The team behind XECO Wines, the 'next generation' sherry, has launched a pair of sherry-based spritzes in collaboration with dynamic mixer brand Sekforde.

Drawing inspiration from the 'Rebujito' – a refreshing Andalusian festival classic of bone dry Fino sherry, sprite and fresh mint – the two new XECO Spritzes aim to demonstrate the versatility of the sherry category, which straddles both the wine and spirits worlds.  The first two new RTD products to be launched this autumn are:

• XECO Fino combined with Sekforde Blue's notes of prickly pear and fig to deliver an understated honeyed sweetness, while cardamom layers a hint of spiciness, perfect for late-summer sipping.
• XECO Amontillado (or 'Monti' as it is affectionately called) brings caramel-brioche flavours and is given a refreshing twist with Sekforde Orange's notes of Sicilian orange and aromatic bitters, making it an autumn crowd pleaser.

Managing Director Beanie Geraedts-Espey says, “We've always had the mindset that we want to change the perception of sherry by producing a wine which thinks like a spirit, which is to say, we want to combine the provenance and integrity of our wines, with strong branding and clear positioning.  We're on a mission to show just how relevant sherry is for contemporary consumers, and this Spritz is a clear statement about the value of the dry styles of sherry in particular, which are very low in sugar.”

Indeed, while many consumers still associate sherry with sweet wines doled-out by aged relatives at Christmas, they are pleasantly surprised to hear that dry sherries are actually some of the driest wines in the world, with less than 1g of residual sugar per litre.  The new Spritz labelling will clearly state the calorie count (< 68 cals per 250ml can) as well as the fact that the cans will be naturally low in alcohol (< 4%).  This forms part of the XECO team's successful yet ongoing mission to dispel the myth that sherry is very sweet and alcoholic.  “Far from being a high alcohol drink to consume at the end of the meal – as people readily perceive sherry, and of course port too – we have been single-minded in our aim to make sherry a staple of the aperitif scene instead,” says co-founder Alexa Davies.  “Delicious on its own, muddled with seasonal fruit in a cobbler, or just blended with a good quality mixer in a spritz, Fino sherry in particular is a really brilliant lower-alcohol alternative to the classic G&T”.

The partnership with Sekforde brings together two innovative young brands both of whom has a deep respect for what the other is trying to achieve within their own categories.  The two teams are also in the process of collaboratively developing a brand new, Andalusia-inspired flavour combination for launch in Spring 2022.  “I've really loved re-discovering sherry with the XECO team and share their conviction that the stage is firmly set for sherry's long-awaited comeback” says Talula White, Sekforde's founder.

Stockist:         www.xecowines.com
RRP:              £11.96 for a pack of 4 x 250ml cans

Beanie Geraedts-Espey, Co-Founder and MD of XECO, is available for interview on request