What Are The Different Types Of Sherry?
Welcome to Drinkipedia! Each week I answer a real question that people search for on Google. This week’s question is:
What Are The Different Types Of Sherry?
Here's a test - go to the cupboard and look to see if there is a dusty crusty old bottle of cooking Sherry. If so, when the Spanish Inquisition comes for tea do not admit what is lurking in the darkness of the pantry, instead start throwing around words like 'Fino' - that should guarantee safety.
Sherry is a category of fortified wine made as a white wine to which distilled grape spirit is added after fermentation. By law a wine can only be called Sherry if it is made in the triangle encompassing the Spanish towns of Jerez de la Frontera, Sanlúcar de Barrameda and El Puerto de Santa Maria in Andalucia.
Sherry comes in a variety of styles from dry to sweet. In alcohol terminology, dry means ‘absence of sweetness’. Alcohol level ranges between 16 and 22% ABV.
Fino: pale, bone dry, light and fragrant. In Spanish the word fino, means fine and this delicate Sherry lives up to its name.
Manzanilla: dry with a fresh acidity. The word manzanilla means 'little apple' in Spanish which with the Sherry's tangy fruity character may explain the moniker.
Amontillado: Named after the region of Montilla, this sherry is medium dry with a nutty character somewhere between Fino and Oloroso.
Palo Cortado: The rarest style of Sherry where Amontillado with its aromatics and crispness, meets a light Oloroso in its flavours and smooth texture. Usually medium dry.
Oloroso: rich, amber medium sweet sherry and as the name suggests (it means scented) is aromatic with nuttiness and dried fruits.
Cream Sherry: The most popular style of Sherry outside Spain and in Britain would be known as old lady or cooking Sherry. It is sweetened with concentrated grape juice or in better quality brands by blending with the naturally sweet Pedro Ximenez sherry. Pale cream is made with Fino, and Cream Sherry with a base of Oloroso.
Pedro Ximénez or PX is named after the white grape variety. It makes intensely sweet dark sherry with dried fruit and chocolate notes that is normally sipped with dessert.
Cheers!
Jane
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