Fernando de Castilla Classic Manzanilla NV

Fernando de Castilla Classic Manzanilla is a first-rate example of the famous Andalusian fortified wine which is aged in Solera in the coastal town of Sanlucar de Barrameda. The wine is lighter and fresher than the Fino and has an amazing zippy, salty freshness. It is light, dry and packed with citrus and tangy nutty flavours. If it was aftershave, I’d wear it.

Bodegas Fernando de Castilla, founded in 1972, is a relatively young Bodegas which was created by Fernando Andrada-Vanderwilde. Fernando took over some old sherry and brandy soleras from a couple of local bodegas with the intention of producing the finest Brandy in Spain. He named the Bodegas after King Fernando de Castilla “The Saint” who conquered much of Andalusia in the 13th Century. In 1999 Jan Pettersen, a Norwegian with 15 years’ experience at Osborne, bought the company and continues to produce some of Spain’s finest Brandy alongside high quality, complex Sherries. They are widely regarded as one of Sherries best independent producers.