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Spanish Wine Scholar 2 > Sherry > Flashcards

Sherry Flashcards

1
Q

Who brought vines to Andalucia?

A

Phoenicians 3,000 years ago planted in Xera (Jerez)

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2
Q

What did the Romans rename Xera (Jerez) and what was the wine known as?

A

Ceret

Vinum Ceretensis

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3
Q

What did the Moors rename Xera/Ceret after the Romans?

A

Sherish

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4
Q

When did the Christians take over Jerez from the Moors?

A

1264

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5
Q

What wines were popular with the English, Flemish and French mid 15th c?

A

Sweet-fortified wines

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6
Q

What was the organization named to regulate sherry producers in the 15th c?

A

Regulations of the Guild of Raisin and Grape Harvesters of Jerez 1483

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7
Q

Who attacked Cádiz in 1587 and stole Sherry?

A

Sir Francis Drake

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8
Q

What is a historic name the English use for Sherry?

A

Sack - probably related when Francis Drake “sacked” Cádiz and stole 3000 bottles of Sherry

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9
Q

Why was the criaderas y solera system implemented in the 18th C and what was the impact?

A

There was a surplus of wine and it became less sweet

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10
Q

When did phylloxera arrive in Sherry country?

A

1894

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11
Q

When did DO Jerez-Xérès-Sherry and DO Manzanilla-Sánlucar de Barrameda receive their status?

A

1933 and 1964 respectively

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12
Q

What is the principal grape and its synonym for Sherry?

A

Palamino Fino or Listan Blanco

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13
Q

Who was Palomino Fino named after?

A

Don Fernan Yanex Palomino a knight who fought with King Alfonso X in the Reconquista

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14
Q

Where is Palomino Fino indigenous?

A

Andalucía

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15
Q

Why is Palomino Fino good for Sherry?

A

Low ABV
Log sugar
Low Acidity
Prone to oxidation (a plus)

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16
Q

Where is Pedro Ximénez indigenous?

A

Andalucía

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17
Q

Where is PX mostly grown and why?

A

DO Montilla-Moriles

It is warmer and less humid allows for full ripening

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18
Q

Where can a buyer purchase PX for blending for sweet Sherry wines?

A

DO Montilla-Moriles

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19
Q

What type of wines does PX produce?

A

Sweet wine
Sweet Sherry
Varietals

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20
Q

What was Moscatel de Alejandría used for in ancient time?

A

Raisins and wines

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21
Q

What wines does Moscatel de Alejandria make?

A

Sweet wines
Sweet Sherries
Varietals

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22
Q

What is zapatos de pisar?

A

Shoes with spikes worn in the old days to stop Sherry grapes.

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23
Q

What are the bodegas called in Sherry country and why were they built?

A

Sherry Cathedrals - high ceilings / thick walls

  1. Retain humidity
  2. Reduce heat
  3. Store solera
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24
Q

What is 1st run of Sherry grapes, how much is produced and for what type of Sherry?

A

Primera Yema - free run juice
Pale and light
65% of total
Fino Sherry

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25
Q

What is 2nd press of Sherry grapes, how much is produced and for what type of Sherry?

A

Segunda Yema - pneumatic press
More color and tannin
23% volume
Oloroso sherry

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26
Q

What is 3rd press of Sherry grapes, how much is produced and for what type of Sherry?

A

Mosta Prensa - press fraction
coarser, inelegant juice
~12%
Used to distill

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27
Q

How are the 3 Sherry presses treated for vinification?

A 
Primera Yema (Fino) & Segunda (Oloroso) Yema fermented separately 
Mosta Prensa is distilled
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28
Q

What is the alcoholic contents of Palomino Fino and how much residual sugars remain?

A

11-12% ABV

Zero sugars

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29
Q

Where are base sherry wines fermented and why?

A

Usually at special winemaking facilities (not catherdrals)

Reduces transport time and risk of oxidation and growth of other organisms.

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30
Q

What is “East India” Sherry and who produces?

A

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

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31
Q

Base wines with distinct paleness and finesse become what type of sherries?

A

Fino or Manzanilla
Get a slash on the cask
Flor for biological aging

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32
Q

Base sherry wines with greater structure become?

A

Oloroso

Pure oxidative wines

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33
Q

What is the fortification process of sherry called?

A

Mitad y Mitad

50/50 mix of distilled grape spirit and mature sherry

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34
Q

Fino or Manzanilla sherries ABV?

A

15-15.5%

Above 17% flor dies

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35
Q

Oloroso ABV?

A

minimum 17% ABV

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36
Q

What factors determines palest, least bitter wines (eg Fino or Manzanilla)?

A
  1. Free-run juice
  2. Grapes from albariza soil
  3. Old vines
  4. Wines made with excellent hygiene
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37
Q

What is the intermediate stage of sherry aging?

A

Sobretabla - where wines for bio aging need flor and time to develop into their true character.
3m to 1 year

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38
Q

How long do base wines sit in sobretabla?

A

3 month to 1 year to develop flor

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39
Q

What happens if flor is not robust or dead in a sobretabla or criadera?

A

The sherry is fortified to 17% to kill off the yeast and oxidated like a Oloroso (now Palo Cortado and Amotillado)

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40
Q

What is the yeast type of flor?

A

S. Beticus

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41
Q

What is the blanket of flor known on Fino and Manzanillas?

A

Velo de Flor (Flower Veil)

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42
Q

What type of environment does flor thrive?

A

Aerobic
Undisturbed
Cool & Stable (18-20C)
Humid

43
Q

How does flor work?

A

Enzymes in the yeast metabolize alcohol, acid & glycerin while producing aldehydes and fusel alcohol

44
Q

What does flor protect against?

A

Acetobacter which produces vinegar

45
Q

How long does it take to deplete flor’s food source?

A

12-18 months

46
Q

What is the minimum aging time for biologically aged sherry?

A

At least 2 years

Most are much longer

47
Q

What is the general lifespan of flor even when replenished with nutrients?

48
Q

What flor last longer Fino or Manzanilla?

A

Manzanilla since Sanlucar has more humidity

49
Q

What happens when a sherry is oxidized?

A

Darker color
Hazelnut and walnut aromas develop
Wine gains body

50
Q

What is the maximum ABV for sherries and how do sherries reach that level?

A

22% ABV

Evaporation

51
Q

What are rayas and how are they used?

A

Lighter wines still in butts are put out in the sun for 1-2 years.
15% ABV increase due to evaporation
Tend to be blended with sweet wines for craft desert sherries

52
Q

Where did Solera get its name?

A

Latin work Solum means floor and in Spanish suelo

53
Q

Where do Fino’s mature best? Oloroso?

A

Usually on bottom where it is coolest and most humid.

Higher up solera where it is warmer and can oxidate faster

54
Q

What are criaderas?

A

Nurseries for a solera and also known as scales

55
Q

Typical barrel used for criaderas?

A

600l Butt with American Oak “Bodega Butt”

5/6th filled

56
Q

Why are barrels only 5/6th filled?

A

Encourage flor growth for Fino/Manzanilla

Oxidation for Oloroso

57
Q

What are the nutrients for flor?

A

Alcohol and acid

58
Q

What is lost in the evaporation of Oloroso and Fino?

A

Oloroso lose water

Fino loses water and alcohol

59
Q

What happens before bottling Fino or Manzanilla and why?

A

Flor eats alcohol so Fino sherries need to be refortified up to 15%

60
Q

What is Vinos de Color?

A

“Color WIne” which has arrope, a dark grape syrup 1/5th added to Palomino Fino 1:3 ratio and aged in a solera

61
Q

Vinos Generosos

A 
Dry Sherries - both bio/o2 aged
All grown in DO Jerez and aged in Sherry Triangle
Fino
Manzanilla
Amontillado
Palo Cortado
Oloroso
62
Q

Vinos Dulces Naturales

A

Natural Sweet Sherries - overripe and sundried
Moscatel
PX

63
Q

Vinos Generoso de Licor

A

Blended Sherries - dry with naturally sweet
Cabeceo - term for blending
Dry - Fino/Man + RCGM <4.5%
Pale Cream - Fino/Man + RCGM 4.5%-11%
Medium - Amontillado + Moscalet, PX or RCGM 0.5-11%
Cream - Oloroso + PX 11-14%

64
Q

What are the 3 special categories of age designation for Sherry?

A
  1. Vinos de Vejez Calificada
  2. Vinos con Indicacion de Edad
  3. Añada
65
Q

Difference between Vinos de Vejez Calificada & Vinos Indicacion de Edad?

A

Calificada (Certified) = time in BOTTLE 20 or 30

Indicacion (Indication) = avg age of SOLERA 12 or 15

66
Q

What is Añada Sherry?

A 
Vintage Sherry
Only Amontillado, Oloroso or Palo Cortado
NOT PX
Aged oxidatively NOT IN SOLERA
Capped, sealed and monitored by Consejo
67
Q

VORS

A

Very Old Rare Sherry
Vinum Optimum Rare Signatum
30 years in bottle

68
Q

VOS

A

Very Old Sherry
Vinum Optimum Signatum
20 Year average age

69
Q

What is saca?

A

When a fraction of the wine is extracted from the solera

70
Q

What is rociar

A

“Wash it down” the process of taking away part of the wine and replacing it with the contents of other scales (Criadera)

71
Q

When is the earliest by law Sherry can be sold?

72
Q

What % of sherries receive VOS or VORS?

A

Less than 1%

73
Q

What is Fino?

A 
"Fine"
Fortified, Dry Sherry
Palomino
Under Flor
Least Acidic
Light and elegant, Dough, Roasted almonds
74
Q

What is Manzanilla?

A 
"Chamomile"
Fortified, Dry Sherry
Biologically aged
Sanlucar de Barrameda
Aromatic and light, Chamomile, Almonds, Salty
75
Q

What sherry is considered salty?

A

Manzanilla

76
Q

What is Amontillado?

A 
Fortified, Dry Sherry
Palomino
Both biological and oxidative aging
Used when flor is not robust or dies
Dark, nutty, cashews/hazelnuts, tobacco
77
Q

What is en Rama?

A

On the branch
Keep sherry production as natural as possible
Only biologically aged
Little filtering

78
Q

What type of sherries are en rama used?

A

Fino & Manzanilla

Only biologically aged

79
Q

What is the solera system also known?

A

Criaderas y Soleras

80
Q

What is Palo Cortado?

A

Rare Dry Sherry from Palomino
Biologically aged
BUT immediately after Sobretabla fortified 17%
Removed sooner than Amotillados
Has elegance of Amotillados with flavor, color and body of Oloroso

81
Q

What is biologically aged more Palo Cortado or Amontillado?

A

Palo Cortado is immediately fortified after sobretabla

Amontillado can be fortified anytime

82
Q

What is Oloroso?

A 
Dry Sherry from Palomino 
Min 17% (Max 22%)
Fully oxidated
Dark color
Full flavor with walnut, toasted balsamic
83
Q

What is Moscatel de Alejandría?

A 
ME on barrel
Naturally Sweet wine
>85% Overripe or sundried
Fermentation halted by grape spirit
Amber to mahongony
Orange blossom, Honey
Sometime blended with PX or Arrope for darker color more caramel
84
Q

What is Pedro Ximénez Sherry?

A 
Naturally sweet wine
>85% overripe or sundried PX
Fermentation halted by grape spirit
DO Montilla-Moriles -> Jerez for maturation
Allowed to be labels Sherry
Luscious sweet and syrupy 
Extremely dark, figs, raisins, dried fruit
One of the worlds sweetest wines
40% residual sugars
85
Q

What is RCGM?

A

Rectified Concentrated Grape Must

Clear, oderless, sugar solution

86
Q

What is a Dry Sherry?

A 
"Pale or Pale Dry Sherry"
A Fino or Manzanilla which RCGM was added
4.5% residual sugar
Pale color
Almonds, Fresh Dough, Herbs
87
Q

What is Pale Cream

A

PC label
Fino or Manzanilla with RCGM
4.5-11% residual sugar (step up from Dry)
Gold, Bread Dough, Hazelnut

88
Q

What is Medium?

A 
MD Label
Amontillado with Moscatel, PX or RCGM
0.5% - 11.5% residual sugar
Can be categorized
Medium Dry - 0.5-4.5%
Medium Sweet 4.5-11.5%
89
Q

What are other terms for Medium Sherry?

A 
Golden
Abocado
Amoroso
Brown
Milk
Rich
90
Q

What is Cream Sherry?

A

Oloroso with PX
Full bodied wine
11.5-14% sweetness
Dark Mahogany, walnut and dried fruit

91
Q

Where is DO Manzanilla-Sanlucar de Barrameda located?

A

Within DO Jerez-Xérès-Sherry

92
Q

Where does the name DO Jerez-Xérès-Sherry come from?

A

Spanish-Jerez, French-Xérès, English-Sherry

93
Q

What is Marco de Jerez?

A

9 towns for DO Jerez-Xérès-Sherry

includes Jerez, Sanlucar, Santa Maria, Trebujena, Chiclana, Puerto Real, Rota, Chipiona & Lebrija

94
Q

What is the Zona de Produccion?

A

Incorporates the 9 towns suitable for growing sherry grapes

Can be grown on the lesser soils like arrenas (sand) and barros (clay)

95
Q

What is Jerez Superior?

A

Subdivision of Zona de Produccion
Only Albariza soils
92% of vineyards planted here

96
Q

What is Zona de Crianza?

A

Aging and Maturing Zone
Sherry Triangle (Jerez-Sanlucar-Santa Maria)
Can only be labeled Sherry is aged/labeled in
DO Jerez and/or DO Manzanilla

& DO Manzanilla only aged in Sanlucar

97
Q

How are PX and Moscatel dried?

A

Soleo or asoleado - drying process

98
Q

What type of yeast is used for Sherry?

A

Indigenous - S. beticus

99
Q

What happens to wines not worthy of sherry production?

A

Made into sherry vinegar

100
Q

What does “Running the Scales” mean?

A

Means removing sherry from bottom butt and refilling at 1/3 all the criaderas (scales) up the solera to sobretabla

101
Q

Blending dry and sweet sherries is called?

102
Q

What type of Sherry is East India?

A

Sweet Sherry

103
Q

What is the sand on the floor of the Sherry Catherdrals?

104
Q

What are the wine styles in DO Jerez & Manzanilla

A

100% Generoso

Spanish Wine Scholar 2 (35 decks)

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