SEVEN SEAS VOYAGER A day in Jerez

From our very first port of call—sun-washed Cádiz—I knew I wanted to venture inland to Jerez, a city that’s far more than the birthplace of sherry. Just 20 km from the coast, Jerez feels like a world of its own: aristocratic, elegant, and subtly touched by centuries of English influence. Everyone knows it for its iconic fortified wine, but the city is equally celebrated for its purebred horses and its passionate, soul-stirring flamenco. Jerez also carries the weight of history in its name alone. The Romans once called it “Xeres,” building upon foundations laid even earlier by the Phoenicians. Under Moorish rule it became “Sherrish,” the word that eventually morphed into “sherry,” the drink that would charm the English for centuries. By the late 14th century, after Christian reconquest, the city took on its current name: Jerez de la Frontera—Jerez of the Frontier—marking its place on the dividing line of two cultures. This rich heritage lingers everywhere, even linguistically. In Catalan, Italian, and French, sherry is still known as “Xeres,” echoing its Roman and medieval roots. And the official Denomination of Origin—Jerez-Xérès-Sherry—beautifully ties all these layers together. For a city so steeped in tradition, Jerez feels surprisingly alive, welcoming, and endlessly captivating.