Horses

Cold walk to the stables. Looking out over the valley there is another Estevez owned range of buildings, vineyards, I think Mr. Garcia says. The lowlands, marshlands where they would go and fish stretched to the sea and the salt wind off the Atlantic blew through the warehouses affecting the temperatures. All part of the sherry process and taste. It doesn't rain enough any more. So, rail lines were built going right into the warehouses to take the sherry to the nearest port, Cadiz.

We walk past paddocks with the black Andalusian horses, some lying down. Very odd.

A scrawny dog runs to greet us and immediately squirms on its back wanting its belly tickled. It's a Jack Russell, all white with a black head. Looks very strange. These dogs are part of the set up as seen in the painting earlier.

Mr. Garcia tells me a bit more about the family as we look at the black shiny, bitey horses (watch out if you stroke their nuzzles) and a couple of fouls. Training is tough. Their names are sherries. I think I remember that right. Why didn't I write that down? I'm not a horsey person, perhaps that's why.

We see the carriages and saddles, bridles, plumage, pom pom straps for show. The nasty looking training bits which are still used. Cups and awards. This is not a hobby, it is another side to the business here.

So, what does Mr. Garcia tell me about the Estevezs? He is becoming more forthcoming as we go on. Maybe he was unsure what I wanted to know. Did he think I was an undercover journalist looking for dirt?
He tells that the Grandfather took over in the 1980's. He owned the first petrol station in Jerez and made money from that. But then other petrol stations opened and it just wasn't as lucrative anymore. He began to work for Domeq and after a while wanted his own sherry bodega. He sold the petrol stations and bought this Bodega and vineyard.
He had a very strong vision of what he wanted. He did things correctly. If he needed a piece of furniture for a specific position, he bought it and often adapted it to suit the space.
It's cold. We head for the Tasting area.