Sherry

Question 1

What appears on every bottle of Sherry

Answer 1

Sherry (English), Xeres (Phoenician), Jeres (Spanish Wines Region)

Question 2

ABV in Sherry

Answer 2

15-22%

Question 3

What province or area of spain is Jerez in

Answer 3

Andalusia

Question 4

Sherry Triangle is comprised of

Answer 4

Jerez de la Frontera (Cadiz), Sanlucar de Barrameda (Cadiz), and El Puerto de Santa Maria (Cadiz).

Question 5

What used to cover the Sherry triangle

Answer 5

A vast sea that left marine sediement

Question 6

Soils of Sherry

Answer 6

Albariza-chalkly snow white limestone retains water (porous)
Barros-Clay found in more fertile inland valleys
Arena-Sand found near coast

Question 7

Sherry is the product of what two DO zones:

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

Nine towns of Sherry production:

Answer 8

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)

Question 9

What promotes the growth of floor

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

Primary Sherry grapes

Answer 10

Palamino, Moscatel and PX

Question 11

Primary Sherry grapes

Answer 11

Palamino, Moscatel and PX (dried on matts in sun and used for sweet styles.).

Question 12

Customary tapas service

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

How many styles of Sherry are there

Answer 13

Seven

Question 14

Where are the oldest barrels placed in the Solera

Answer 14

On the bottom. Bottles are filled off bottom barrels

Question 15

The solera system enjoys what kind of blending

Answer 15

Fractional Blending

Question 16

Average age of Sherry Barrel

Answer 16

100 years old. Some are 200 years old

Question 17

What is Flor

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

By law manzanilla can only be made from bodegas situated where

Answer 18

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

Question 19

How long do fino and manzanilla sherries last for

Answer 19

1-2 days

Question 20

Style of fino and manzanilla sherries

Answer 20

A light, elegant, salty, tangy, chamomile taste that has a pungent yeasty almond aroma. Almond colored

Question 21

How are finos and manzanillas served and what are they werved with

Answer 21

Chilled and fresh. Oysters due to saltiness

Question 22

Alc. Levels of fino and manzanilla

Answer 22

15-17%

Question 23

Describe Amontillado

Answer 23

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.

Question 24

what does Amontillado taste like

Answer 24

Nuts, spice, tobacco

Question 25

What is Palo Cortado

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Olorosso

Answer 26

Means intensely aromatic. Has not ben protected by floor. (18-20%abv). Meatier and denser than a fino

Question 27

Cream

Answer 27

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.

Question 28

Pedro Ximenez

Answer 28

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.

Question 29

What is VOS

Answer 29

Very old sherry. Min. 20 yrs. old

Question 30

What is VORS

Answer 30

Very old rare sherry. Min. 30 yrs. old

Question 31

Sherry producers

Answer 31

Hidalgo, Lustau, Osborne, Valdespino, Barbadillo, Bodegas Tradicion, Pedro Domecq, Gonzales Byass

Question 32

What temp are amontillados, palo cortados, olorosso, and cream served at and how long will they last.

Answer 32

Room temp. Several months.

Question 33

Every sherry bodega makes what

Answer 33

Brandy

Question 34

How is spanish brandy different from armengac and cognac

Answer 34

It is aged in Sherry barrels. This is called Jerez Brandy

Question 35

What are food pairings for Sherries

Answer 35

Jamon, olives, marcona almonds, figs, chocolate, hard cheeses, manchego,

Question 36

What is Sherry fortified with

Answer 36

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%.

Question 37

What are the two broad categories of how sherries are aged.

Answer 37

Biological aging (Manzanilla and Fino) and Oxidative (Olororosso Categories).

Question 38

What grapes are utilized in Sherry

Answer 38

Most sherries are made from Palomino grapes and sweetened with a little Moscatel. Pedro Ximenez is made from the PX dried out grape.