2. Sherry Flashcards
In what city is Sherry produced?
Jerez.
Jerez is in the autonomous commune of…?
Andalusia.
Wine production in Jerez dates back to which period?
The rule of the Phoenicians (1550 to 300 B.C.E).
During the period of Moorish rule (8th to 13 century) wine consumption was what?
Prohibited.
In what century did Jerez come under Christian rule?
The 13th century.
Why did domestic consumption and exports increase in the 13th century?
This was the beginning of Christian rule when the consumption of alcohol was no longer prohibited. Domestic consumption and exports increased as English, Irish and Flemish traders began shipping Sherry.
What two other regions saw an increase in Sherry exports after the end of Moorish rule?
1) Free trade agreements with France and England.
2) Large volumes were shipped to America from Chrisopher Columbus’ base in Andalusia after his discovery of America.
In what year was Spain’s first wine-related reulatory council established and what is its name?
1) 1933
2) Consejo Regulador
What is the purpose of the Consejo Regulador?
To set regulations to control the production and trading of Sherry.
Why was the Consejo Regular established?
Sherry’s popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries saw other countries produce their own, often ‘poor-quality’ imitation ‘Sherries’.
In what decade did Sherry sales reach their peak?
1970s.
Why did the sales of Sherry halve in the 1980s?
Younger consumers sought out different styles of wine to what their parents drank.
What impact did younger generations seeking other wine styles to Sherry have on Sherry besides reduced sales?
The fall in demand resulted in a surplus of Sherry, which was largely cheap and low-quality.
How did Rumasa dominate the Sherry industry in the 1970s?
Through consolidation of production facilities.
What impact did Rumasa’s domination of Sherry have on the industry?
Drove down prices through its consolidation of production facilities burdening the market with high volumes of low quality product.
At what latitude does Jerez sit?
36 degrees.
At what altitude are the Jerez vineyards?
0-90 MASL.
Describe the topography of the region.
Low lying with gently rolling hills with the vineyards planted at the top of the hills or on the slopes below.
What climate does Jerez have?
Hot Mediterranean (hot, dry summers & mild, relatively rainy winters).
What is the ‘poniente’?
A cool, damp wind off the Atlantic Ocean that has a cooling, humid influence in summer.
What is the ‘levante’?
A hot, drying wind from north Africa that can make the climate more arid.
What effect does the levante have?
Can cause grapes to transpire quicker thus concentrating sugars.
Why might the concentration of sugars in Sherry grapes be a problem?
Too much sugar can make it difficult to ferment the wine to dryness, which is particularly problematic for the development of flor yeast required for some styles.
Jerez’s high number of cloud-free days may mean what (2 points - 1 positive, 1 negative)?
1) Sunlight hours in the growing season are high helping to give fully ripe grapes.
2) Without sufficient shading, grapes can easily become sunburnt.
Sherry must come from what delimited area (2 names)?
1) The Zona de Produccion
or
2) Marco de Jerez.
How large in hectares is the delimited area for Sherry production?
7,142ha (2020)
What are the two DO within the Zona de Produccion?
1) Jerez-Xeres-Sherry.
2) Manzanilla.
Where might Manzanilla be grown and matured?
Sanlucar de Barrameda.
What other product must be grown within the delimited zone?
Sherry vinegar.
What one grape variety is permitted to be grown outside the Zona de Produccion but may still be labelled Jerez-Xeres-Sherry DO?
Pedro Ximinez.
Where is Pedro Ximinez most commonly grown?
Montilla.
The Zona de Produccion is split into two parts. Name them
1) Jerez Superior
2) Jerez Zona.
Of Jerez Superior and Jerez Zona, which is considered better and why?
Jerez Superior - all vineyards are located on the albariza soil.
What percentage of vineyard plantings within the Zona de Produccion does Jerez Superior comprise?
90%
What is a ‘pago’?
A smaller delimited area such as a vineyard thought to produce wines with different characteristics from the others due to aspect, location, soil differences.
Name a pago near Jerez.
Marchanudo
Name a pago near Sanlucar.
Miraflores
Name a pago near El Puerto.
Los Tercios.
What three components make up albariza soil?
1) Limestone
2) Silica
3) Clay
Musts destined for lighter Finos and Manzanillas tend to come from which vineyard sites (3)?
1) Closest to the ocean
2) Southerly and/or westerly aspect
3) Lower elevation
Musts destined for heavier Finos, Amontillados, Palo Cortados or oxidative wines tend to come from which vineyard sites (2)?
1) Further inland
2) Higher elevation
(Hotter days and less of a cooling breeze)
What effect does albariza’s clay content have?
Retains and gradually releases water from winter rainfall, which is vital during the very dry growing season.
When dry, albariza soil what?
Forms a crust, which helps reduces evaporation.
Albariza’s ability to retain water means what with respect to vineyard management?
Higher planting densities and yields are possible compared with other regions with hot, dry climates.
Where is the majority of albariza soil likely to be found and why?
Towards the tops of the vineyard slopes as erosion has washed the topsoil into lower lying areas.
Why might high yields be desirable in Sherry production when compared with table wine?
The grapes do not need to have the same concentration of flavours as grapes for unfortified wines as most of the flavour comes from the maturation process.
What colour is albariza soil and what impact does this have?
1) Light colour (white).
2) Reflects light back into the vine canopy aiding the ripening of grapes.
What two other soil types are there in Jerez?
1) Barros - greater clay content.
2) Arenas - sandy.
What are two synonyms for Palomino?
1) Palomino Fino
2) Listo
What per cent of vineyard areas do Palomino plantings account for?
97%
What are three growing characteristics of Palomino?
1) Mid- to late-ripening.
2) Suited to dry, sunny weather.
3) High yielding.
What is a synonym for Moscatel in Jerez?
Moscatel de Chipiona.
On what soils does Moscatel de Chipiona mainly grow?
Sandy arenas soils.
What are two growing characteristics of Moscatel?
1) Late ripening.
2) Adapted to heat and drought.
Unlike the neutral characters of Palomino, Moscatel is what and produces what two types of aroma compound?
1) Aromatic.
2) Grape.
3) Blossom.
Other than for the production of PX fortified wines, what other purpose does Pedro Ximinez serve?
A sweetening agent.
What are the key characteristics of PX in the vineyard?
Small berries with thin skins that can accumulate high levels of sugars.
What other way is the sugar content of PX concentrated?
Sun-dried on esparto grass mats.
Where do the PX’s flavours come from?
The drying and maturing processes.
What per cent of production by volume within the delimited Sherry area does PX account for?
Less than 1%.
If PX is grown in Montilla or Cordoba it can be shipped into the Zona de Produccion as fresh or raisined grapes, or as young wine. True or false?
True.
What is the principal, traditional training system used in Sherry vineyards (now falling out of favour)?
Replacement cane pruning known as vara y pulgar (finger and thumb).
An increasing number of vineyards are switching to what form of training system that allows for mechanisation?
Cordon trained (single or double) and spur pruned.
What is the maximum yield permitted in Sherry vineyards (in hL/ha)?
80 hL/ha.
What is a common yield in Sherry vineyards?
60-70 hL/ha.
What form of trellising is common in Sherry vineyards and why?
1) Vertical shoot positioning.
2) Ensures the canopy remains open and arranges for easy mechanisation.
What are the differences between within-row and between-row spacing?
Within-row - tight at around 1m.
Between-row - wide enough to allow tractors to pass.
Each year after harvest the soil is worked to create a series of troughs or gullies down each row of vines. Why?
To catch the winter rain as otherwise the water would flow down the sloped vineyards rather than permeating the soil.
What is the system of creating a series of troughs or gullies down each row of vines called?
Aserpia.
What are the three most widely used rootstocks? (Listed in order of usage).
1) 13-5 EVEX
2) 333Em
3) 41-B
The two most widely used rootstocks are hybrids of which species?
1) V. vinifera
2) V. berlandieri.
Why is rootstock 13-5 EVEX considered the most successful (5 reasons)?
1) It yields well.
2) It is drought tolerant.
3) It is limestone tolerant, which prevents the vine suffering from chlorosis.
4) Resistant to phylloxera.
5) Encourages the production of grapes with a higher total acidity.
Jerez is most at risk of what sort of disease pressure and why?
Mildew in spring.
Due to the warm humid post-rain weather.
What is the main pest of the region?
European grapevine moth.
How is the European grapevine moth managed?
Pheremone traps.
How is the risk of mildew managed (2)?
1) VSP training of the canopy to promote air circulation.
2) Systemic fungicides.
In what month does harvest typically begin for inland vineyards?
The start of August.
When is harvest typical for coastal vineyards?
The second week of September.
Why is harvest best completed as early as possible?
To avoid the risk of autumn rain that would bring rot/botrytis.
At what potential alcohol are grapes typically harvested?
12% ABV.
At what potential total acidity are grapes typically harvested?
5 g/L TA
At what potential pH are grapes typically harvested?
3.3 - 3.5 pH
What per cent of the total grape volume is harvest by machine?
60%
Why might Palomino-based wines require acidification?
Palomino loses acidity quickly in the final stages of ripening.
What addition is made to Palomino base wines during acidification?
Tartaric acid.
Compared to Palomino, PX and Moscatel are generally harvested earlier or later?
Later.
The higher concentration of sugars in later harvested PX and Moscatel makes the drying process what?
Easier & quicker.
Why is skin contact not desirable?
The phenolic compounds inhibit the growth of flor yeast.
What is the meaning of ‘primera yema’?
The free run juice and the lightest pressings from which biologically aged wines are made.
Why might it be beneficial that Oloroso wines are made from later press fractions?
The higher levels of phenolics mean the flor struggles to develop.
What might the final press fractions be used for?
The wine used to season barrels.
What per cent of the juice yield do the free run and first pressings form?
60-75%.
What is the maximum permitted juice yield?
70 L/100kg of grapes.
Why is clarification important before fermentation?
The albariza soil is dusty to clarification removes these particles from the must.
How might the wine be clarified prior to fermentation (3 ways)?
1) Cold settling (16 degrees)
2) Centrifugation
3) Flotation (desfangado).
What fermentation temperature is ideal for the base wine?
22-26 degrees celcius.
Why are cultured yeasts most common?
Reliably ferment to dryness.
What vessel type is most common for fermentation?
Stainless steel.
Why do some producers use old barrels for fermentation?
To give a fuller body.
The base wine fermentation is split into two stages. Describe them.
1) A quick and vigorous first phase where the majority of sugar is fermented within 7 days.
2) A slower phase during which the remaining sugar is fermented typically lasting a couple of weeks.
Is MLC encouraged or avoided and why?
Avoided to prevent the development of lower acidity levels and buttery flavours.
How is MLC avoided?
By chilling the must.
What impact would SO2 have on biologically aged wines?
Negatively affect the development of flor yeast.
What is the ‘First Classification’?
When each batch of base wine is tasted and sent for analysis post-fermentation.
