Sherry Flashcards
What is highly rectified grape spirit?
Spirit distilled 95-96% ABV in column still
What spirit isn’t made using highly rectified grape spirit? What percentage maximum does it have?
Port- has a legal max of 77%
What are Mistelles?
Fortification with alcohol before fermentation has begun
What is fortification on the skins called?
Mutage sur grains- used to extract more tannin from the skin
Why can fortified wines age oxidatively?
They can without turning to vinegar because the elevated level of alcohol is toxic to acetobacter (the bacteria responsible for development of acetic acid in fortified wines)
What are typical descriptors of oxidative wines?
Tertiary aromas such as dried fruit, toffee, coffee and nuts.
Where is Sherry production concentrated?
Andalucia (SW Spain)
What is the climate of SW Spain and the two winds ?
Mediterranean climate. Levante- hot. Poniete- cool
What are the three soil types in SW Spain?
Albariza (limestone) baros (clay) and arenas (sand).
What is a downfall of albariza soil?
Risk of chlorosis (nutrient deficiency of iron, zinc and not able to synthesize chlorophyl)
What is the classic pruning method for sherry?
Single guyot- some canopy shade is needed to protect fruit from sunburn, most is hand harvested
What are the grapes used in sherry:
Palomino- Fino and Jerez
PX
Muscat of Alexandria
Describe the Palomino grape.
White grape, susceptible to downy mildew and responds best in warm, dry soil.
Low in acid, sugars, high yielding
Describe Muscat of Alexandria
Not as high quality as Muscat a petit Grains, produces sweet and grapey wines, lacks finesse, used for raisins and pisco production
High yields and sweet.
Describe PX
Sweet, prone to disease, low yielding, traditionally grapes are dried in the sun before being fermented to a few degrees of alcohol. The wine is fortified to 17% and aged oxidatively in soleras. Used to sweeten other sherries as well, minimum 212g/l
What does flor need to survive?
Temp 15-21, humidity, sufficient nutrients, ph 3.3-3.4, alcohol 15-15.5, low levels of SO2
What do flor feed on?
Oxygen, alcohol, glycerine, and produce acetaldehyde and CO2. Protects wines from oxidation.
What are sherry butts known as?
Criadera
What is the solera?
The final group of butts
How does the solera differ from fino to oxidative wines?
In fino the new wine supplies nutrients for the flor, keeps alcohol ideal in spite of evaporation. In oxidative wines solera helps add freshness older wines.
What is the minimum age of all sherry?
2 years
How much is the maximum total volume you can draw off a solera system?
40%
Describe Manzanilla
Made in the seaside town of Sanlucar de Barrameda, pale, light, dry, influenced by flor, the humid climate results in a thicker layer of flor so there is a slower maturation process, lower alcohol content, higher acidity (also because grapes are picked less ripe than Fino). As wine matures, flor may die and turn into a Manzanilla Pasada.
What is Manzanilla Pasada?
A Manzanilla wine which has been aged under a weak layer of flor resulting in a small amount of oxidation
Where is Fino made?
Jerez de la Frontera or El Puerto de Santa Maria
What is Amontillado?
A wine that has had a period of biological aging followed by oxidative aging.
What is Palo Cortado
A wine that fails to develop flor proper and is refortified to 17%.Rarest category.
What is Moscatel?
Varietal used for sweetening sherry
What is Vino Generosos de Licor ?
High volume inexpensive brands such as Harvey’s Bristol Cream, and premium brands such as Lustau
What is the difference between pale, medium and cream?
Pale has biological aging- 15-115g/l Medium has biological and oxidative- 5-115g/l Cream has oxidative and is the sweetest 115g/l-140g/l
What is VOS and VORS?
Very Old Sherry 20 yrs and Very old rare sherry 30 years
What is an anada?
Sherry made from one vintage
What are the two DOs of sherry?
Jerez-xeres-sherry and sanlucar de barrameda
What are the towns in Jeres-xeres ?
Jerez de la Frontera, El Puerto de Santa Maria, Sanlucar de Barrameda
