XC Palo Cortado ‘Ida y vuelta’ (Gonzalez Byass)
In February 2018 González Byass loaded two small barrels of Palo Cortado on the Juan Sebastián de Elcano, a training ship of the Spanish marine. This sailing ship took off in Cádiz, sailed around South-America and returned to its home harbour in August 2018. During those six months the wine stayed on the deck of the ship, gaining intensity and maturity due to the changing temperatures and constant movement of the ship.
This XC Palo Cortado ‘de ida y vuelta’ (round trip), a 1990 vintage wine, pays homage to the sailors who went around the world in the 16th century and marks the 500th anniversary of the first trip around the world by Magellan and Elcano.
XC Palo Cortado on the Elcano
In fact, since the late 17th century it was common practice to mature wines on ships, especially those that went to the East Indies. The barrels were used as a stabilizing weight while the ship wasn’t loaded with merchandise, and Madeira, Sherry and even whisky were said to be deeper and more mature after they had been travelling. This kind of sherry used to be worth five times the original price.
González Byass has made available 550 bottles which are sold in a box together with a 20cl sample of Palo Cortado that was matured in the bodega, for € 550.
See the press release on the website of Gonzalez Byass
About the Author
Ruben is a Certified Sherry Educator who fell in love with sherry some 25 years ago, but switched to a higher gear in 2013 and started writing about it. Lived in Madrid for a couple of years, now back in Belgium. I also run a whisky blog over at www.whiskynotes.be
Related Posts
Salicornia: organic Manzanilla from Barbadillo →
Denmark wins Copa Jerez 2023 →
Sherry Week 2022 (7-13 November) →
