Sherry Flashcards
Who brought vines to Andalucia?
Phoenicians 3,000 years ago planted in Xera (Jerez)
What did the Romans rename Xera (Jerez) and what was the wine known as?
Ceret
Vinum Ceretensis
What did the Moors rename Xera/Ceret after the Romans?
Sherish
When did the Christians take over Jerez from the Moors?
1264
What wines were popular with the English, Flemish and French mid 15th c?
Sweet-fortified wines
What was the organization named to regulate sherry producers in the 15th c?
Regulations of the Guild of Raisin and Grape Harvesters of Jerez 1483
Who attacked Cádiz in 1587 and stole Sherry?
Sir Francis Drake
What is a historic name the English use for Sherry?
Sack - probably related when Francis Drake “sacked” Cádiz and stole 3000 bottles of Sherry
Why was the criaderas y solera system implemented in the 18th C and what was the impact?
There was a surplus of wine and it became less sweet
When did phylloxera arrive in Sherry country?
1894
When did DO Jerez-Xérès-Sherry and DO Manzanilla-Sánlucar de Barrameda receive their status?
1933 and 1964 respectively
What is the principal grape and its synonym for Sherry?
Palamino Fino or Listan Blanco
Who was Palomino Fino named after?
Don Fernan Yanex Palomino a knight who fought with King Alfonso X in the Reconquista
Where is Palomino Fino indigenous?
Andalucía
Why is Palomino Fino good for Sherry?
Low ABV
Log sugar
Low Acidity
Prone to oxidation (a plus)
Where is Pedro Ximénez indigenous?
Andalucía
Where is PX mostly grown and why?
DO Montilla-Moriles
It is warmer and less humid allows for full ripening
Where can a buyer purchase PX for blending for sweet Sherry wines?
DO Montilla-Moriles
What type of wines does PX produce?
Sweet wine
Sweet Sherry
Varietals
What was Moscatel de Alejandría used for in ancient time?
Raisins and wines
What wines does Moscatel de Alejandria make?
Sweet wines
Sweet Sherries
Varietals
What is zapatos de pisar?
Shoes with spikes worn in the old days to stop Sherry grapes.
What are the bodegas called in Sherry country and why were they built?
Sherry Cathedrals - high ceilings / thick walls
- Retain humidity
- Reduce heat
- Store solera
What is 1st run of Sherry grapes, how much is produced and for what type of Sherry?
Primera Yema - free run juice
Pale and light
65% of total
Fino Sherry
What is 2nd press of Sherry grapes, how much is produced and for what type of Sherry?
Segunda Yema - pneumatic press
More color and tannin
23% volume
Oloroso sherry
What is 3rd press of Sherry grapes, how much is produced and for what type of Sherry?
Mosta Prensa - press fraction
coarser, inelegant juice
~12%
Used to distill
How are the 3 Sherry presses treated for vinification?
Primera Yema (Fino) & Segunda (Oloroso) Yema fermented separately Mosta Prensa is distilled
What is the alcoholic contents of Palomino Fino and how much residual sugars remain?
11-12% ABV
Zero sugars
Where are base sherry wines fermented and why?
Usually at special winemaking facilities (not catherdrals)
Reduces transport time and risk of oxidation and growth of other organisms.
What is “East India” Sherry and who produces?
Sherry replicating the process of 17th c sherry sent to India
Made by Lustau
Oloroso + PX aged separate for 12 years
Then blended
Then another 3 years aged in 45-cask solera
Base wines with distinct paleness and finesse become what type of sherries?
Fino or Manzanilla
Get a slash on the cask
Flor for biological aging
Base sherry wines with greater structure become?
Oloroso
Pure oxidative wines
What is the fortification process of sherry called?
Mitad y Mitad
50/50 mix of distilled grape spirit and mature sherry
Fino or Manzanilla sherries ABV?
15-15.5%
Above 17% flor dies
Oloroso ABV?
minimum 17% ABV
What factors determines palest, least bitter wines (eg Fino or Manzanilla)?
- Free-run juice
- Grapes from albariza soil
- Old vines
- Wines made with excellent hygiene
What is the intermediate stage of sherry aging?
Sobretabla - where wines for bio aging need flor and time to develop into their true character.
3m to 1 year
How long do base wines sit in sobretabla?
3 month to 1 year to develop flor
What happens if flor is not robust or dead in a sobretabla or criadera?
The sherry is fortified to 17% to kill off the yeast and oxidated like a Oloroso (now Palo Cortado and Amotillado)
What is the yeast type of flor?
S. Beticus
What is the blanket of flor known on Fino and Manzanillas?
Velo de Flor (Flower Veil)