ABOUT THE PRODUCER: Bodegas Hidalgo – La Gitana
Bodegas Hidalgo la Gitana was founded in 1792 and has passed from father to son ever since. They are the third oldest sherry house and the oldest still owned by the founding family.
Unlike other “grandes marques” of sherry, all of the wines at Hidalgo are estate-bottled and sourced from their 200 ha of organically farmed vineyards, located largely in the Pagos of Miraflores (the renowned Sanlucar de Barrameda vineyard) and Balbaína (between the Atlantic and Jerez). The albariza soil is rich in calcium carbonate and diatomaceous algae sediments, similar to the soils of Champagne. These soils are all about minerality. Under a microscope, the albariza soil resembles a sponge, retaining water for very long periods of time.
All of their wines are highly esteemed in their respective categories. The flagship wine is Manzanilla ‘La Gitana’ (The Gypsy Woman) named after a woman who owned a bar near the docks and the wine became known as “El vino de la Gitana” and later, when the house began selling the wine in bottle, the name persisted. Bodegas Hidalgo is proud to have the tallest Cathedral-style winery, fostering the best possible environment for the development of flor.
