusions – Simbuya, for instance, produces a gin flavoured with purple carrot (www.simbuyagin.com). Brandy is big business in Jerez de la Frontera, with bodegas like González Byass offering distillery tours. Learn about the sweet, aniseed-flavoured liqueur Anisette at the Anis Museum in Rute (www.museodelanis.com) or try Miura, a cherry liqueur made to a centuries-old recipe from a Cazalla de la Sierra convent.
Sometimes the hot weather calls for something a little lighter, and Andalucíans are experts when it comes to converting their favourite beers and wines into something less heavy. The most famous example is sangria, a red wine, fruit and juice punch, which is drunk only during fiestas by Andalucíans but is served all year round at touristy bars. Less sweet, and more popular among locals, is tinto de verano, a chilled spritzer that’s equal parts red wine and soda. If the idea of red wine on a hot afternoon doesn’t sound appealing, order a clara – the Andalucían version of shandy. Fresh lemon juice is sometimes added to give it a refreshing citrusy kick.
Hundreds of vineyards across Andalucía produce different varieties of reds, whites and fortified wines. Most famous of them all is sherry (or fino, as it’s known locally), which, by law, must come from the “Sherry Triangle” – the area between Jerez de la Frontera, Sanlúcar de Barrameda and El Puerto de Santa María. Founded in 1730, Bodegas Fundador has a vast store, known as “La Mezquita” (the Mosque) because of its Moorish arches, which houses more than 40,000 barrels of sherry. Book a tour and tasting to learn about how the fortified wine is made or indulge in a paired lunch, where every dish is complemented by a different sherry or brandy.
DISCOVER Seville and Andalucía Your Way
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Drink When the weather gets hot, city-dwelling Andalucíans head up to rooftop terraces for a refreshing drink. El Balcón de Las Setas ⌂ Plaza de la Encarnación, Seville ∑ elbalcondelassetas.es La Terraza de San Juan ⌂ Calle San Juan 11, Málaga ∑ hotelmalagapremium.com Hotel Alhambra Palace ⌂ Plaza Arquitecto García de Paredes 1, Granada ∑ h-alhambrapalace.es |