Esperanza Serra fue nuestra invitada a la reunión de los Sherry Explorers del pasado 16 de abril.  Con un lleno casi total, nadie se perdió ni una palabra de todo lo que nos contó.

Esperanza Serra was our guest speaker at the April 16th meeting of the Sherry Explorers.   With an almost full house, everyone carefully listened to every word that she had to say.

Los fenicios fueron una antigua civilización procedente de lo que actualmente es el Líbano.   Entre el 1550 y el 300 a. C. desarrollaron una cultura comercial marítima que expandió su influencia desde el Levante al Norte de África, las Islas griegas, Sicilia y la Península Ibérica.  Fundaron Gadir, o Cádiz, y a través del contacto y el comercio, difundieron no solo su alfabeto sino también su conocimiento de la viticultura y la producción de vino, incluyendo la propagación de varias variedades antiguas de vid.

The Phoenicians were an ancient civilization that came from what is now Lebanon.  Between 1550 B.C.  and 300 A.D. they developed a commercial maritime culture which spread its influence throughout the Mediterranean – spanning from the Eastern part of Northern Africa, to the Greek isles, to Sicily, and which ultimately included the Iberian Peninsula.   They founded the city of Gadir, now known as  Cádiz, and as a result of their commercial trade, shared their knowledge of an entire alphabet and their knowledge  of viticulture and the production of wine.  They also ensured the propagation and proliferation of the grapevines, which provided the ancient varieties of grapes necessary to make that wine.   

La excavación del yacimiento de Doña Blanca, situado en el término municipal de El Puerto de Santa María (Cádiz), se llevó a cabo entre 1979 y 1995. Se hallaron restos de murallas, necrópolis, viviendas de entre los siglos VIII y III a. C. y lo que probablemente fueron los primeros lagares para la producción de vino. D´Sherry Explorers visitaremos el 2 de mayo este yacimiento.

The excavation of the Phoenician ruins at the Doña Blanca archaelogical site, located within the municipal boundaries of  El Puerto de Santa María (Cádiz), was conducted between  the years 1979 and 1995. They uncovered remnants of walls, a necropolis, houses built between  the VIII and III  centuries B.C., and what probably were the first wine-presses in this area, utilized for the production of wine.  The D´Sherry Explorers  will  be visiting this site on this coming 2nd of May.

Después, como ya es habitual, disfrutamos de una copita de vinos del marco, en este ocasión los de la Bodega Delgado Zuleta de Sanlúcar.

Afterwards, as is our custom, we enjoyed a glass of Sherry wine.  This time they were Sherry wines from the Delgado Zuleta Winery in Sanlúcar.

Acompañamos los vinos con las tapas que trajeron los Sherry Explorers y el jurado secreto seleccionó los dos mejores que en esta ocasión fueron dos dulces buenísimos, un bizcocho de naranja y una tarta de queso con arándanos. En esta foto vemos a las chefs ganadoras recibiendo su premio.

Gracias a nuestra invitada y a todos los que participastéis en este interesante tarde.   Os dejo el video de las fotos con la canción “Gimmi that wine” de lambert, hendrick & ross.

We accompanied the wines with tapas that were brought by the Sherry Explorers.  The secret jury panel selected the two best tapas which, on this occasion, were two excellent desserts – an orange cake and a cranberry cheesecake.  The winning chefs, receiving their prizes, appear in the photo above.

We would like to thank our guest speaker and everyone who participated in this fascinating evening.  Attached is a video of the event photos with the song “Gimme that wine” by Lambert, Hendrick, & Ross as background music.