Fortified wine Flashcards
Sherry climate
Maritime, cooling wind from the Atlantic
Hot and windy
Sherry Soil types
Albariza- white chalky clay (most prized, reflects sunlight to vines and retains water)
Barros- Brown clay
Arenas- Sand (great for Moscatel)
Sherry region name
Jerez or Xeres
Province of Andalusia, Atlantic coast near North Africa
When did sherry become protected as a region?
1933, one of the first protected Spanish appellations
sherry grapes
Palomino (95% of plantings)
Pedro Ximenez
Moscatel
Solera levels
Añada- youngest
2nd Criadera
(these two are “nurseries”)
1st Criadera
Solera (oldest, goes to bottle)
What is flor?
Film of yeast (saccharomyces) that grows on surface protecting certain sherries from oxidation and spoilage
How does fortifying sherry while making it effect what style is made?
The more you fortify it may prevent flor, changing the style
Biological aging sherry vs Oxidative aging
Biological aging develops flor
Oxidative aging does not
Sherry ABV
Manzanilla 15-17
Fino 15-17
Amontillado 16-17
Palo Cortado 17-22
Oloroso 17-22
Cream 15.5-22
Pedro Ximenez 15-22
Where is Manzanilla sherry made?
Sanlucar de Barrameda
Which sherries use Flor? No Flor and both
Flor (biological aging): Manzanilla and Fino
Flor, but loses it: Amontillado and Palo Cortado
No Flor (Oxidative aging):Oloroso, Cream, PX
7 Sherry styles
Manzanilla- more salty/snappy
Fino- Light and dry
Amontillado- starts as fino, then fortified higher for oxidative aging (flor dies off)
Palo Cortado- Flor plays a roll, but more of a minor role than Amontillado. Almost like an Amontillado/oloroso hybrid
Oloroso- No flor because of higher fortification
Cream- sweetened Oloroso
Pedro Ximenez- Way sweet, grapes dried in sun
What is fortified wine?
Base wines that have a high proof neutral grape brandy added to increase alcoholic strength to 15-22%
Timing of fortification
Fortified before fermentation- no alcohol is created from fermentation of base wine
Fortified during fermentation- stops the action of yeast retaining residual sugar in the wine (port)
Fortified after fermentation- Boosts alcohol levels; dry wine is most often produced (Sherry)