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TYPES OF WINES
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Sherry Wine offers a wide range of colours, aromas, sensations and possibilities.
Its unique method of production and ageing and (to no lesser degree) its long,
rich history endows a common identity to many different types of wines, all enjoying
the generic denomination of Sherry.
The biological, oxidative or mixed nature of the ageing process endows the wine
with different tonalities from a pale straw-like yellow to an intensely dark mahogany.
Moreover, the blending of naturally sweet wines means that originally dry wines
such as Finos, Amontillados and Olorosos acquire varying degrees of sweetness.
This multiplicity of factors has resulted in a rich palette of different styles
of Sherry Wines which may be resumed as follows:
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DRY "GENEROSO" WINES
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Some Sherry wines are totally dry as a result of the complete fermentation of
their musts. The differences between them are mainly due to the ageing process
that they have undergone (biological, oxidative or a combination of both).
Fino.
A pale golden or straw-coloured wine with a sharp, delicate bouquet suggestive
of almonds. It is light and dry on the palate. This wine is aged under a veil
of yeasts called "flor" and has an alcohol content of between 15º
and 18º.
Amontillado.
An amber-coloured wine with a sharp but subtle bouquet suggestive of hazelnuts.
It is light and smooth on the palate. Its alcohol content varies between 16º
and 22º.
Oloroso
Initially dry, it is an amber- to mahogany-coloured wine and has a pronounced
bouquet, as its name indicates. It has overtones of nut and a full, vinous body.
Its alcohol content varies between17º and 22º.
Palo Cortado
A bright mahogany-coloured wine, with a bouquet suggestive of hazelnuts and a
dry palate. It is balanced, elegant and very persistent. It combines the smooth,
delicate, sharp qualities of Amontillado with the vinous, rounded qualities of
Oloroso. Its alcohol content varies between 17ºand 22º.
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SWEET NATURAL WINES
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After harvesting, grapes selected for these wines (mainly from the Moscatel and
Pedro Ximénez varieties) undergo a process of over- maturing or soleo.
The resulting high concentration of glucose in the grape gives rise to an extraordinarily
dense, sweet must which is then partially fermented. The wine thus obtained, immensely
rich in reducing materials, is then aged by oxidation in the soleras.
Pedro Ximénez
A dark, mahogany-coloured wine with a deep bouquet of raisins. It is smooth and
sweet in the mouth. This full, vigorous and perfectly balanced wine is produced
from sun-dried Pedro Ximénez grapes.
Moscatel
A dark mahogany-coloured wine, produced exclusively from sun-dried grapes of the
same name (English: Muscat). It is a smooth, sweet wine with an aroma characteristic
of this grape variety.
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BLENDED STYLES OF SHERRY
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Originally dry (Generoso) wines are occasionally blended with sweet wines to produce
other, slightly sweet Sherry wines.
Pale Cream
A straw-coloured wine with a sharp, delicate bouquet. It has a delicate, slightly
sweet flavour. Its alcohol content varies between 15.5% and 22º.
Medium
An amber- to mahogany-coloured wine with a delicate bouquet and a slightly sweet
palate. Its alcohol content varies between 15º and 22º. The richest,
darkest versions of Medium are often called "Golden".
Cream
A sweet, mahogany-coloured wine, made from Oloroso. It has an intense aroma, velvety
palate and full body. Its alcohol content varies between 15.5º and 22º.
Manzanilla
The special microclimatic conditions in the bodegas located in the coastal town
of Sanlúcar de Barrameda produce a very distinctive kind of "flor".
This very special kind of biological ageing confers genuine characteristics to
the wines. Indeed they are so special and are produced in such a well-defined
area that they have their own Denomination of Origin, that of "Manzanilla
- Sanlúcar de Barrameda".
A straw-coloured wine with a dry, sharp bouquet which is light on the palate.
It is exclusively aged under "flor" in Sanlúcar de Barrameda.
Its alcohol content varies from 15º to 19º.
Although the definitive Manzanilla is the so-called Manzanilla-Fina, an extremely
pale, light, wine, depending on the length and circumstances surrounding its ageing
process, there are other types of Manzanilla. Among these, special mention must
be made of Manzanilla pasada which is less pale and has more body due to a slight
oxidation of the wine during its very long ageing process.
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