Andalucia is known for many things: the Alhambra, flamenco music, and paella. But what's often overlooked are the many other delicious foods and drinks that call Andalucia home. So, if you're heading to stay in an Andalucia and want a taste of its culinary treasures, here are some recommendations:
Tapas
Andalucia is thought to be the birthplace of tapas so it’s little surprise that you can enjoy one of Spain’s most loved dishes throughout this region. The word ‘tapa’ literally means ‘a lid’ or ‘a cover’ and many think that this his how the term comes from, as bartenders would serve drinks with a saucer on top to keep out the flies, and over time the saucer would be used to serve portions of cheese, olives or ham.
Of course, these days there are hundreds of divine dishes to choose from, and our Andalucia villa rentals are ideally located so you can get the most authentic experience.
Jamón
Besides the tapas, there are a number of other traditional dishes that you should try: Jamón ibérico de bellota: The most expensive and best quality ham. It comes from pigs raised on acorns in the hillsides of Andalucía. If you're lucky enough to sample this type of ham, go for it.
Jamón serrano (mountain-style ham): This is a common type of cured pork made with lean loin cuts. It's generally cheaper than other types of hams but still delicious if you're looking for something tasty and easy on your wallet.
Sherry
Settle down with a glass of sherry and make yourself comfortable. The first thing to know is that sherry is a fortified wine from the southern Spanish province of Andalucia, produced in the region around Cádiz and Jerez de la Frontera.
Made from white grapes grown on steep hillsides, it's aged in oak barrels (called solera) for at least two years before being bottled—usually longer—giving it an amber color and a sweet-yet-dry taste that makes it easy to drink.
Sherry has evolved over centuries from its origins as a basic table wine into an elegant beverage with many varieties ranging from bone dry to sweet dessert wines. It can be divided into five general categories:
- Finos (dry)
- Manzanillas (dry)
- Amontillados (semi-dry or medium)
- Lorosos (medium–sweet)
- Cream sherries (very sweet).
These groups each have their own style based on aging time and use of barrel types.
Cava
Cava is a sparkling wine made using some of the same grapes as champagne—Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier—but it also uses Garnacha (known locally as Grenache), Macabeo (also known as Viura or Macabeu) and Parellada (also known as Callet).
The vineyards are located primarily around Barcelona, with other production regions being Tarragona, Lleida and Navarra, and you'll find a diverse array of cava options to savor during your Andalucia villa holiday.
The main difference between cava and champagne lies with how long they're aged before being bottled; cava is usually released at least two years after fermentation, whereas most champagnes are sold only after three years aging on lees.
Wine
With over 200 different grape varieties grown in the region, you'll discover something delicious to wash your tapas down during your villa holiday in Andalucia:
- Try Albarino grape varieties from Rias Baixas near Santiago de Compostela (San Xurxo de la Sal) on the Atlantic coast
- Sample Rioja reds from La Rioja region towards Madrid which includes Deseada Gran Reserva wines made from Tempranillo grapes planted over 100 years ago
- Sip whites like Viura blended with Macabeo/Arinto/Malvasia grapes grown inland inland from Cadiz city where Jerez sherry production takes place
- Or indulge in Navarra rosé made from Garnacha tintorera grapes grown near Pamplona city.