KeyTerms Flashcards
Flor
A layer of yeast cells that forms on the surface of sherry wines, contributing to their unique taste and aroma.
En rama
A term used in Sherry production to refer to a wine that has been bottled directly from the barrel with minimal filtering and fining.
Almacenista
In the context of Sherry, an almacenista is a stockholder or warehousekeeper who ages Sherry, often selling it to larger sherry houses.
Poniente
A cool, damp wind from the Atlantic that influences the climate of Jerez, providing a cooling, humid influence in the summer.
Levante
A hot, drying wind from North Africa that can make the climate of Jerez more arid.
Zona de Producción / Marco de Jerez
The delimited area in which grapes for Sherry must be grown.
Albariza
A type of white soil in Jerez, rich in limestone, known for its ability to retain water.
Pagos
Small, delimited vineyard areas within Jerez that are believed to produce wines with unique characteristics.
Pago
Singular of ‘pagos’, referring to a single vineyard area within Jerez.
Barros
A type of soil in the Jerez region, which has a greater clay content.
Arenas
A sandy soil type found in the Jerez region.
Vara y pulgar
A traditional pruning system used in the vineyards of Jerez. (replacement cane pruning)
Aserpia
One of the tasks carried out on the albariza hillside during the winter in order to retain water is known as “aserpia” or “alumbra” and is specific to the region. It takes place after the harvest and involves building up ridges of earth between the vine rows to create a series of rectangular pits that serve to catch and store rainwater during the autumn and winter months, preventing it from running off and being lost down the hillside slopes.
Primera yema
Free run juice from the lightest pressings in Sherry, used particularly for biologically aged wines
Sobretablas
The initial aging period after Sherry has been fermented and fortified, but before it is classified and enters the solera system.
Zona de Crianza
The area in which Sherry wines are aged.
Criadera
Rows of barrels used in the solera system for aging Sherry, each row represents a different stage of aging.
Solera
A system of fractional blending used in Sherry production to ensure consistent quality over time.
Also, the name of the oldest Criadera in a Solera system.
Bodegas de la Zona de Producción
Wineries located in the grape-growing area for Sherry.
Bodegas de Crianza y Almacenado
Wineries dedicated to the aging and storage of Sherry.
Bodegas de Crianza y Expedición
Wineries where Sherry is aged, stored, and also packaged for sale.
Almacenistas
In Sherry production, almacenistas are small operations that age and mature Sherry, typically selling their stocks to larger houses for further aging or bottling.
Consejo Regulador de Jerez
The governing body responsible for ensuring that Sherry wines meet all appellation requirements.
Companhia Geral da Agricultura das Vinhas do Alto Douro / Real Companhia Velha
The oldest wine company in Portugal, established by the Marquis of Pombal in 1756, which had a monopoly on the trade of Port wine for over a century.
Quintas
Portuguese term for a wine estate, particularly those in the Douro Valley which produce Port wine.
Instituto do Vinho do Porto (IVDP)
The regulating body that oversees the quality and production of Port wines.
Aguardente
A neutral grape spirit added to Port wine to halt fermentation and increase alcohol content.
Patamares
Modern terraces without walls used in the steep vineyards of the Douro Valley.
Socalcos
Traditional terraces with walls used in the steep vineyards of the Douro Valley.
Vinha ao alto
Vines planted in rows going up and down the slope, as opposed to terraces, in the Douro Valley.
Lagares / lagar
A traditional, often granite, trough-like vat used for the foot-treading of grapes in Port production.
Balseiros
Large wooden vats used for the aging or storage of Port wine. Can hold 100,000 litres, these are generally used to store wines and keep them fresh. If gentle oxidation is desired, the wines are usually matured in 600 L barrels called pipes.
Beneficio
A system that controls the amount of Port wine produced each year by granting ‘benefícios’ or permissions to use a specified amount of grapes for Port production.
Latadas
A traditional Madeira vine training system where vines are trained horizontally above the ground on low trellises.
This type of trellis allows air circulation above and beneath the vine which helps reduce incidence of fungal disease in the humid climate. It also permits other crops to be grown on the land underneath, making effective use of a small landholding.
Espaldeira
A vine training system (VSP) used in Madeira where vines are trained vertically and closely spaced.
Levadas
An irrigation system in Madeira using small canals to distribute rainfall from the wetter regions to the vineyards.
Estufagem
The unique process of heating Madeira wines to mimic the conditions they would have endured during long sea voyages in the past.
Estufas
Tanks where Madeira wine is heated during the estufagem process.
Canteiro
The traditional and premium method of aging Madeira wine where the wine is stored in barrels and naturally heated in warm rooms over a period of years.
Corrente
A term used in Madeira wine production for wines that are aged for less than three years and usually used for cooking.
IVBAM
The Instituto do Vinho, do Bordado e do Artesanato da Madeira. This organization oversees the quality and appellation regulations of Madeira wine.
Bonbonnes
Glass demijohns used in the production of Vin Doux Naturel (VDN) for aging the wine outdoors.
Saignée
A method in winemaking where some of the pink juice from red grapes is removed at an early stage.
The Muscat of Rutherglen Network
A group of Rutherglen producers who banded together to protect and promote the distinctive Muscat of Rutherglen, renowned for its rich, complex, and unique dessert wines.
A layer of yeast cells that forms on the surface of sherry wines, contributing to their unique taste and aroma.
Flor
A term used in Sherry production to refer to a wine that has been bottled directly from the barrel with minimal filtering and fining.
En rama
In the context of Sherry, a stockholder or warehousekeeper who ages Sherry, often selling it to larger sherry houses.
Almacenista
A cool, damp wind from the Atlantic that influences the climate of Jerez, providing a cooling, humid influence in the summer.
Poniente
A hot, drying wind from North Africa that can make the climate of Jerez more arid.
Levante
The delimited area in which grapes for Sherry must be grown.
Zona de Producción / Marco de Jerez
A type of white soil in Jerez, rich in limestone, known for its ability to retain water.
Albariza