Sherry Flashcards
What are the 3 towns of the Sherry Triangle?
Jerez de la FronteraSanlucar de BarramedaPuerto de Santa Maria
What’s the climate like in the Sherry region?
Hot, sunny and Mediterranean, slightly cooler by the coastHigh rainfall but limited in the growing season
What are the cool, humid and hot, arid winds called?
Poniente = Cool, humid, westerlyLevante = Hot and arid
What is the soil in Sherry region, what is it largely made up of and how do Vine growers use it to best effect?
AlbarizaVery high Chalk contentGood drainage of Winter rain but retains water at deep levels to sustain vine through hot SummerPits dug in Autumn to catch water, smoothed over in SpringForms hard crust to seal moisture in and limit evaporation
What grapes are used to make sherry?
Palomino - vast majorityPedro XiminezMuscat of Alexandria
How is Palomino processed to make base wine
Into winery and pressed ASAP to avoid oxidationSteel tank ferment, high temp, 20~25c to produce neutral wine
Once Palamino is made into base wine which two directions can it head in?
Lighter, more finessed wines - Biological ageing (under Flor)Darker wines - Oxidative ageing (no Flor)
To what % is base wine fortified?With what? What strength is it?
Biological ageing wines - 15%~15.5%Oxidative ageing wines - 17%Fortified with pure grape spirit at 96% abv
Where do wines spend time before introduction into the Solera system?
In the Sobretabla for a few months
How are grapes processed for Sweet styles?
Sun dried to raisin themFerment to a few % abv as yeast struggles with so much sugarFortified to 17%
What size are the barrels in the Solera system?What are they called?How full are they kept?
600 ltrButs5/6th full to allow oxygen
What does flor need to survive?
Cool, humid conditionsEats and drinks alcohol and nutrients in the wine
What does Flor excrete in similar amounts?
CO2Acetaldehyde
What are the levels of the Solera system called?
Criaderas
How is wine removed from the Solera System and how is it topped up?
Taken from the bottom level called the SoleraBlended wine from 1st Criadera tops up SoleraBlended wine from 2nd Criadera tops up firstBlended wine from 3rd Criadera tops up 2nd etc etc etcWine in Sobretabla used to top up the top level Criadera