If the British Isles adopted the tradition of naming a place after each country's national drink, we'd undoubtedly be left with a 'Guinness' town in Ireland, a 'Tea-With-One' village in England and a 'Five Cans O' McEwans Extra Strength' City somewhere in Scotland. Sounds faintly ridiculous doesn't it? But Spain manages it just fine – Jerez translates as 'Sherry' in English and is both the birthplace and spiritual home of that beloved pre or post-dinner tipple.

Jerez is also home to Flamenco and Spain's famous dancing horses: traditions which made Jerez one of the most influential cities in the country for centuries. Today, Jerez still plays its part; the city has a booming tourism industry pretty much all year round, yet there is one event in the calendar that is well worth remembering – the visit of the Moto GP each year. During this hectic weekend Jerez comes to a standstill as petrolheads from around the world descend on the city for a couple of days of word-class motor sport and top-notch partying.

Defining Spain's past and shaping its present, Jerez is a wonderfully alluring city that is evidently steeped in history at every step, and forging a bright future for itself with its international events, tourist attractions and general air of achievement that seems to envelope the city. If you move to Spain in the near future, be sure to pay Jerez a visit or two – you will not be disappointed.

With a population of more than 200,000, Jerez is larger than its near neighbour, and province capital, Cádiz, and is the fifth largest city in Andalucia. Passionate, sultry, richly historic and magnificently intoxicating, Jerez is a joy to behold, home to some of Spain's most traditionally iconic pastimes and a place where artistry and expertise sit nicely alongside laid-back ease and dabbling.

Back when the Phoenicians roamed the dry lands of Southern Iberia, it was an equally dry tipple that quickly fortified the roots for Jerez. The Romans continued the tradition, adding sweet sherries to the mix after tasting the wonderful ports being produced over in modern-day Portugal. Centuries and millions of barrels later, Jerez's most famous export is enjoyed in homes across the globe, making it one of the most popular aperitifs on the planet.

Equally intertwined in the city's history are the noble pursuits of Equestrian art and fiery Flamenco. Seville also boasts of being the birthplace to Flamenco, but in truth both cities were pivotal in both the creation and the sustained growth of Flamenco, with perhaps Seville producing more of the earthier sounds, and Jerez responsible for the dance and brilliant colours that are associated with it. On the equestrian front, Jerez's Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art has been honing the perfect techniques of Spain's 'dancing horses' for centuries.

Being such a southern city, Jerez boasts a fantastically warm climate, with summers stretching languidly from early May through to mid-October, bringing an average temperature of 24ºC, and highs into the low 40s on numerous days during July and August. In winter, the city receives above-average rainfall and has been known to frost over on some of the chillier mornings. Still, there are numerous days in winter when the temperature exceeds 20ºC and t-shirts can be worn outdoors without so much of a hint of a chill.

The Bodegas – The city boasts approximately 60 registered sherry bodegas, each free to produce and licence their very own sherries and fortified wines and serve them however they choose to. The result? Perhaps the oddest opportunity to go on an Iberian bar crawl there is, based around dry, thick or sweet tipples that are drank neat, accompanied by local tapas and served up in dark and dusty cellar bars, barrel bars or bustling plazas. Unique and memorable, why not bring the great British tradition of getting blind drunk to the antiquated bodegas of Jerez, under the guise of cultural unity? It might just work...

On a more refined note, many of the city's sherry bodegas act as live museums where one can learn all about the drink's origins, learn how it is made and discover just why it is so universally popular. Authentic, relatively inexpensive, educational and providing the perfect excuse for inebriation, Jerez's sherry story is a fascinating and fun one.

The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art – A bit of a mouthful this one, the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art may not be to everyone's taste, but there's no denying the world-leading brilliance of what occurs there. Working with the highly prized Andalusian horses, the school teaches graceful posture, encourages ballerina-type control of the horse's movements, and nurtures a bond between man and beast that is rarely seen in any other field. The city hosted the World Equestrian Games in 2002, and has equestrian heritage coursing through its veins.

For its accessible glimpse into another side of Spain – Let's be honest here, for all the faux-Andalusian architecture and quaint little villages that are within a stone's throw of some of the Costa del Sol's major resorts, none of it is what one might consider 'Real Spain' to be. Sure, to some, 'real' Spain IS all about tat-touting beachfront stores, cheap n' cheerful resorts, thumping nightlife and packed beaches. But for many, the epitome of this wonderful country is most perfectly captured in its heart and soul; its passion for Flamenco, for song and dance, for bullfighting, for its dusty plains and lazy siestas, its tasty tapas and smooth sherries...for everything, in fact, that is found in Jerez. And it's only a two hour-drive away.

For its international events – In September every year Jerez hosts its Wine Festival, which is a month-long celebration of the city's best wines – fortified or otherwise. While the plonk takes centre stage, Jerez's impressively inventive and unique tapas offerings prove the perfect companion to its delectable wines and sherries.

Then there's the annual Spanish Motorcycle Grand Prix, which is always a highlight of the Moto GP calendar thanks to Jerez's perfect climate and party atmosphere. Throw in the Annual Horse Fair each May, plus the city's feria celebrations and you have an almost continuous reason to visit this most beguiling and welcoming of cities.