Sherry Flashcards
3 main towns of sherry
Jerez de la frontera
Sanlucar de barrameda
El puerto de Santa maria
How many acres under vine in sherry region
Over 25 000
Climate of sherry
300 days sunlight per year Humid Med climate Low rainfall Mild winters Hot summers Windy
Name of winds in sherry
Levante
Poniente
3 grape varieties of sherry
Palomino
PX
Moscatel
What percentage of plantings is palomino
95%
What is PX used for
Sweet wine
Blending
What is Moscatel used for
Sweet wine
Blending
3 soil types of sherry
Albariza
Barros
Arenas
Albariza soil info
Chalky with high levels of calcium and limestone
Porous - retains moisture in hot summer
Dries to crust on top protecting moisture below
What is the best soil for palomino
Albariza
Barros soil info
Dark brown valley soils
High clay content
Best soil for PX and Moscatel
Barron’s
Arenas soil info
Yellowish soil high high sand content
When are grapes harvested for Sherry
Early September
What happens to palomino grapes after picking
Pressed immediately
What happens to PX grapes after harvesting
Sun dried to increase sugar levels
How are Finos selected
Developing flor
If not enough flor what happens to the Sherry base
Fortified to 18%
Become olorosos
What is used to fortify Sherry
Neutral grape spirit 95% ABV
and older Sherry
What alcohol levels are Finos fortified to
15-15.5%
What alcohol levels are olorosos fortified to
17-18%
What level of alcohol can flor withstand
Up to 15.5 %
Where does flor grow
Surface of wine in cask
What does flor live off
Nutrients in wine
Affects colour
What conditions does flor require to grow
Temp 59-86 F
Moisture
Low sulphur
Tannins
When is the best time for flor to grow
Spring and fall
All year round in coastal areas
Sobretablas
Intermediate stage for wines that begin to develop flor
Wines are transferred to 600 liter american butts and monitored for 6 months
During this time a second classification occurs
Sobretablas classifications
Palma Palma cortada Palo cortado Raya Dos rayas
Palma classification
Flor has flourished
Developing into fino styles
Palma cortada classification
A robust style of fino
Becoming amontillado
Palo cortado classification
Flor is present but fishnets of wine makes winemaker decide to take an oxidative path
Raya classification
Not enough flor growth to become a fino
Dos raya classification
Flor has vanished
Wines sweetend
Or made to become Sherry vinegar
Solera system
Fractional blending
Old wine constantly refreshed with younger wine
Levels of Solera system
Anada - u blended
1st criadera
2nd criadera
Shipping Solera
Criadera
Parcels of the same wine at different stages of aging
Manzanilla Sherry
Lightest most delicate fino style
Produced only in sanlucar de barrameda
Fino Sherry
Light and delicate style of Sherry fortified to 15% ABV max 18%
Amontillado Sherry
Fino that has been left in cask for additional aging and develops a rich, nutty character - typically dry in style
Palo cortado Sherry
Rush style fortified to 17-22% ABV
Usually aged longer
True are dry
Some sweetened and sold as cream Sherry
Almacenista
Single Solera Sherry bottled unblinded and produced in small quantities
Pale cream Sherry
Sweetened by addition of grape juice
PX Sherry
Finest dessert style
Produced from sun dried grapes
