Discover the keys to the revival of traditional sherry wine

Wine is joy, but sherry wine is a party. Sherry Revolution, the resurgence of sherry, has been positioned for the last twenty years as one of the best wines on an international level, and nowadays, with the new forms of business, great chefs and wineries, sherry has positioned itself as one of the most sought-after wines on a global level

The most important and representative sherry wineries are Gonzáles Byass, the famous Tío Pepe, whose sherry is the best selling wine in the world, and Williams Humbert with its renowned Dry Sac, among many others. The wonderful wines of Jerez continue to reap awards at the International Wine Challenge IWC. The Sherry Revolution, the resurgence of sherries, once again emerged as the big winners of the International Wine Challenge IWC.

Where are sherries produced?

In the northwest of the province of Cádiz, between the rivers Guadalquivir and Guadalete, with a very warm climate, with many hours of sunshine and influenced by the Atlantic.

How is sherry wine made?

The base of this wine is a white wine made from Palomino grapes. At the end of fermentation, these wines are tasted to fortify them. This means that alcohol of vinous origin is added, which increases the alcoholic strength.

A blend is made of a fortified wine, with a natural sweet wine or with concentrated must. Its sugar content is between 5 and 115g/L and its colour ranges from amber to dark brown.

How do you drink sherry wine?

It can be drunk chilled, not cold or iced, and should be savoured in a fine crystal wine glass, with a long neck and rounded mouth. This glass should be filled to one third of its contents and should be drunk from the base so as not to heat the wine.

Which countries are the main buyers of sherry wine?

The main countries that nowadays are positioned as the main demanders of sherry wine are: Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Sweden and Japan. Previously, the drop in wine purchases had been very noticeable, but it has now slowed down.

The Sherry renaissance

This so-called renaissance, in recent years, has been led by young people, many of them women, who have a more respectful view of the past of Sherry production and the business of selling wine. They have been taking much more care of production, distribution and sales

All this seems to be the key to putting Sherry wine at the top of the world today. This famous drink has shone for many years with its own light, even though it spent some of these years in penury, producing instability in its production. Nowadays it has risen from the ashes like a phoenix, positioning itself as the best-selling wine in the world.

What kind of wine is sherry wine?

Prolonged ageing intensifies the typical characteristics of certain types of sherry wine. It is divided into three categories

Generosos.
Generosos de licor.
Naturally sweet

This will depend on the elaboration, the process, the practice and combinations of each one. For example, fortified wines are divided in the same way in:

Fino, characterised by its straw yellow colour. It is usually enjoyed chilled, but it is dry on the palate, intense, smooth and light. Its aroma has an almondy touch.
Amontillado, which requires an initial process under a veil of flor and its following ageing phase is oxidative. Its colour is amber, with a hazelnut smell; it is smooth and has an alcohol content between 16° and 22°.
Oloroso, these are dry, mahogany-coloured wines. Its smell is nutty, and it has an alcohol content between 17° and 22°. Its ageing process must be above 17°, provoking an oxidative process.
Palo Cortado, characteristic for its mahogany colour, its amontillado scent and its corpulence in the mouth, making it an elegant wine. Its alcohol content is between 17° and 22°.
Manzanilla, a wine with a sharp, dry and light aroma. Its ageing process is under the veil of flor and its alcohol content will not be less than 15°.

Sherry wine pairings

Sherry wines are the best choice to accompany fish and Japanese dishes, pickled or vinaigrettes and vegetables, among others. Some examples of foods to accompany an exquisite sherry wine are:

Fino: seafood, sushi, fish, ham and soft cheeses.
Manzanilla: seafood, any type of tapas, mild cheeses and white fish. And it should be served very cold.
Amontillado: white meats, blue fish and cured cheeses.
Oloroso: perfect to drink before a meal.
Palo Cortado: game meats, cured cheeses or mushrooms.