Sherry

Question 1

What are the 3 main categories of Sherry ?

Answer 1

1) Vinos Generosos (dry wines: less than 5g/l)
2) Vinos Generosos de Licor (blended sweet wines: 5-140g/l)
3) Vinos Dulces Naturales (naturally sweet wines: in excess of 160g/l)

Question 2

What are the 5 categories of Vinos Generosos ?

Answer 2

・Fino or Manzanilla
・Manzanilla Pasada
・Amontillado
・Oloroso
・Palo Cortado

Question 3

What are the 2 types of Vinos Dulces Naturales ?

Answer 3

・Moscatel

・Pedro Ximenes

Question 4

What are the 3 types of Vinos Generosos de Licor ?

Answer 4

・Pale Cream (45g-115g/L): should have aromas of biological ageing.
・Medium (5-115g/L): should have aromas of biological and oxidative ageing.
・Cream (115-140g/L): should have aromas of oxidative ageing.

Question 5

What are the 3 special categories of Sherry ?

Answer 5

1) VOS and VORS
2) Sherries with indication of age
3) Añada

Question 6

DOs of Sherry and who manages these DOs ?

Answer 6

• DO Jeres-Xeres-Sherry.
• DO Manzanilla - Sanlucar de Barrameda.

Consejo Regulador de Jerez manages both DOs.

Question 7

What is Zona de Produccion and Zona de Crianza ?

Answer 7

• Zona de Produccion refers to the area where grapes for Sherry can be grown as delineated by the Consejo Regulador (7000 hectares).
• Zona de Crianza limits the maturation of the wines inside the DOs.

Question 8

Wineries are classified according the functions approved by the Consejo Regulador. What are the 4 categories of wineries ?

Answer 8

1) Bodegas de Produccion
2) Bodegas de Elaboracion
3) Bodegas de Crianza y Almacenado
4) Bodegas de Crianza y Expedicion

Question 9

Location of Sherry area ?

Answer 9

Andalucia, south west Spain.

Question 10

Climate of Sherry area ?

Answer 10

• Warm Mediterranean climate with high level of sunshine.
• Rainfall is high compared to most of Spain. Rainfall mainly in autumn and winter.
• 2 winds play an important role: levante (hot) and poniente (cooling).

Question 11

Explain the soils of Sherry region.

Answer 11

3 soil types:
• Albariza (limestone)
• Baros (clay)
• Arenas (sand)

Nearly all vineyards on albariza as vineyard area has contracted. It has great water holding capacity but risk of chlorosis.

Question 12

Vineyard characteristics of Sherry area ?

Answer 12

• Soil is ridged in winter to maximise the capture of rainfall.
• Classical pruning method is a form of single Guyot with limited training.
• Move to more modern wine trellising to facilitate mechanical harvesting.
• Some level of canopy shade is important (protect from fruit sunburn).

Question 13

Grapes of Sherry:

Answer 13

• Palomino: vast majority of plantings. 2 sub varieties: Palomino Fino (majority) and Palomino de Jerez (rare).
• Pedro Ximenez (PX): now rare in Jerez DO. Most PX grapes coming from Montilla-Morilles region. It is low in acidity and alcohol, less productive and more disease prone than Palomino.
• Muscat of Alexandria: performs well in arenas (notably around Chipiona).