Sherry Flashcards
What appears on every bottle of Sherry
Sherry (English), Xeres (Phoenician), Jeres (Spanish Wines Region)
ABV in Sherry
15-22%
What province or area of spain is Jerez in
Andalusia
Sherry Triangle is comprised of
Jerez de la Frontera (Cadiz), Sanlucar de Barrameda (Cadiz), and El Puerto de Santa Maria (Cadiz).
What used to cover the Sherry triangle
A vast sea that left marine sediement
Soils of Sherry
Albariza-chalkly snow white limestone retains water (porous)
Barros-Clay found in more fertile inland valleys
Arena-Sand found near coast
Sherry is the product of what two DO zones:
Jerez-Xérès-Sherry and Manzanilla-Sanlúcar de
Barrameda. The latter must be aged in the seaside town of Sanlúcar de Barrameda. The two share similar guidelines.
Nine towns of Sherry production:
Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz) • El Puerto de Santa María (Cádiz) • Sanlúcar de Barrameda (Cádiz) • Chiclana de Frontera (Cádiz) • Puerto Real (Cádiz) • Rota (Cádiz) • Chipiona (Cádiz) • Trebujena (Cádiz) • Lebrija (Seville)
What promotes the growth of floor
Fierce levante winds that howl and blow east to west and cool Atlantic Breezes. Jerez can be 20 degrees warmer as it is inland than the other two coastal towns.
Primary Sherry grapes
Palamino, Moscatel and PX
Primary Sherry grapes
Palamino, Moscatel and PX (dried on matts in sun and used for sweet styles.).
Customary tapas service
Served in the late morning after breakfast coffee. Small saucer with free nibbles (tapas/to cover) would be placed on top of Sherry wine glass.
How many styles of Sherry are there
Seven
Where are the oldest barrels placed in the Solera
On the bottom. Bottles are filled off bottom barrels
The solera system enjoys what kind of blending
Fractional Blending
Average age of Sherry Barrel
100 years old. Some are 200 years old
What is Flor
Biological. Four strains of Saccharomyces yeast that bloom or “flower” in Jerez’s humid air. Flor taken to other parts of the world mutates and dies.
By law manzanilla can only be made from bodegas situated where
Beaches of Sanlucar de Barrameda. 78% humidity with salty air. Developing manzanillas taken to other parts of the sherry region die. Theey are ULTRA fragile
How long do fino and manzanilla sherries last for
1-2 days
Style of fino and manzanilla sherries
A light, elegant, salty, tangy, chamomile taste that has a pungent yeasty almond aroma. Almond colored
How are finos and manzanillas served and what are they werved with
Chilled and fresh. Oysters due to saltiness
Alc. Levels of fino and manzanilla
15-17%
Describe Amontillado
Amontillado is a result of both flor and oxidative aging.
It starts out with flor and ages 4-6 yrs. after it is fortified, leaving the alc. higher (16-22%) than that of finos and manzanilla which kills the flor. After fortification it is transferred into a solera.
what does Amontillado taste like
Nuts, spice, tobacco
What is Palo Cortado
Starts out as Olorosso but develops in a more elegant and complex way. It is rare and eccentric and considered the most sophisticated. Nuts, spice, tobacco
Olorosso
Means intensely aromatic. Has not ben protected by floor. (18-20%abv). Meatier and denser than a fino
Cream
Sweetened Olorosso. PX must make up more than 15% of the olorosso blend. Created for the British Market. Tastes like chocolate, licorice, fig, dried fruit with 11% RS. Abv is 15-22% Lustau is one of the most popular brands.
Pedro Ximenez
Made from dried out PX grapes. Aged in solera. 40-50%residual sugar. Nearly black in color and thick like maple syrup. Spaniards pour over vanilla or rum raisin ice cream. Alternatively they serve is with hard cheese.
What is VOS
Very old sherry. Min. 20 yrs. old
What is VORS
Very old rare sherry. Min. 30 yrs. old
Sherry producers
Hidalgo, Lustau, Osborne, Valdespino, Barbadillo, Bodegas Tradicion, Pedro Domecq, Gonzales Byass
What temp are amontillados, palo cortados, olorosso, and cream served at and how long will they last.
Room temp. Several months.
Every sherry bodega makes what
Brandy
How is spanish brandy different from armengac and cognac
It is aged in Sherry barrels. This is called Jerez Brandy
What are food pairings for Sherries
Jamon, olives, marcona almonds, figs, chocolate, hard cheeses, manchego,
What is Sherry fortified with
Mature sherry grape spirit to avoid shocking the young wine. Finos are fortified to around 15-15.5% and Olorosso categories are fortified to 17-18%.
What are the two broad categories of how sherries are aged.
Biological aging (Manzanilla and Fino) and Oxidative (Olororosso Categories).
What grapes are utilized in Sherry
Most sherries are made from Palomino grapes and sweetened with a little Moscatel. Pedro Ximenez is made from the PX dried out grape.
