Sherry Flashcards
Sherry Consejo Regulador founded when?
1933
In response to poor quality “Sherries” from around the world.
Ruiz Mateos SA aka Rumasa
Major player in Sherry for a long time Started as almacenista Started to ship its own Sherry 1959 Supplied Harveys Bristol cream Business empire: bodegas, hotels, banks 1970s: dominate industry, drive down prices Negative impact on industry overall Nationalsied 1983
Latitude of Jerez?
Low latitude
36 degrees
Sherry climate
Hot Mediterranean
nb it’s on the Atlantic
Poniente
Cool, damp wind from the Atlantic = humid influence in summer
Levante
Hot drying wind from Africa
Makes climate arid
Grapes transpire more quickly = concentrating sugars
Too much sugar a problem in fermenting to dryness
Sherry has high or low number of sunlight hours
High
Lots of cloud-free days
W/o sufficient shading = grapes can sunburn
How many hectares under vine for Zona de Produccion de Jerez?
7,000ha
Zona de Produccion can make grapes for which two DOs?
DO Jerez-Xeres-Sherry
DO Manzanilla - Sanlucar de Barrameda
One exception to Zona de Produccion?
PX grown around Montilla, in mountains above Malaga (outside Zona de Produccion but matured in Zona de Crianza) so can use DO Sherry
Two parts of Zona de Produccion?
Jerez Superior
Jerez Zona
Which is better, Jerez Superior or Jerez Zona?
Jerez Superior
All on albariza soil
Accounts for 90% of plantings
Pagos
Smaller delimited areas of Sherrry vineayrds
Albariza
key soil type in Sherry. mix of limestone, silica and clay
Clay = retain and gradually release water from winter rainfall = vital in such a dry region
What does Albariza forming crust do?
Helps reduce evaporation from the soil surface
Why are higher planting densities possible in Jerez?
Albariza soils retain water well
Why are high yields possible in Jerez?
Sherry grapes don’t need same level of concentration of flavour as grapes for unfortified wines = most flavour comes from maturation
Light colour of albariza soil has what advantage?
Reflects light back to vine canopy = aids ripening
Types of soil other than albariza?
Barros (more clay)
Arenas (sandy)
Palomino aka
Palomino Fino
Listan
Palomino characteristics (grape)
Mid to late ripen Suits dry, sunny weather Large yields Loses acidity quickly near maturity Netural aromas
Moscatel in Sherry is which type?
Muscat of Alexandria
Where is Moscatel grown?
Chipiona
Moscatel characteristics (grape)
Aromatic (grape, blossom)
Grown on sandy arenas soils
Where do PX flavours come from?
Neutral variety
Flavours from drying and maturing processes
Vara y pulgar
This WAS the principal training system (form of replacement cane)
Now more and more cordon trained and spur pruned (better for mechanisation)
Why is VSP trellising good in Sherry?
Ensures canopy remains open, easy for machine. BUT some shading is needed to prevent sunburn
Max yields in Sherry
80hl/ha
Rare. usually closer to 60-70hl/ha
Gradient for slopes in Sherry
Gentle
10-15%
Aserpia
System of troughs or gullies down each row of vines to catch winter rains
Otherwise rainwater would flow down sloped vineyards (not penetrate soil)
Most used rootstocks Sherry
333EM
41-B
13-5 EVEX
(hybrids of v. vinifera and v. berlandieri)
13-5 EVEX
Rootstock Hybrid vinifera and berlandieri Developed by local research station Most successful so far Tolerant of limestone (prevent chlorosis) Tolerant of drought Good yields
Diseases a problem in Jerez?
Generally not
Hot dry growing season
Sometimes mildew in spring (warm humid weather after rain)
Where mildew occurs in Sherry how is it treated?
Systemic fungicides
VSP training helps promote air flow
What pest in Sherry?
European grapevine moth
use sexual confusion/pheromones against it
When/where does harvest start?
First week of august
More inland vineyards
Where/when does harvest finish?
Second week of september
Cooler coastal plots
Why harvest early in Sherry?
Harvest early as possible to avoid autumn rain
Rot undersirable, particularly for bio aged wines
Grapes picked at what % potential alc?
12%
Acidification needed?
Yes, sometimes
Palomino loses acidity quickly
Acidify if levels fall below 5g/L
PX and Moscatel harvested later. T/F
True
Want more sugar in grapes, makes drying process easier and quicker
Picking by hand or machine?
Both
60% by machine, mostly at night or early morning = temperatures coolest = reduce oxidation and microbial spoilage
Skin contact in Sherry?
No, particularly not for bio aged wines. Phenolic compounds can restrict flor
Lightest first pressings called what
Primera yema
Bio aged styles
Second pressing called what
Seconda yema
Oloroso
Extracted later with more pressure
Higher phenolics = flor struggles to develop
Final press fractions of Sherry used for what?
Other products
Wine for seasoning abrrels
Clarifying the must in Sherry
Before fermentation, either by cold settling, centrifugation or flotation
Albariza is dusty = need to remove particles