2. Sherry Flashcards
Where is Sherry made?
In the area around the city of Jerez in Andalusia, Spain.
Sherry has a long history of growing grapes and producing wines that date back to the rule of the ____________.
Sherry has a long history of growing grapes and producing wines that date back to the rule of the Phoenicians.
Even from these early times, Sherry was a wine that was widely traded.
During the period of the _________ rule from the 8th to the 13th centuries, wine consumption was prohibited.
During the period of the Moorish rule from the 8th to the 13th centuries, wine consumption was prohibited.
However, vineyards and wine production continued.
After Jerez came under ______ rule in the 13th century, both domestic consumption and exports grew rapidly as English, Irish, and Flemish traders began to ship wines.
After Jerez came under Christian rule in the 13th century, both domestic consumption and exports grew rapidly as English, Irish, and Flemish traders began to ship wines.
The wines further benefitted from free trade agreements with France and England, and after Christopher Columbus had discovered America from his base in Andalusia, large volumes of Sherry were shipped to America.
Although in calm periods Sherry businesses were successful, what two historical events briefly devastated the industry?
The Peninsular War (early 1800s) and phylloxera.
The popularity of Sherry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries meant that other countries began to produce their own (often poor quality) “Sherries” and in 1933, Spain’s first wine-related Regulatory Council, the _______________, was formed to settle regulations to control the production and trading of Sherry wines.
The popularity of Sherry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries meant that other countries began to produce their own (often poor quality) “Sherries” and in 1933, Spain’s first wine-related Regulatory Council, the Consejo Regulador , was formed to settle regulations to control the production and trading of Sherry wines.
Although Sherry sales fell during WW2, they recovered in the decades following, reaching their peak in the 19___s.
Although Sherry sales fell during WW2, they recovered in the decades following, reaching their peak in the 1970s.
- Shipments reached 1.5 million hL in 1979. However, this figure halved in the following decade as younger generations of consumers sought out different styles of wines. The fall in demand resulted in a surplus of Sherry, larged formed of cheap and low quality wines.*
- During the boom years the production of Sherry rose dramatically and there became a surplus of cheap Sherry that had not been produced with quality in mind.*
Who is Rumasa and what party did the business play in the the Sherry industry?
Rumasa stands for Ruiz Mateos S.A., a holding with dozens of daughter companies, founded in 1961 by José María Ruiz Mateos and his brothers. As a son of a small almacenista (wholesaler) Zoilo Ruiz Mateos, José María managed to sign a monster contract in 1964, becoming the exclusive supplier to Harveys of Bristol.
In the contract they agreed that Ruiz-Mateos would supply all the wine they needed for the next 99 years – a virtually impossible deal if you know that the sweet blended sherry named Bristol Cream was a huge hit at the time (the best selling brand in the market) and required thousands of casks each year, much more than his family bodega could ever supply. Just to get an idea of the scale: until then, Harveys of Bristol had agreements with 13 bodegas.
Rumasa began accumulating consideratble wealth and built a business empire, taking over not only a number of Sherrry bodegas (wine companies) but also other businesses such as hotels and banks.
By the late 1970s, it dominated the Sherry industry, and through consolidation of production facilities, drove down prices - a tactic that would negatively impact the Sherry industry for decades to come.
In 1983, the government nationalized Rumasa claiming that it owned millions in unpaid taxes. Its bodegas were cold causing a substantial raise in unemployent and social unrest. In addition, a large number of other bodegas closed were sold or merged as they were unable to sustain themselves in a market burdened with large quantities of low-quality wines based on inexpensive brands. Brands changed ownership multipple times.
Since then, the Consejo Regulador has been working hard to bring vineyard plantings, stock levels, and sales back into balance and promote the quality of Sherry.
