What brings visitors to the Sherry Triangle?

First and foremost, what brings people to the Sherry Triangle (the fertile area of agricultural land situated between the coastal cities of Sanlucar de Barrameda and El Puerto de Santa Maria and the inland city of Jerez de la Frontera) is sherry. Sherry is a type of fortified wine that is infused with grape-flavored distilled spirits during the fermentation process. As a result, sherry typically has an alcohol content of at least 15% (30 proof). Palomino grapes tend to be the ones used for sherry. If you want a crisper, whiter sherry, try one that is "fino" or "Manzanilla". A darker one is "oloroso" and "Amontillado" is somewhere in between. A popular type of dessert sherry is called "Pedro Ximénez".

If you're not a drinker, then you're still in luck, because this area offers a selection of exciting beaches, historic buildings ranging from palaces to castle ruins, many opportunities to take in dramatic flamenco dance performances, and of course Jerez's famous dancing horses. The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, where would-be friends of the four-legged pals learn this traditional art, is located on Avenida Duque de Abrantes, and is one of the top equestrian schools in the world.

What are the outdoor activities to do in the Sherry Triangle?

A limited number of hiking trails can be found in the "triangle" region where many vineyards are located. In Jerez proper, touring the old town and visiting with the horses at the Royal Equestrian School are good activities that will get you outside and connecting with nature. Those who love the beach will love the expansive sands of Playa de Valdelgrana in El Puerto de Santa Maria. Sanlucar is home to four beaches, not to mention the two smaller shorelines in the avian colony at Doñana National Park on the other side of the Guadalquivir River.

What are the beaches like in the Sherry Triangle?

While there are at least a half-dozen beaches to choose from in this area, the Playa de Valdegrana in El Puerto de Santa Maria is the best beach. It is ridiculously long and wide, meaning you will never struggle to find a spot on the sands even in the height of summer. There is a promenade lined with palms at the edge of the beach, with resorts and apartment rentals on the other side of the avenue. As you go south along the beach, it becomes a nature preserve and is called Playa de Levante.

What are the nightlife offerings in the Sherry Triangle?

Sanlucar's nightlife is clustered around the Plaza del Cabildo, and in El Puerto de Santa Maria, the beach is not where you want to be; you want to be looking at the streets just to the north of Calle Ribera del Marisco and Plaza de las Galeras Reales. In Jerez, the areas to the south of Plaza del Mamelon and to the north of Jerez Cathedral are where most nightlife is clustered. There are also a number of bars just north of Avenida de Europa.

What can I do with kids in the Sherry Triangle?

In addition to the sights already described, a visit with kids to the Sherry Triangle is incomplete without stopping at the largest water park in the region, Aqualand Bahía de Cádiz, situated between Jerez and El Puerto de Santa Maria. For those staying closer to the coast, there is a large water park and resort, the AQUAFUN Costa Ballena by ALEGRIA, situated between Chipiona and Rota.

What are some of the alternative attractions to enjoy such as museums, theaters, etc.?

Jerez is home to such museums as the grand fortress Alcazar; the Andalusian Flamenco Centre; the art gallery Espacio Abierto Jerez; the "Palace of Time", which is home to hundreds of clocks dating back to the 1200s; and Bodegas Fundidor, a bodega-turned-museum which presents authentically like how the sherry fermentation process would have taken place in the 18th century. For military history, the Castillo de San Marcos in El Puerto de Santa Maria and the Castillo de Santiago in Sanlucar de Barrameda are the top places to go.

All three cities are home to performing arts halls: Pedro Muñoz Seca Municipal Theater in El Puerto de Santa Maria, the Teatro Municipal in Sanlucar de Barrameda, and the Teatro Villamarta in Jerez de la Frontera. All three cities are also home to movie theaters, screening movies from arthouse to blockbuster.

What is the culture and lifestyle (traditions, festivals) like in the Sherry Triangle?

May is festival season in the Sherry Triangle, with ferias held in Jerez de la Frontera for two weeks beginning on the second weekend, and near-concurrent six-day festivals in both Sanlucar de Barrameda and El Puerto de Santa Maria around the 20th of May. The grape harvest festival, the Fiestas de la Vendimia y Otoño, used to be celebrated in late September into mid-October, but climate change has pushed the popular annual Jerez celebration to the early part of November. Las Orillas del Guadalqivir, a classical music festival, occurs in Sanlucar at the end of each May.