Last Updated on April 7, 2026 by Emma Fajcz | Published: June 21, 2018
The province of Seville may not be home to any major wine regions, but the locals know how to enjoy their vino, more particularly sherry! Fortunately, it’s not just for the older crowd anymore; sherry wines are now a favorite among wine lovers from all walks of life. Its wide range of flavors from bone-dry to super sweet means that there’s a sherry for everyone to enjoy. Don’t miss these 5 Andalusian sherry wines to order in Seville while you’re visiting southern Spain.
Learn more about the history of sherry wines in Seville before tasting some!
Top Andalusian Sherry Wines to Try in Seville
1. Fino & Manzanilla
Looking to beat the scorching summer heat in Seville? A crisp, dry and refreshing glass of fino sherry might be just what the doctor ordered. As the driest of all the possible sherry wines to order in Seville, winemakers fortify fino as little as possible, adding just enough neutral spirits to bring the alcohol level to at least 15 percent. As for the aging process itself, fino ages under a layer of flor yeast for a minimum of 2 years (although the best tend to age for 4-7 years). The result: a pale white wine that makes a lovely aperitif and pairs especially well with Seville’s famous fried fish: pescaíto frito.
If you like fino, you’ll almost certainly enjoy manzanilla as well. In fact, it’s not incorrect to say that manzanilla is just a different type of fino, although it does boast its very own denominación de origen. Manzanilla sherry is simply a subset of fino produced exclusively in the seaside village of Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Located where the Guadalquivir River meets the Atlantic Ocean, the unique climate in the town gives manzanilla sherry a distinctive taste with notes of chamomile, almonds, and sea salt.
2. Amontillado
Edgar Allan Poe romanticized this particular sherry in his dark short story The Cask of Amontillado, but luckily enjoying a glass of amontillado is much more enjoyable than it’s portrayed there. What sets amontillado apart as one of the best sherry wines to order in Seville is its unique dual aging process. First, it ages under a layer of flor yeast for about 3-8 years. Then, the yeast clears away, exposing the wine directly to the oxygen that enters through the slightly porous oak barrels. As a result, amontillado takes on a beautiful amber color as it is exposed to the wood.
While some wine producers sweeten their amontillados for exportation, the traditional style (which you’ll find in southern Spain) is actually quite dry. However, it also packs an intense flavor featuring tasting notes such as hazelnut, aromatic herbs and dark tobacco. Its lightness and smoothness makes it a great accompaniment to white meats, wild mushrooms and semi-cured cheeses.
3. Oloroso
With a name meaning “scented” in Spanish, it’s no surprise that oloroso sherries pack intense flavor and aromas. As the most alcoholic sherry wines to order in Seville, olorosos undergo a completely oxidative aging process. That means there’s no flor yeast at all: it ages in direct contact with the air itself. Due to its exposure to the oak barrel throughout the aging process, it takes on a richer, darker color than amontillado.
As a result of its high alcohol content (between 18 and 20 percent, occasionally even more), oloroso sherries offer a bold taste. They feature nutty, balsamic aromas with autumnlike notes. The rich color and intense flavors make it an excellent pairing for tender red meats (such as carrillada and rabo de toro) as well as cured cheeses.
4. Palo Cortado
As one of the more rare sherry wines to order in Seville, palo cortado happens almost exclusively by accident. It starts off aging under a layer of flor, often with the intention of becoming fino or amontillado. However, if the layer of yeast breaks prematurely or fails to develop naturally, the flor is killed intentionally and the wine continues aging oxidatively.
Palo cortado, as a result, takes on quite a curious character. Its aromas are similar to those of amontillado, but its body and structure are more similar to an oloroso. The color of a good palo cortado can range from chestnut to mahogany, depending on how long it spent in the oxidative stage of the aging process. It makes a great accompaniment for nuts, cured cheeses and meats, and rich stews.
5. Pedro Ximénez
To round out our list of wines to order in Seville, it’s finally time for something sweet! Pedro Ximénez sherries are the darkest and sweetest of all the wines on the sherry spectrum. Its alcohol content can range greatly (from 15-22% or even more), but it does feature more significantly more grams of sugar per liter than the other sherries mentioned here. It gains this high sugar content naturally, as the grapes dry out in the sun and are picked when they are extremely ripe.
Because of its exceptionally sweet taste, you won’t often find locals drinking Pedro Ximénez with their meal. However, it’s an especially popular digestif and goes well with just about any dessert! Its tasting notes might remind you of sun-dried fruits like raisins, figs and dates, rounded out by aromas of honey, coffee and licorice.
Check out one of our top 10 favorite bars in Seville and enjoy a glass of one of these sherries there!
Explore Seville’s Cuisine Like a Local
Experience the best food in Seville with us on our Seville Tapas, Taverns, & History Tour! Wander through the city’s Jewish Quarter and Arenal neighborhood, stopping at family-run bars that have stood the test of time. At every stop, you’ll indulge in classic tapas and learn tips from our local expert guide.
Featured Review: Seville Tapas, Taverns, & History Tour
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A fabulous tour, each dish was as good or better than the previous one! You definitely will not leave this [tour] hungry. Not only was the food delicious, but the service in each spot was impeccable. The drinks were such a good surprise, orange wine & sweet vermouth? Yes please! Mario was fantastic! He knew so much about the history of the food, the wine, the taverns & restaurants and Seville and the region in general. What a fun way to learn about the food and the culture in Seville.”
– Jill on Tripadvisor
Sherry Wines to Order in Seville FAQs
What is the most popular sherry wine to drink in Seville?
The most popular sherry in Seville is usually fino, often served ice cold before a meal. Locals also love manzanilla, a lighter style of fino from Sanlúcar de Barrameda with chamomile and almond flavors. Both are especially common in summer and pair perfectly with fried fish and olives.
What is the difference between fino and manzanilla?
Manzanilla is technically a type of fino, but it has Designation of Origin status, and can only be made in the coastal town of Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Because of the Atlantic climate there, manzanilla has a fresher taste with notes of sea salt, chamomile, and almonds, while fino is usually slightly fuller and drier.
Which sherry wine should I order with tapas in Seville?
For classic tapas, order a dry sherry such as fino or manzanilla with seafood and fried dishes, amontillado with mushrooms and cheese, or oloroso with richer meat dishes like oxtail and pork cheeks. Matching the wine to the tapa is one of the best ways to eat like a local in Seville.
What is the sweetest sherry wine in Seville?
Pedro Ximénez is the sweetest sherry you can order in Seville. Made from sun-dried grapes, it has rich flavors of raisins, figs, honey, and coffee. It is usually served after dinner or alongside dessert rather than with savory tapas.
What is palo cortado sherry and why is it special?
Palo cortado is one of the rarest sherries in Seville because it develops almost by accident during the aging process. It combines the aroma of amontillado with the fuller body of oloroso, creating a complex wine that pairs well with cured meats, cheese, and hearty stews.
