Blogs Guests and Interviews

TVS: Today, my guest is Damian Xeres, manager of the Xeres sherry-vineyards, master rejoneador, and hot Spanish hero of Hot Spanish Nights. Bienvenidos, Senor Xeres. Welcome to the ToniVerse.

Damian (giving an overwhelming, gleaming smile): Gracias, Toni. I’m glad to be here and tell a little bit about my family and my background, and I’m ready, willing, and eager, so let’s get started.

TVS: Okay. I promise I won’t ask for any spoilers. First…about that wine. I understand the Xeres family is famous for fine sherry. Doesn’t the word “sherry” actually come from the word “Xeres”?

Damian: Si, you are correct. Appropriate, is it not? As the eldest son—my fraternal twin Augustin is younger than I by several minutes—I manage the business, and that I can tell you about without giving away anyone’s story.

TVS: I’m totally ignorant when it comes to wine. How is sherry made?

Damian: Sherry comes from the juice of the Palomino grape. They are harvested fairly early in the fall, usually the first week of September. The fruit is pressed quickly then put into giant steel tanks for fermentation. It's after fermentation that the sherry-making process really begins.

TVS: Palomino grapes…just like palomino horses? Is that what gives sherry it’s lovely, dark gold color?

Damian: Exactly. Sherry colors range from very pale yellow, almost colorless, to a deep, dark amber color almost like a brandy.

TVS: Besides being in the wine-making business, you’re also a rejoneador. (For the ignorant among you, that’s someone who fights a bull from horseback.) What is it like to fight a bull that way?

Damian (for a moment, his eyes seem to light with a sherry-colored fire): Exhilarating. A great test of the horse’s agility and my skill as a trainer.

TVS: (shivering slightly): And dangerous?

Damian (shrugs carelessly): That, also, but what is life without some danger?

TVS: What made you decide to risk your life fighting bulls?

Damian (with a look that says “Isn’t it obvious?”): The danger—as you say--and the skill required. Historically, my family has bred exceptional Andalusian horses. My grandfather was also a rejoneador, and as a child I followed him around like a shadow. That I should become one was inevitable.

TVS: How many bullfighting horses do you have?

Damian: For the corrida de toros, four: A parade horse; A horse for the first tercio (entrance of bull). That one is very fast and brave. A horse for the second tercio (banderillas) which is fast, agile, and has a natural instinct for fooling the bull. A horse for the third tercio (death of bull). This horse has to be very steady

TVS: What do bullfighters wear? Is it similar to a matador’s clothing?

Damian: A rejoneador's usual costume consists of a dark waistcoat (usually brown or grey), brown leather chaps and a broad, straight-brimmed hat.

TVS: Sounds kind of like a gaucho. Tell us about your other equine pursuits.

Damian: As I said, my family is a noted breeder of the Iberian horse. I compete our horses in all levels of dressage, including the Musical Freestyle, and occasionally give demonstrations in Haute Ecole.

TVS (taking a deep breath): Okay, now let’s get to the personal stuff, which is probably what my readers want to know about, anyway. How did you meet Erica deLongpre?

Damian (unruffled): Erica came to our school to study horsemanship. She was also looking for a prospective dressage and exhibition horse. (He smiles slightly and his dark gaze shifts.)

TVS: I won’t ask you about your relationship with Erica as that would give away the story in Hot Spanish Nights. We’ll leave that to the imagination. But I am going to ask one of those questions that is completely an invasion of privacy but will titillate my readers no end. You’ve a reputation as a lover, Senor Xeres, so where is the most bizarre place you’ve ever had sex?

Damian: On horseback. (he manages to stifle a smug smile.)

TVS (impressed): Wow, you must be a good rider. In more ways than one!

Damian (winks): I am.

TVS: And he says that without any conceit whatsoever, I might add. Having a well-trained horse helps, I imagine.

Damian (all business again): Bullfighting horses are trained to work off seat and legs. The reins can actually be tied during the fight and the horse will obey the rider’s aids.

TVS: I remember reading a scene about making love on horseback in a story called The Prince of Midnight. Very sensual…and provocative…

Damian (dogmatically): Undoubtedly the rider learned his skill from a Xeres.

TVS: And at this point, I think we’d better draw this to a close. Gracias, Senor Xeres for taking time out to speak with me. If our readers want to know more…about wine or horses…or anything else we’ve spoken of, they can find it in Hot Spanish Nights by Bianca Swan, released today by The Wild Rose Press.