Sherry

Question 1

What town in Spain is the center of the Sherry industry?

Answer 1

Jerez del la Frontera

Question 2

What is the climate in Jerez?

Answer 2

Hot, sunny, mediterranean

Question 3

What kind of soil does Jerez have? And what is it like?

Answer 3

Albariza and it has high chalk content, good drainange but excellent water holding capacity

Question 4

In Jerez, how do grapegrowers manage water during the long dry, hot summer?

Answer 4

dig rectangular pits between the rows of vines to trap water and reduce run-off

Question 5

What are the three grape varieties use in Sherry and permitted in Jerez?

Answer 5

Palomino, Pedro Ximenez (PX) and Muscat de Alexandria

Question 6

What is the main component that determines sherry production?

Answer 6

Biological or oxidative maturation

Question 7

What makes varietals good for sherry production?

Answer 7

Low in acid and lacks varietal aromas

Question 8

Which of the two sherry varietals are used to make sweet wines?

Answer 8

PX and Muscat de Alexandria

Question 9

Which sherry varietal is used to make dry wines?

Answer 9

Palomino

Question 10

Why does fermentation temps run high for white wine?

Answer 10

Suits the aim of producing Sherry which is to produce a neutral base

Question 11

What is “first classification” in sherry production?

Answer 11

The process of how they choose which base wines will be sent for biological ageing vs oxidative ageing.

Question 12

Typically, lighter, paler wines with more finesse are selected for which type of ageing?

Answer 12

Biological ageing

Question 13

Richer, heavier wines are selected for what type of ageing?

Answer 13

Oxidative ageing

Question 14

What is film forming yeast called?

Answer 14

Flor

Question 15

Wines made from cooler coastal vineyards and/or are fermented at lower temps are best for what type of ageing?

Answer 15

Biological

Question 16

Wines made from grapes that grown in the warmer inland vineyards and fermented at higher temps are best for what ageing?

Answer 16

Oxidative

Question 17

What is process in the winery for dry style sherrys?

Answer 17

Grape handling and fermentation, first classification, fortification and sobretabla

Question 18

What is the process in the winery for sweet style sherrys?

Answer 18

Grape handling, fermentation and fortification

Question 19

What is the sobretabla stage?

Answer 19

After the classification has been made, the wines are fortified using a 96% abv neutral spirit, then set aside for a few months before incorporating into a solera system

Question 20

What % avb are the wines fortified with if they are biologically aged vs oxidatively aged?

Answer 20

15-15.5% to 17%

Question 21

Which type of ageing is flor necessary?

Answer 21

Biological ageing

Question 22

Which type of ageing is the sobretabla not critical and why?

Answer 22

The Oxidative because it doesn’t matter as the wines are fortified too hight (17%) for the flor to survive

Question 23

How do they make sweet sherry?

Answer 23

Grapes are sun-dried after picking to concentrate their sugar levels

Question 24

What are the 600 litre oak barrels that mature sherrys called?

Answer 24

Butts

Question 25

Why is the oak important in the production of sherry?

Answer 25

use neutral oak and the oak is needed to allow the wine to interact with oxygen, furthered by the fact that the butts are only ever 5/6ths full

Question 26

What is the famous system called for maturing Sherry?

Answer 26

The Solera System

Question 27

What are criaderas?

Answer 27

The levels of different butts filled with different average aged wines

Question 28

Explain the process of the Solera System?

Answer 28

A process of systematic blending whereas wine is moved between the levels of the system. Wine for bottling is taken out of the "solera" -- An equal amount of wine is taken out of each butt in this level--the solera is not fully emptied and the butts are replenished with equal amounts of wine from butts in the next level of wine from slightly younger age. Then each criadera is replenished with younger wine. The youngest criadera is replenished with sobretabla wine.

Question 29

What is the "s?olera"

Answer 29

holds wine of the oldest average age

Question 30

How many criaderas can a solera system have?

Answer 30

As few as 3 and up to 14

Question 31

How do you talk about the age of a criadera?

Answer 31

You can only talk about an average age

Question 32

What is the main advantage of the Solera System?

Answer 32

Wine taken out for bottling or blending is the same every time. Consistency

Question 33

Explain flor?

Answer 33

A number of yeast strains that form a thick layer on the surface of the wine and feed off alcohol and nutrients and oxygen and they produce CO2 AND Acetaldehyde.

Question 34

What gives biologically aged sherries their unique flavor?

Answer 34

Acetaldehyde

Question 35

Wine taken from biolgically aged flor systems usually only have an average age of what?

Answer 35

3 to 4 years

Question 36

Do biologically aged sherries like finos age well?

Answer 36

No, they need to be consumed shortly after bottling

Question 37

Which varietals are aged oxidatively?

Answer 37

Oloroso, PX and some Muscat Sherries

Question 38

How is Amontillado aged?

Answer 38

It is aged oxidatively after a period of biological ageing

Question 39

How do they keep oxidative aged sherries from becoming overly oxidized?

Answer 39

introduction of young wine

Question 40

How long can sherries be matured oxidatively for?

Answer 40

Up to 30 years

Question 41

What happens to the alcohol level in oxidative aged sherries?

Answer 41

It rises to 22% abv as water evaporates

Question 42

Most sherries are blends of wines from what?

Answer 42

Several Solera Systems

Question 43

Name the dry styles of sherries?

Answer 43

Fino and Manzanilla, Oloroso, Amontillado and Palo Cortado

Question 44

Fino and Manzanilla are what style of sherry?

Answer 44

Biological ageing, pale lemon color, aromas of citrus fruit, almonds and herbs and bready notes from flor. Consume early

Question 45

Oloroso is what style of Sherry?

Answer 45

Oxidative ageing, brown in color, full-bodied, oxidative aromas of toffee, leather, spice and walnut

Question 46

What is the style of Amontillado?

Answer 46

Starts with biological ageing and then is aged oxidatively. 17% abv, amber or brown in color, yeast derived aromas and oxidative aromas, can age

Question 47

What is the style of the Palo Cortado?

Answer 47

Rare style of Sherry, said to combine the body and richness of Oloroso but the aroma character of an Amontillado

Question 48

What are the naturally sweet wines of sherry?

Answer 48

Pedro Ximenez (PX) and Muscat

Question 49

What type of ageing has the naturally sweet wines done?

Answer 49

Oxidative aging

Question 50

What are the sweetened styles of Sherry?

Answer 50

Pale Cream, Medium and Cream and Sherries with Indication of age

Question 51

Which is the sweet style of sherry that is biologically aged and sweetened with RCGM?

Answer 51

Pale Cream

Question 52

Which is the style of sherry that is a broad category with both inexpensive and premium wines?

Answer 52

Medium and Cream