Sherry Wine Law and Business Flashcards
What was the total vineyard area in the Sherry zone of production in 2016?
6,989 ha
What is the average vineyard size in Jerez?
Around 3 ha
What percentage of vineyards in Jerez are owned by cooperative members?
40%
How much vineyard area in Jerez is owned by independent growers? How much by “shippers”?
Indie: 1,957 ha
Shippers: 2,097 ha
True or False
The “shippers” of Sherry are generally self sustaining and do not rely on growers in the same way Champagne houses do.
False. Though some producers, such as Gonzalez Byass and Barbadilllo, are large they still rely on independent growers for fruit.
How are Sherry production companies registered in the D.O.?
A company may belong to one of three registers
Bodega de la Zona de Producción (Production Bodega)
Bodega de la Crianza y Almacenado (Aging and Storage Bodega)
Bodega de Crianza y Expedición (Aging and Shipping Bodega)
In Jerez, what is a Bodega de la Zona de Producción?
A bodega, usually a large cooperative or owned by a company in another register, that presses grapes and ferments base wine for Sherry. It does not need to be located in the Zona de Crianza.
They may sell their own wine, but they don’t qualify as DO Jerez-Xeres-Sherry or DO Manzanilla Sanlúcar de Barrameda.
In Jerez, what is a Bodega de la Crianza y Almacenado?
A bodega, known specifically as an Almacenista, that matures wines. It must be located in the Zona de Crianza.
They tend to be relatively small in volume. These bodegas must sell their finished wine to a Bodega de Crianza y Expedición.
In Jerez, what is a Bodega de Crianza y Expedición?
The only register permitted to sell wines labelled DO Jerez-Xeres-Sherry or DO Manzanilla Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Also called “shippers,” they must by located within the Zona de Crianza.
These bodegas are permitted to further mature or bottle wines provided to them by the Bodegas de la Zona de Producción or the Bodegas de la Crianza y Almacenado. These wines may be further blended for additional complexity or to increase volumes of specific stock.
Which Sherry register was particularly hit by declining sales?
The almacenistas. Shippers were able to survive by using their own stocks for bottlings, which put the almacenistas (who MUST sell to shippers) out of business.
What was done to aid almacenistas in Sherry following the decline in sales?
The Consejo Regulador lowered the minimum “stockholding” (production) to classify as a shipper from 12,500 hL to 500 hL. Larger almacenistas were able to qualify as shippers and market their own wines.
When was the Consejo Regulador in Sherry first registered in Spain?
1933
What does the Consejo Regulador de Jerez do?
Maintains vineyard registers
Sets parameters such as maximum yield and minimum ABV
Oversees rotation of stock and verifies authenticity of old Sherry
Acts as a promotional body
What are two examples of the marketing outreach by the Consejo Regulador de Jerez?
Organization of events during International Sherry Week
Running of educational courses for wine professionals
Mandating the use of Sherry as a unique product/placename within the EU
What has been the trend in Sherry sales since 1976?
In major decline. All major markets have seen decline in Sherry sales.
