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Sherry Flashcards

1
Q

Who brought vines to Andalucia?

A

Phoenicians 3,000 years ago planted in Xera (Jerez)

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2
Q

What did the Romans rename Xera (Jerez) and what was the wine known as?

A

Ceret

Vinum Ceretensis

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3
Q

What did the Moors rename Xera/Ceret after the Romans?

A

Sherish

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4
Q

When did the Christians take over Jerez from the Moors?

A

1264

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5
Q

What wines were popular with the English, Flemish and French mid 15th c?

A

Sweet-fortified wines

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6
Q

What was the organization named to regulate sherry producers in the 15th c?

A

Regulations of the Guild of Raisin and Grape Harvesters of Jerez 1483

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7
Q

Who attacked Cádiz in 1587 and stole Sherry?

A

Sir Francis Drake

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8
Q

What is a historic name the English use for Sherry?

A

Sack - probably related when Francis Drake “sacked” Cádiz and stole 3000 bottles of Sherry

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9
Q

Why was the criaderas y solera system implemented in the 18th C and what was the impact?

A

There was a surplus of wine and it became less sweet

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10
Q

When did phylloxera arrive in Sherry country?

A

1894

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11
Q

When did DO Jerez-Xérès-Sherry and DO Manzanilla-Sánlucar de Barrameda receive their status?

A

1933 and 1964 respectively

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12
Q

What is the principal grape and its synonym for Sherry?

A

Palamino Fino or Listan Blanco

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13
Q

Who was Palomino Fino named after?

A

Don Fernan Yanex Palomino a knight who fought with King Alfonso X in the Reconquista

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14
Q

Where is Palomino Fino indigenous?

A

Andalucía

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15
Q

Why is Palomino Fino good for Sherry?

A

Low ABV
Log sugar
Low Acidity
Prone to oxidation (a plus)

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16
Q

Where is Pedro Ximénez indigenous?

A

Andalucía

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17
Q

Where is PX mostly grown and why?

A

DO Montilla-Moriles

It is warmer and less humid allows for full ripening

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18
Q

Where can a buyer purchase PX for blending for sweet Sherry wines?

A

DO Montilla-Moriles

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19
Q

What type of wines does PX produce?

A

Sweet wine
Sweet Sherry
Varietals

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20
Q

What was Moscatel de Alejandría used for in ancient time?

A

Raisins and wines

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21
Q

What wines does Moscatel de Alejandria make?

A

Sweet wines
Sweet Sherries
Varietals

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22
Q

What is zapatos de pisar?

A

Shoes with spikes worn in the old days to stop Sherry grapes.

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23
Q

What are the bodegas called in Sherry country and why were they built?

A

Sherry Cathedrals - high ceilings / thick walls

  1. Retain humidity
  2. Reduce heat
  3. Store solera
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24
Q

What is 1st run of Sherry grapes, how much is produced and for what type of Sherry?

A

Primera Yema - free run juice
Pale and light
65% of total
Fino Sherry

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25
What is 2nd press of Sherry grapes, how much is produced and for what type of Sherry?
Segunda Yema - pneumatic press More color and tannin 23% volume Oloroso sherry
26
What is 3rd press of Sherry grapes, how much is produced and for what type of Sherry?
Mosta Prensa - press fraction coarser, inelegant juice ~12% Used to distill
27
How are the 3 Sherry presses treated for vinification?
``` Primera Yema (Fino) & Segunda (Oloroso) Yema fermented separately Mosta Prensa is distilled ```
28
What is the alcoholic contents of Palomino Fino and how much residual sugars remain?
11-12% ABV | Zero sugars
29
Where are base sherry wines fermented and why?
Usually at special winemaking facilities (not catherdrals) | Reduces transport time and risk of oxidation and growth of other organisms.
30
What is "East India" Sherry and who produces?
Sherry replicating the process of 17th c sherry sent to India Made by Lustau Oloroso + PX aged separate for 12 years Then blended Then another 3 years aged in 45-cask solera
31
Base wines with distinct paleness and finesse become what type of sherries?
Fino or Manzanilla Get a slash on the cask Flor for biological aging
32
Base sherry wines with greater structure become?
Oloroso | Pure oxidative wines
33
What is the fortification process of sherry called?
Mitad y Mitad | 50/50 mix of distilled grape spirit and mature sherry
34
Fino or Manzanilla sherries ABV?
15-15.5% | Above 17% flor dies
35
Oloroso ABV?
minimum 17% ABV
36
What factors determines palest, least bitter wines (eg Fino or Manzanilla)?
1. Free-run juice 2. Grapes from albariza soil 3. Old vines 4. Wines made with excellent hygiene
37
What is the intermediate stage of sherry aging?
Sobretabla - where wines for bio aging need flor and time to develop into their true character. 3m to 1 year
38
How long do base wines sit in sobretabla?
3 month to 1 year to develop flor
39
What happens if flor is not robust or dead in a sobretabla or criadera?
The sherry is fortified to 17% to kill off the yeast and oxidated like a Oloroso (now Palo Cortado and Amotillado)
40
What is the yeast type of flor?
S. Beticus
41
What is the blanket of flor known on Fino and Manzanillas?
Velo de Flor (Flower Veil)
42
What type of environment does flor thrive?
Aerobic Undisturbed Cool & Stable (18-20C) Humid
43
How does flor work?
Enzymes in the yeast metabolize alcohol, acid & glycerin while producing aldehydes and fusel alcohol
44
What does flor protect against?
Acetobacter which produces vinegar
45
How long does it take to deplete flor's food source?
12-18 months
46
What is the minimum aging time for biologically aged sherry?
At least 2 years | Most are much longer
47
What is the general lifespan of flor even when replenished with nutrients?
7-8 years
48
What flor last longer Fino or Manzanilla?
Manzanilla since Sanlucar has more humidity
49
What happens when a sherry is oxidized?
Darker color Hazelnut and walnut aromas develop Wine gains body
50
What is the maximum ABV for sherries and how do sherries reach that level?
22% ABV | Evaporation
51
What are rayas and how are they used?
Lighter wines still in butts are put out in the sun for 1-2 years. 15% ABV increase due to evaporation Tend to be blended with sweet wines for craft desert sherries
52
Where did Solera get its name?
Latin work Solum means floor and in Spanish suelo
53
Where do Fino's mature best? Oloroso?
Usually on bottom where it is coolest and most humid. | Higher up solera where it is warmer and can oxidate faster
54
What are criaderas?
Nurseries for a solera and also known as scales
55
Typical barrel used for criaderas?
600l Butt with American Oak "Bodega Butt" | 5/6th filled
56
Why are barrels only 5/6th filled?
Encourage flor growth for Fino/Manzanilla | Oxidation for Oloroso
57
What are the nutrients for flor?
Alcohol and acid
58
What is lost in the evaporation of Oloroso and Fino?
Oloroso lose water | Fino loses water and alcohol
59
What happens before bottling Fino or Manzanilla and why?
Flor eats alcohol so Fino sherries need to be refortified up to 15%
60
What is Vinos de Color?
"Color WIne" which has arrope, a dark grape syrup 1/5th added to Palomino Fino 1:3 ratio and aged in a solera
61
Vinos Generosos
``` Dry Sherries - both bio/o2 aged All grown in DO Jerez and aged in Sherry Triangle Fino Manzanilla Amontillado Palo Cortado Oloroso ```
62
Vinos Dulces Naturales
Natural Sweet Sherries - overripe and sundried Moscatel PX
63
Vinos Generoso de Licor
Blended Sherries - dry with naturally sweet Cabeceo - term for blending Dry - Fino/Man + RCGM <4.5% Pale Cream - Fino/Man + RCGM 4.5%-11% Medium - Amontillado + Moscalet, PX or RCGM 0.5-11% Cream - Oloroso + PX 11-14%
64
What are the 3 special categories of age designation for Sherry?
1. Vinos de Vejez Calificada 2. Vinos con Indicacion de Edad 3. Añada
65
Difference between Vinos de Vejez Calificada & Vinos Indicacion de Edad?
Calificada (Certified) = time in BOTTLE 20 or 30 | Indicacion (Indication) = avg age of SOLERA 12 or 15
66
What is Añada Sherry?
``` Vintage Sherry Only Amontillado, Oloroso or Palo Cortado NOT PX Aged oxidatively NOT IN SOLERA Capped, sealed and monitored by Consejo ```
67
VORS
Very Old Rare Sherry Vinum Optimum Rare Signatum 30 years in bottle
68
VOS
Very Old Sherry Vinum Optimum Signatum 20 Year average age
69
What is saca?
When a fraction of the wine is extracted from the solera
70
What is rociar
"Wash it down" the process of taking away part of the wine and replacing it with the contents of other scales (Criadera)
71
When is the earliest by law Sherry can be sold?
2 years
72
What % of sherries receive VOS or VORS?
Less than 1%
73
What is Fino?
``` "Fine" Fortified, Dry Sherry Palomino Under Flor Least Acidic Light and elegant, Dough, Roasted almonds ```
74
What is Manzanilla?
``` "Chamomile" Fortified, Dry Sherry Biologically aged Sanlucar de Barrameda Aromatic and light, Chamomile, Almonds, Salty ```
75
What sherry is considered salty?
Manzanilla
76
What is Amontillado?
``` Fortified, Dry Sherry Palomino Both biological and oxidative aging Used when flor is not robust or dies Dark, nutty, cashews/hazelnuts, tobacco ```
77
What is en Rama?
On the branch Keep sherry production as natural as possible Only biologically aged Little filtering
78
What type of sherries are en rama used?
Fino & Manzanilla | Only biologically aged
79
What is the solera system also known?
Criaderas y Soleras
80
What is Palo Cortado?
Rare Dry Sherry from Palomino Biologically aged BUT immediately after Sobretabla fortified 17% Removed sooner than Amotillados Has elegance of Amotillados with flavor, color and body of Oloroso
81
What is biologically aged more Palo Cortado or Amontillado?
Palo Cortado is immediately fortified after sobretabla | Amontillado can be fortified anytime
82
What is Oloroso?
``` Dry Sherry from Palomino Min 17% (Max 22%) Fully oxidated Dark color Full flavor with walnut, toasted balsamic ```
83
What is Moscatel de Alejandría?
``` ME on barrel Naturally Sweet wine >85% Overripe or sundried Fermentation halted by grape spirit Amber to mahongony Orange blossom, Honey Sometime blended with PX or Arrope for darker color more caramel ```
84
What is Pedro Ximénez Sherry?
``` Naturally sweet wine >85% overripe or sundried PX Fermentation halted by grape spirit DO Montilla-Moriles -> Jerez for maturation Allowed to be labels Sherry Luscious sweet and syrupy Extremely dark, figs, raisins, dried fruit One of the worlds sweetest wines 40% residual sugars ```
85
What is RCGM?
Rectified Concentrated Grape Must | Clear, oderless, sugar solution
86
What is a Dry Sherry?
``` "Pale or Pale Dry Sherry" A Fino or Manzanilla which RCGM was added 4.5% residual sugar Pale color Almonds, Fresh Dough, Herbs ```
87
What is Pale Cream
PC label Fino or Manzanilla with RCGM 4.5-11% residual sugar (step up from Dry) Gold, Bread Dough, Hazelnut
88
What is Medium?
``` MD Label Amontillado with Moscatel, PX or RCGM 0.5% - 11.5% residual sugar Can be categorized Medium Dry - 0.5-4.5% Medium Sweet 4.5-11.5% ```
89
What are other terms for Medium Sherry?
``` Golden Abocado Amoroso Brown Milk Rich ```
90
What is Cream Sherry?
Oloroso with PX Full bodied wine 11.5-14% sweetness Dark Mahogany, walnut and dried fruit
91
Where is DO Manzanilla-Sanlucar de Barrameda located?
Within DO Jerez-Xérès-Sherry
92
Where does the name DO Jerez-Xérès-Sherry come from?
Spanish-Jerez, French-Xérès, English-Sherry
93
What is Marco de Jerez?
9 towns for DO Jerez-Xérès-Sherry | includes Jerez, Sanlucar, Santa Maria, Trebujena, Chiclana, Puerto Real, Rota, Chipiona & Lebrija
94
What is the Zona de Produccion?
Incorporates the 9 towns suitable for growing sherry grapes | Can be grown on the lesser soils like arrenas (sand) and barros (clay)
95
What is Jerez Superior?
Subdivision of Zona de Produccion Only Albariza soils 92% of vineyards planted here
96
What is Zona de Crianza?
Aging and Maturing Zone Sherry Triangle (Jerez-Sanlucar-Santa Maria) Can only be labeled Sherry is aged/labeled in DO Jerez and/or DO Manzanilla & DO Manzanilla only aged in Sanlucar
97
How are PX and Moscatel dried?
Soleo or asoleado - drying process
98
What type of yeast is used for Sherry?
Indigenous - S. beticus
99
What happens to wines not worthy of sherry production?
Made into sherry vinegar
100
What does "Running the Scales" mean?
Means removing sherry from bottom butt and refilling at 1/3 all the criaderas (scales) up the solera to sobretabla
101
Blending dry and sweet sherries is called?
Cabeceo
102
What type of Sherry is East India?
Sweet Sherry
103
What is the sand on the floor of the Sherry Catherdrals?
Albero
104
What are the wine styles in DO Jerez & Manzanilla
100% Generoso

Spanish Wine Scholar 2 (35 decks)

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