Sherry

Question 1

Describe the climate and soil type of Jerez

Answer 1

Hot, sunny Mediterranean climate. The vineyards nearer to the coast arealittle cooler and benefit from the prevailing cool humid westerly wind known a poniente

Question 2

name the 2 prevailing winds and how do they affect Jerez?

Answer 2

Poniente from the west is cooling. Levante from the east is a hot drying wind.

Question 3

What is the soil in Jerez called? why is it important?

Answer 3

The soul is called Albariza it has a very high chalk content. It provides good drainage. Vitallyits depth and excellent water retention copacity mean that i can store enoguh water to sustain the vines during the hot dry summers.

Rectangular pits are dug between vine rows in the fall and winter to maximize water retention and prevent run off

Question 4

Name key grape varieties and describe them?

Answer 4

Palomino, vast majority of plants.  Lacks acid and varietal aromas.  Ideal for sherry since its flavor comes oxidative maturation or biological maturation.  
Pedro Ximenez (PX) it also lakes little flavor.  Its skin is thin and suited for being sun dried.  It is used in production of sweet sherries.  
Muscat of Alexandria only small production used to make sweet sherries.

Question 5

describe biological maturation

Answer 5

these wines are fortified to 15-15.5% abv. This is idea strength for development of flor. Biological aging requires flor. Flor is the a film forming containing a number of yeast strains that starts to grow on all sherries but is crucial for biological maturation. Each barrel in a solera system has layer of flor growing on it. The butts are only partially filled giving the flor access to oxygen, but the layer of flor protects the wine from oxidation. Fino is an example of purely biological matured sherry. Amontillado is oxidatively aged after biological aged.

Question 6

describe oxidative maturation

Answer 6

Oloroso, PX, and some muscat sherries are aged axidatively, Without the presence of flor.