SHERRY Flashcards
Where is Sherry made? What region?
Sherry comes from Spain, in the Jerez region
What 3 cities are permitted to age sherry?
Jerez de la Frontera, Puerto de Santa Maria, Sanlucar de Barremeda
What grape varieties are permitted in the production of Sherry?
Palomino, Pedro Ximenez, Muscat de Alexandria
What are the vast majority of plantings in Jerez?
Palomino
What is the name of the 2 winds that contribute to the climate in Jerez?
Poniente and Levante (poniente brings cool winds from the Atlantic, Levante brings warm winds from the east)
How does levante affect the vineyards in Jerez?
Levante can heat vineyards and stress the grapes, over ripening
What are the 3 main styles of Sherry?
Fino, Amontillado and Oloroso
What is biological aging vs oxidative aging?
Biological aging is the aging process in which the sherry is in contact with a Flor yeast organism - imparting yeast flavours and protecting the sherry from oxygen.
Oxidative aging is the aging process in which the sherry is in contact with oxygen in the oak cask.
In both instances, the cask is not filled completely and allows room for a flor to grow or oxygen to interact with the surface of the wine
What ABV is Fino Sherry fermented to? Why is it fermented to this %?
Fino Sherry is fermented to 15-15.5% ABV, at this % level the Flor yeast can survive and impart flavours onto the wine.
What % ABV is Olorosso fortified to?
17-18% ABV. At this stage the flor yeast dies and allows room for oxidative aging.
How is sherry made? What are the 3 steps in the production process?
A dry base wine is made to 11-12% ABV (fermented at a higher temperature to eliminate fresh fruit flavours 22-26 degrees**).
Wine is fortified to 15% for Fino style, and 17% for Olorosso style.
Wine is then stored Sobretabla before it is incorporated into the Solera system.
What alcohol (%) is Sherry fortified with once classified?
95%ABV neutral spirit
What is the climate like in Jerez?
Hot, Mediterranean
What is the famous soil in Jerez called? Why is it good for grape growing?
Albariza soil, has a high chalk content with low nutrients and good drainage. Has a great capacity to retain water which helps in the hot climate.
What farming practice is used with Albariza soil?
Rectangular pits are dug to store water for the summer
What is sherry stored in? What are they called? how much are they filled?
600l oak casks, called butts. filled 5/6th of the way
What are the levels called in the Solera system?
Criaderas
What does a Flor need to survive?
Alcohol, Oxygen, cool and humid conditions, maximum ABV 15.5%
what styles (dry-sweet) does Fino and Olorosso sherry produce?
Fino sherry produces dry wine, Olorosso sherry produces both dry and sweet styles.
What qualities do traditional bodegas have in Jerez?
High ceilings, white walls and floors made of earth to keep a cool, humid climate. windows face west to draw in cool poniente winds
What does a flor produce from feeding on alcohol and nutrients?
c02 and acetaldehyde
What does Acetaldehyde impart on sherry?
Tangy, nutty and yeasty qualities
What is a manzanilla sherry?
Manzanilla sherry is a fino sherry matured in the town of Sanlucar de Barrameda - a cooler, tangier style
How is an Amontillado Sherry produced?
Amontillado sherry undergo’s a period of biological aging and then a period of oxidative aging. Wines are refortified to 17% after the flor dies.
What is a Palo Cortado?
A sherry that has the same aroma as an Amontillado but body as an Olorosso
What is a sherry labelled PX? How much sugar is in a PX?
PX is a sweet sherry made by sun-dried grapes. 500g/l
What is a pale cream sherry sweetened with?
RCGM
how long is VORS aged?
30 years - very old rare sherry
how long is VOS aged?
20 years, very old sherry