Sherry

Real Sherry is fortified wine produced in the Andalusian region of Spain. The genuine Sherry vineyards are located around three towns: Jerez de la Frontera, Sanlúcar de Barrameda and Puerto de Santa Maria.

Grapes used for producing Sherry

The two grapes used for producing Sherry are Palamino (Listan) and Pedro Ximénez (PX). Approximately 85% of the vineyards grow the Palamino vine. This grape variety yields a basic dry white wine, whereas the PX grapes are used to enrich the heavier and sweeter styles of Sherry, which are popular for export. Although some of the vines are cultivated in clay (barros) and sand (arenas), the best quality grapes are grown in the finest albariza chalk soil. All Sherry is originally dry and sweetness has to be added.

Sherry production

The first stage of Sherry production involves placing the new wine in nursery casks or cradles, known as criaderas. The content is carefully supervised. By springtime, a yeast-like substance (flor or Saccharomyces beticus) starts to develop on the surface of some of the wine. This is the best indication that the wine will develop into the highly desirable, quality Fino Sherry. If there is no flor on the surface, the wine will be made into Oloroso Sherry.

The next stage is to fortify the Fino with up to 15.5% volume of alcohol by adding a local high strength brandy. Oloroso is topped up to 18% by volume. Before sale, both types of Sherry may be fortified still further. The sweeter styles are more heavily fortified: Fino is normally topped up to 16% and Oloroso up to 21%.

Before bottling, however, all Sherries are put through a solera maturing and blending system (a series of casks placed on top of each other, up to five or six levels high). Wine for sale is taken from the bottom level of casks. The amount that can be drawn off each year is restricted to only one third of the volume. The gap is filled by wine from the level immediately above. This system continues upwards, with the more mature wines being topped up by younger wines. The youngest of the wines are at the top. Before selling, the Sherry is blended and its color, sweetness and alcohol content adjusted.

Sherry Styles

Fino

A delicate, extremely dry Sherry, pale in color, fragrant, with a powerful bouquet.

Manzanilla

A dry type of Fino made from grapes grown by the shores of Sanlúcar de Barrameda and matured in local cellars. It has a pleasantly salty tang.

Amontillado

fuller and deeper in color than Fino, with a delightful nutty flavour.

Palo Cortado

Somewhere between Amontillado and Oloroso. Although not well known internationally, it is popular in Spain.

Oloroso

Sweetened by Pedro Ximénez grape concentrate called dulce, Oloroso has a deep color and is full flavored. The term Oloroso covers all genuine cream and brown Sherries.