CH 3: Sherry Flashcards
When did Jerez come under Christian rule?
13thC
When were the Moors in control of Jerez?
8th-13thC
When did Jerez first sign a free trade agreement with France and England?
around 1500
When was the ‘consejo regulador’ created? Why?
- To counter the poor quality counterfiet sherries being made in other regions
when did sherry sales peak?
1970s
How did Rumasa affect the sherry industry?
His success in the 1970s with Bristol Cream lead him to successful business. He took advantage of economies of scale in the 80s to drive down the price of Sherry. This had a negative effect on smaller bodegas who could not compete. The business was nationalised in 83.
What has the consejo regualdor’s role been since the 80s?
to rebalance supply and demand through
- bringing vineyard plantings and stock levels into alignment
- promoting sherry as a quality product
What is the altitudfe/latitude of Jerez?
36*N
0-90m
what is the climate of Jerez
hot mediterranean
what is the name of the cool, humid wind that comes through Jerez?
Poniente
what is the name of the hot, drying wind from Africa?
levante
Does Jerez experience a lot of cloud cover?
no, it has a significant number of cloud-free days leading to sunburn risk
what is the Marco de Jerez
the specific area of sherry production for grapes under these DOs:
jerez-xeres-sherry
Manzanilla-sanlucar de barrameda
also called the Zona de Produccion
what is a pagos?
a smaller area within the marco de jerez
what is the key soil of sherry?
albariza (silicone/limestone/clay mix)
how does albariza soil affect viticulture
the soil
- retains water, allowing higher density plantings
- reduces evaporation from soil surface due to the crust that forms
what are the three soil types of Jerez
albariza, barros (+clay) , and arenas (+sand)
What are the three main sherry grapes
palomino, moscatel, PX
what soils does moscatel grow on typically?
arenas
why is PX grape good for concentrating sugars?
the berries are small with thin skills, promoting faster drying
How do Jerez viticulturalists encourage rainwater absorbtion into the soils between harvests?
By creating gulleys on the slopes that prevent the water from running freely down, giving it time to absorb into the soil
which common sherry rootstock is limestone tolerant, drought tolerant, and allows high yields?
13-5 EVEX
why do biologically aged sherries avoid skin contact?
the phenolic compounds can restrict Flor growth
what is primera yema?
the lightest pressings from Jerez grapes used for dry wine
what is Segundo yema?
the second pressings, often used for Olorosso sherry
what is the prensas
the final press fractions, they may be used to prepare casks by fermenting prensas in them
are sherry musts clarified? why/not?
yes. The alabariza soils are dusty and get into the must.
what is the typically ferment temp for dry sherry?
22-26C
what level are biologically aged sherries fortified to>
15-15.5%
what level are oxidatively aged sheries fortified to?
17%
what are sobretablas?
wines of a single vintage that have not yet been blended into the solera system
what happens in the ‘first classification’ of sherry?
wines are determined for biological or oxidative ageing and fortified accordingly (olorosso)
what happens in the ‘second classification’ of sherry?
wines with a strong Flor continue to age biologically (Fino). Those with a weak Flor are fortified to kill Flor a continue to age oxidatively (Amontillado) or allow the Flor to naturally dissipate without further fortification (Paolo Cortado)
how are naturally sweet sherries made?
by drying the grapes in the sun for 2-3 weeks
