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"If I had a thousand sons, the first human principle I would teach them would be to forswear thin potations and dedicate themselves to Sherry"

Shakespeare; Henry17, part II

Jerez de la Frontera (prononced hereth,) is the Andalusian town from which the name Sherry is derived.
Along with two other nearby towns, El Puerto de Santa Maria and Sanlucar de Barrameda, it is the only place in the world where sherry is produced. There is not a great deal of difference between the wines of Jerez and those of El Puerto, although the latter town does tend to be particularly noted for its' amontillados and finos. Sanlucar on the other hand produces an entirely different wine as all the manzanilla, with its’ distinctive, fresh flavour, is produced here.

English shippers in the early 17th century, unable to get their tongues round the Spanish pronunciation of the town, corrupted it to “sherry”. That product is still the mainstay of the local economy. Bodegas (wine cellars) with famous names like Sandeman, Harvey's, or González Byass provide tastings and places to buy. Andalusia's enthusiasm for horses is also conspicuous in Jerez, especially during May's Horse Fair. At any time of year visitors may watrch the famous Dancing Horses put through their paces in the Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre. The Museo de Relojes (Clock Museum) provides alternative interest.