The César Florido bodega was founded in 1887 and is currently maintained by César Florido, a fifth-generation descendant of the founder. The winery is the oldest bodega in Chipiona, located five miles from Sanlúcar de Barrameda along the road that continues to Rota. César Florido is one of only two bodegas in Chipiona that are still operating outside of the cooperative. Although technically Chipiona lies outside the Zona de Crianza for the D.O., he makes some of the most singular wines in the area, sought out by true believers in César.
César Florido owns three separate bodegas in Chipiona, one of which houses his iconic Cruz del Mar Fino solera, just 50 meters from the ocean. With the closest proximity to the sea of any bodega in the region, his wines are imbued with the very spirit of this maritime climate through year-round, thick, luxurious flor. His Fino is made from estate-grown palomino from the Balbaína and Miraflores pagos. Paired with fresh oysters or tiburon frito, Cruz del Mar is a guaranteed gastronomic supernova.
Vinification
Cruz del Mar Fino is produced exclusively with palomino grapes grown by César’s family in the Balbaína and Miraflores Pagos (vineyards). After harvesting, the grapes are crushed and undergo alcoholic fermentation in traditional cement vats, which naturally regulate the temperature. After fortification to 15% ABV, the Cruz del Mar Fino spends three years aging biologically under a continuous veil of flor in very old barrels, in a bodega located just 50 meters from the Atlantic ocean. It is bottled en rama, or unfined and unfiltered, directly from cask to deliver the true essence of biologically aged fino Sherry.
Serving Recommendation
El Maestro Sierra Fino should be served cold (45°F). Fino is best when served fresh so check the lot number on the back label to ensure freshness.
Region
Jerez-Xérès-Sherry
Village
Chipiona
Vineyard
Miraflores and Balbaína
Grapes
Palomino
Aging
Three years in solera
Profile
Bone dry
ABV
15%
Pack Size
12x375mL