Sherry Flashcards

1
Q

What is highly rectified grape spirit?

A

Spirit distilled 95-96% ABV in column still

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2
Q

What spirit isn’t made using highly rectified grape spirit? What percentage maximum does it have?

A

Port- has a legal max of 77%

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3
Q

What are Mistelles?

A

Fortification with alcohol before fermentation has begun

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4
Q

What is fortification on the skins called?

A

Mutage sur grains- used to extract more tannin from the skin

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5
Q

Why can fortified wines age oxidatively?

A

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)

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6
Q

What are typical descriptors of oxidative wines?

A

Tertiary aromas such as dried fruit, toffee, coffee and nuts.

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7
Q

Where is Sherry production concentrated?

A

Andalucia (SW Spain)

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8
Q

What is the climate of SW Spain and the two winds ?

A

Mediterranean climate. Levante- hot. Poniete- cool

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9
Q

What are the three soil types in SW Spain?

A

Albariza (limestone) baros (clay) and arenas (sand).

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10
Q

What is a downfall of albariza soil?

A

Risk of chlorosis (nutrient deficiency of iron, zinc and not able to synthesize chlorophyl)

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11
Q

What is the classic pruning method for sherry?

A

Single guyot- some canopy shade is needed to protect fruit from sunburn, most is hand harvested

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12
Q

What are the grapes used in sherry:

A

Palomino- Fino and Jerez
PX
Muscat of Alexandria

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13
Q

Describe the Palomino grape.

A

White grape, susceptible to downy mildew and responds best in warm, dry soil.
Low in acid, sugars, high yielding

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14
Q

Describe Muscat of Alexandria

A

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.

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15
Q

Describe PX

A

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

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16
Q

What does flor need to survive?

A

Temp 15-21, humidity, sufficient nutrients, ph 3.3-3.4, alcohol 15-15.5, low levels of SO2

17
Q

What do flor feed on?

A

Oxygen, alcohol, glycerine, and produce acetaldehyde and CO2. Protects wines from oxidation.

18
Q

What are sherry butts known as?

A

Criadera

19
Q

What is the solera?

A

The final group of butts

20
Q

How does the solera differ from fino to oxidative wines?

A

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.

21
Q

What is the minimum age of all sherry?

A

2 years

22
Q

How much is the maximum total volume you can draw off a solera system?

A

40%

23
Q

Describe Manzanilla

A

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.

24
Q

What is Manzanilla Pasada?

A

A Manzanilla wine which has been aged under a weak layer of flor resulting in a small amount of oxidation

25
Q

Where is Fino made?

A

Jerez de la Frontera or El Puerto de Santa Maria

26
Q

What is Amontillado?

A

A wine that has had a period of biological aging followed by oxidative aging.

27
Q

What is Palo Cortado

A

A wine that fails to develop flor proper and is refortified to 17%.Rarest category.

28
Q

What is Moscatel?

A

Varietal used for sweetening sherry

29
Q

What is Vino Generosos de Licor ?

A

High volume inexpensive brands such as Harvey’s Bristol Cream, and premium brands such as Lustau

30
Q

What is the difference between pale, medium and cream?

A
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
31
Q

What is VOS and VORS?

A

Very Old Sherry 20 yrs and Very old rare sherry 30 years

32
Q

What is an anada?

A

Sherry made from one vintage

33
Q

What are the two DOs of sherry?

A

Jerez-xeres-sherry and sanlucar de barrameda

34
Q

What are the towns in Jeres-xeres ?

A

Jerez de la Frontera, El Puerto de Santa Maria, Sanlucar de Barrameda