Michel Rolland launches Sherry range with Araex

Renowned wine consultant Michel Rolland has launched a range of sherries with the founder of Spanish wine group Ararex, Javier Galarreta, having “fallen in love” with the fortified wine.

In a conversation last week between db and Galarreta, who is the founder and CEO of ARAEX Grands Spanish Fine Wines, it was revealed that he is introducing some new wines to the group’s portfolio, which currently unites growers from 11 different PDOs in Spain.

Among these launches are a range of Sherries under the group’s Rolland Galarreta brand, which was launched in the US by Galarreta in 2010, marking the first time Michel Rolland had put his name to a wine label.

The sherries include an Amontillado, Fino and Manzanilla in limited quantities of 3,500 bottles for the Amontillado, and 5,000 for each of the latter two styles.

Galarreta said that he had decided to add a set of sherries to the Rolland Galarreta wine label because he “fell in love” with the fortified wine five years ago, and has since been visiting different almacenistas – who mature the sherries in soleras – to find the ideal partner.

The brand’s range, called Soleras Olvidadas – meaning ‘forgotten soleras’ – hails from three bodegas in Sanlúcar de Barrameda called San Leon, Santa Ana and Miraflores.

The sherries have been blended by Galarreta and Rolland, marking what db understands to be the first sherry created by the famous wine consultant.

Michel Rolland, based in Bordeaux, is one of the world’s most influential winemakers and consults for more than 150 estates around the world in France, the United States, South Africa, Argentina, Chile, Spain, Italy and India.

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