Does anyone have any suggestions for a good bodega to visit in Jerez or nearby areas besides the big ones (Gonzalez Byass, Sandeman, etc.)? We will be driving south from Seville.

You have a couple of options. Gonzalez Byass (tours at noon)and Domecq (tour at 10am) are close to each other, but kind of hard to reach from Jerez. Your best bet is going to see the dancing horses and then walk a block or two to Sandeman. The tour was very informative and they have a nice tasting area with benches and a gift shop. I believe they have tours in English several times a day.

Sandeman was my favorite! I wouldn't have missed that one for the world!

Sounds like Sandeman is a hit. Has anyone been to Lebrija? I heard it has more informal bodegas.

Bodegas Osborne is in el Puerto de Santa Maria.
If you're interested in what I consider to be the best Sherry (Manzanilla) you may have to hit Sanlucar de Barrameda. It's on the coast, not too far from Jerez de la frontera.

Sorry, I don't know if or at what hours they have tours at either place.

sgerhar1,
As others have mentioned, the easiest -nicest visit to Jerez would combine a noon equestrian ballet performance of the amazing Dancing Horses of the Royal Riding School (www.realescuela.org) with a post-show visit to the Sandeman bodegas, around the block. When the show ends, one just takes a walk to the right, then around the very long pie shaped block to the Sandeman entrance where you have a short wait for the next tour. If coming by car, you can park in the parking lot at the upper right corner of this huge pie shaped block. Look for the busses.

If you're interested in manzanilla, then you need to visit Sanlúcar de Barrameda, as NED says. You can visit the bodegas of the producers of La Guita on Calle Misericordia 1.
Visits in English on Tues. and Thurs. at 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 1:30 But you should email to reserve at
[email protected]

Or the Bodegas Antonio Barbadillo in Sanlúcar on Luis Eguilaz 11.
They have fixed tours Tues. thru Sat. at 12 and 1. But email to reserve.
[email protected]

If you want to visit the vast Osborne bodegas
in El Puerto de Santa María, you should email for reservations at
[email protected]

Wow, thanks for the detailed info! I appreciated all the help you regulars give.

sgerhar1,
Here are the visiting hrs. listed by Sandeman on the www.turismojerez.com site:

Visits 
Monday - Wednesday-Friday

Spanish  11.15- 12.15- 13.15- 14.00
Alemán  11.30- 12.30- 13.30- 14.30
Inglés  11.00- 12.00- 13.00- 14.30
Francés  14.15


Tuesday – Thursday 

Spanish:10.15- 12.15- 13.15- 14.15- 15.00
Alemán:10.30- 12.30- 13.30- 14.00
Inglés:10.30- 12.00- 13.00- 14.00- 15.00
Francés:14.15

In August Fridays the schedule will be the same as on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Saturdays appointed visits only.

Tours at other times and/or in other languages, might be available upon request.