Bodegas Delgado Zuleta

Delgado Zuleta presents itself as the oldest winery in the Jerez region. The oldest paper in its archive dates from 1719, a sale of wines by Don Francisco Gil de Ledesma, who founded the house in 1744. The current name arrived in 1870, when a descendant of the founder, Dolores Ñudi, married José María Delgado y Zuleta, who took over the business. Since 1974 it has been a public limited company, Delgado Zuleta S.A., and in 1978 it merged with Benito Rodríguez La-Cave, the house of the Barbiana manzanilla and the Quo Vadis? amontillado.

The winery and its wines

Its best-known manzanilla is La Goya, christened in 1918 with the stage name of a cabaret singer of the time; from the best soleras comes Goya XL, an unfiltered en rama manzanilla that the winery launched in 2012. A few decades ago the house left the historic centre and moved to the Pago de la Dehesilla, beside Avenida Rocío Jurado: the move began in 1989 and, according to the winery itself, took more than sixteen years, because very old casks had to be moved too. That is where the Tío Paco cellar stands, where in 2012 the first Wine Interpretation Centre of the Jerez region opened, together with the local company Sanlúcar Descúbrela, renovated to celebrate the house's 280 years.

What the visits are like

Visits are in small groups and always by advance booking, with a minimum number of people. The daily one begins in a small vineyard and continues among century-old casks, with the ageing of manzanilla as its thread. The winery estimates 80 to 90 minutes, but recommends allowing at least two hours. The Copa en Mano runs every day, at 11:00 in German, English or Italian and at 12:00 in Spanish, for €15 with a minimum of four people and a tasting of two manzanillas, an amontillado and a cream. From Monday to Saturday there is an afternoon session, at 19:00 from October to June and at 20:00 from July to September, for €20.

On scheduled dates it organises others: the dramatised visit with Señorita Paloma, an 18th-century character, of about two hours for €20; the visit with an equestrian show, price on request; and the tapas visit in corners of the winery, from €25, with standard, premium or heritage wines. Before any visit you can add, with a booking, a walk through the centre of Sanlúcar, also by tourist train. For groups of more than 40, lunches or pairings, it gives a tailored price.

Booking, languages and accessibility

Book by email at [email protected] or on 956 360 133 and 609 887 300; the Copa en Mano in Spanish can also be bought in its online shop. Payment is by bank transfer 48 hours beforehand and, once the booking is made, the deposit is not refunded. Prices include VAT. All visits are adapted for people with disabilities and can be held in Spanish, English, German and Italian. The winery has a large free car park for cars and coaches.