level: Types of Sherry
Questions and Answers List
Vinos Generosos and Vinos Dulces Naturales
level questions: Types of Sherry
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What classification includes dry sherry wines that are biologically and/or oxidatively aged? | Vinos Generosos |
| What is a Fino? | Fortified, dry sherry made from the Palomino grape that has undergone biological aging under a velo de flor. |
| What is a Manzanilla? | Fortified, dry sherry made from the Palomino grape that has undergone biological aging, and is produced and matured in Sanlucar de Barrameda. |
| What is an Amontillado? | Fortified, dry sherry made from the Palomino grape that has undergone a dual aging process. It began as a Fino and later refortified and treated as an Oloroso. |
| What does it mean if a biologically aged sherry is "en rama"? | It is very lightly filtered to keep the process as natural as possible. |
| What is Palo Cortado? | Rare, dry sherry made from the Palomino grape that has undergone a dual aging process. It was originally classified as a Fino, but refortified as an Oloroso at the sobretabla, i.e., earlier than an Amontillado. |
| What is Oloroso? | Fortified, dry sherry made from the Palomino grape that has undergone oxidative aging. |
| What is the flavor profile of a Fino? | Flavor and aroma of fresh dough and roasted almonds. Pale in color, light and elegant. |
| What is the flavor profile of a Monzanilla? | Particularly aromatic and light with a hint of chamomile, almonds and a distinctive, salty finish. |
| What is the flavor profile of an Amontillado? | Dark, nutty, reminiscent of cashews or hazelnuts and tobacco. |
| What is the flavor profile of an Oloroso? | Dark-colored and full-flavored with walnut aromas and toasted, balsamic notes. |
| What classification includes naturally sweet sherries typically produced from either Moscatel de Alejandria or PX grapes that are overripe or sun-dried? | Vinos Dulces Naturales |
| What is Moscatel? | A naturally sweet wine made from at least 85% overripe or sun-dried Moscatel whose fermentation has been halted by the addition of grape spirit. |
| What is Pedro Ximenez (wine)? | A naturally sweet wine made from at least 85% overripe or sun-dried PX whose fermentation has been halted by the addition of grape spirit. |
| T/F: PX or arrope is sometimes added to Moscatel to create a darker color | True |
| Where are Pedro Ximenez wines vinified? | DO Montilla-Moriles, but they are then transported to Jerez for maturation. |
| What classification includes wines produced by blending dry and naturally sweet sherries, a process known as cabeceo? | Vinos Generosos de Licor |
| What is a "cream sherry"? | Cream sherry is another term for Vinos Generosos de Licor |
| What are the categories of cream sherry? | Dry, Pale Cream, Medium, Cream |
| What is a Dry sherry? | A fino or Manzanilla to which RCGM has been added resulting in an adjusted sweetness <45 g/l |
| What is a Pale Cream sherry? | A Fino or Manzanilla to which RCGM has been added resulting in a sweetness between 45-115 g/l. |
| What is a Medium sherry? | Typically a wine obtained from blending Amontillado with Moscatel, PX or RCGM to a sweetness level between 5-115 g/l. |
| What is a Cream sherry? | A wine obtained from blending an oxidatively aged wine (i.e., Oloroso) with PX to a sweetness level of 115-140 g/l |
| What are the two subcategories of Medium sherry? | Medium Dry (5-45 g/l) and Medium Sweet (45-115 g/l) |
| What are the three categories of Age Designated Sherries? | Vinos de Vejez Calificada, Vinos con Indicacion de Edad, Anada |
| Which sherries are eligible to be Vinos de Vejez Calificada | Amontillado, Oloroso, Palo Cortado and Pedro Ximenez |
| How does a sherry qualify to be a Vino de Vejez Calificada | Independent tasting and age analysis. |
| Does Vino de Vejez Calificada designation reference the age of the solera, or just the wine drawn and bottled. | It references just the wine. |
| What is Vinum Optimum Signatum (VOS)? | "Very Old Sherry": A Vino de Vejez Calificada with an average age of more than 20 years. |
| What is Vinum Optimum Rare Signatum (VORS)? | "Very Old Rare Sherry": A Vino de Vejez Calificada with an average age of more than 30 years. |
| What sherries are eligible to be Vinos con Indicacion de Edad? | Amontillado, Oloroso, Palo Cortado and Pedro Ximinez |
| How does a sherry qualify to be a Vino con Indicacion de Edad? | Independent tasting and age analysis. |
| Does Vino con Indicacion de Edad designation reference the age of the solera, or just the wine being drawn and bottled? | The age certification applies to the entire criadera y solera system from which the wine is drawn. |
| What are the two age designations for Vinos con Indicacion de Edad? | 12-years old and 15-years old |
| Which sherries are eligible to be Anada? | Only Amontillado, Oloroso and Palo Cortado |
| What is an Anada sherry? | A vintage sherry that is aged oxidatively and not part of a solera system. |
| Who makes a unique sherry called "East India" sherry | Lustau |
| How is "East India" sherry made? | Oloroso and PX are aged separately in their own soleras for 12 years, blended and then returned to 45-cask solera for 3 more years in an environment with elevated humidity and temperature. |
| What is "East India" sherry? | A sherry designed to replicate the conditions experienced by butts on board trading ships in the 17th century. |