Very Simply Sherry I

Cross-posted at the Scotch Blog - an excellent resource for Whisky imbibers.

Sherry is one of the wine world's most undervalued creations.  Sherry's history alone could fill up a War and Peace-sized volume.  Additionally, the production of Sherry, and its numerous styles, is complex enough to add a second volume to Sherry's tome.  When confronted by Sherry & its vocabulary, many modern wine drinkers become dazed & confused by terms like flor, fino, olorosa, criadera and solera. It's easier to walk on by.  However, a little time investment in understanding Sherry, will open up an entirely new world of wine scents and flavors.  Allow me to present Sherry in a user friendly, 3-part format.  Who knows, you may experience the sudden urge to grab a bottle and whip up a few tapas.  It could happen.

Part 1:  Make Sherry, Not War

Sherry is produced within a 3-town triangle in the southern Spanish community of Andalusia.  By far, the key town in the history of Sherry is Jerez de la Frontera (Puerto de Santa Maria and Sanlucar de Barrameda being the other two towns).  Jerez has been home to a who's who of civilizations.  Evidence suggests Jerez may have been founded by the Phoenicians in 1100 BC.  These ancient folk were succeeded by the Carthignians, who were in turn kicked out by the Romans.  The Romans called Jerez, "Certium."  Alas, the Romans were squeezed out in the first century AD by Vandals, who, in turn, were forced to vacate by the Visigoths.  Then came the epic battles between Islamic Moors and Christian re-conquestors.  Amazingly, during these centuries of successive occupation and frequent war, wine production continued in Jerez.  By the 15th Century, Jerez and its satellite towns began exporting wine to both England and France.  In fact, many British merchants moved into the Sherry region to take advantage of this rapidly growing wine trade.

After one Chris Columbus sailed the ocean blue, transatlantic trade of wine from Sherry began in earnest.  It is quite possible that the first European wine to be drunk in North America was from Jerez.  However, the Sherry trade wasn't immune to the vagaries of culture and politics.  A number of wars between France, England and Spain caused Sherry production and trade to be fairly uneven (depending on whom was fighting whom).  Then, in the 1800's, the Sherry industry experienced an invasion of the Sherry snatchers.  Bogus "Sherry" produced in Australia, Germany, France and South Africa hit the marketplace.  Even though many of these impostor beverages weren't even wine - German "Sherry," for example, was potato-based - Sherry prices dropped through the cellar.  To add insult to injury, Victorian society in England shied away from Sherry, as rumors abounded that this wine was hazardous to one's health. 

Ironically, Sherry was saved from certain extinction at the end of the 19th century by the phylloxera-fueled plague, which swept across Europe's vineyards.  Phylloxera effectively destroyed the vineyards of the Jerez region.  Thus, only a few Sherry producers survived long enough to stay in business while vineyards were replanted with resistant vines.  This Sherry-scarce time period fueled demand for wine from Jerez.  Had it not been for a couple of World Wars, the Spanish Civil War and problems with monopolies, Sherry producers would have been in the clear...(/sarcasm).

The state of the Sherry triangle today is one of reduced vineyard acreage (less than half of 1970's vineyard area), alternate crops (vines now share space with cereal grains) and depressed demand.  The remaining Sherry houses are currently battling consumer indifference along with global wine competition.  One bright spot in all of this is that Sherry has become incredibly affordable, and quality has never been better.  As a wine experimenter, once you learn about Sherry, you'll be able to dive right in and sample all that Jerez has to offer, without busting the bank.

---

Stay tuned for Part 2: "Waiter! There's a Hundred Year-Old Wine in My Sherry."  I'll discuss how Sherry is produced and the varieties of grapes used in this wine.  I will also describe the major styles of Sherry.  If you wish to get a head start on familiarizing yourself with Sherry, try one of these wines: Lustau "Jarana" Fino Sherry ($8, 375ml), Lustau "Los Arcos" Dry Amontillado ($9, 375ml).

(sources: Oxford Wine Companion, emilio-lustau.com, winesfromspain.com)

Technorati Tags: spain, spanish wine, sherry

 

Comments

[marina]

Very interesting. Some of the wine names like "Sherry" goes back to the 15th century. It is always good to know the history and where the name came from. Sometimes names, are just names, nothing attached to them. When history attached to wine name, you feel the taste of it!

http://www.howtogetyourexbackmym3.com

[what does it mean when your eye twitches]

Seems that they do, esp. if they spend time outdoors exposed to direct radiation. And esp. on ears and nose. I know of one case of a white cat in California that had been feral and had accordingly had more than its fair share of radiation until a v.nice guy took it in --- it died of cancer a few years after that. You can find the story if you google "Banana Simian" -- kitty had this very weird name, and its human put up a memorial page with this name.

[belstaff jackets]

The beautiful winter is comming now,have you fashion in this amazing season,maybe answer is yes,but you must to know who is the fashion leader of this winter,that is Belstaff Uk.In Uk everyone knows Belstaff Jackets is the most popular in winter,you should know the reason,Belstaff Jackets is established in 1924,it's a long enough time to make clothes,so the quality,the design,for Belstaff Jackets Uk is expert level,especially Belstaff Leather Jacekt,it all are made up with top layer cow leather.Maybe in UK,every motobike rider want one.That's incredible popular right.And now,you can find a so convenient way to get a perfect Belstaff Jackets,that is our onlien shop,we are official site of Belstaff Jackets Uk,why not choose one for your beartiful family and yourself now.so Click here to join us:Bestaff Uk.com.Get your Belstaff Jacket with biggest discount in this world.

[Coach Outlet store Online]

Do U know what's the fashion trend in the beginning of the winter?Coach Outlet Online are ready for the fashion trend bags for U.In the cold winter,many fashion trend begin to changed like the strongly wind.At the fashion world, fashion trend has become the opiate of the masses.In general, fashion seems to be trending toward more mature styles.And on that basic,Coach Outlet Online Store do atmost to develop the fashion style,which can give U the Noble and elegant.Leather is really in fashion right now. It's amazing how fast trends change.In Coach Factory Outlet,Coach put to use the 100% leather with the leader design,which give U the fresh and classical ideas.To this end, we will service for customer sincerely, to build the forefront of Coach Outlet bags.Now,Coach bags origin from life,which made the bags always follow the international fashion, the exotic romance into your life.So,if U want to have a different kind of fashion life,please Checkin Coach Outlet Online,Coach Outlet and so on,they will try the best to make up U in the warm winter.If you are worried about how to be a grace and clever person?Where to buy the fashion bags to match the clothes? and so on.Don't worry,Coach Outlet Onlinegive U a hand.Coach bags with different styles can match different kinds of persons,Which can give U a different feeling for Different people.Coach Outlet service for U sincerely!Come into Coach Outlet Online Store,come out a fresh U.

[Coach Outlet store Online]

Fulfilling our needs for fast fashion means increased production and competition in clothing manufactured in countries with fashion trend.In order to meet the market's demands,Coach Outlet Store Online pay more attention on the fashion style with the latest material.In terms of luxury consumption, consumers in Western countries prefer traditional brands while consumers are wilder about the fashionable fad.In Coach Outlet there are many famous bags of the Coach Outlet Online.In USA,at least,each of the person have a Coach bags on the average.So,in the Amercian market,Coach bags get the people favourate.On that basic,manufacture take the chance to make the price very on the high side.Today,Coach Handbags Outlet USA do atmost to drop the price,with the same quality.In order to thanks for the public,Coach give a biggest discount to Forengn for the fastival.If U bag bags over $99,Coach Outlet Store Online can send the goods to Ur home without the fright.At the same time,the goods of coach bags can have a discount at 82% to meet the market's needs.So don't worry,Coach Outlet Online Store can give U the chance to owned your remembered bags with very lowest price.At the same time,Coach Outlet Store Online newly iaunched the latest fad bags which canused a ensation in the fashion world for U to make up in the winter.Is your heat moving very fast,quick, first come first get.More and More chance are waiting for U.

[Louis Vuitton on sale]

Louis Vuitton On Sale with the Fashion and classical styles have been the the first choose in Oscar for the fashion stars.In Louis Vuitton Handbags Store many selected classical fashion bags have been displayed in Louis Vuitton Outlet Store for a big show by the fashion world.Louis Vuitton Outlet is famous for selected material material,novel design,delightful colors and exquisite workmanship.At the same time,the Louis Vuitton Bags from Louis Vuitton On Sale with the only hand made have become the token of status by Louis Vuitton Handbags Store,which attract the first-class society to be the fans of Louis Vuitton Handbags to pursuit the latest fahion bags.Counterparts, Louis Vuitton Outlet Online have been the stars for all kinds of bags.In the fashion world,Louis Vuitton bags in Louis Vuitton Outlet beyond doublt that many people are crazing about the bags from Louis Vuitton On Sale.In order to meet the market's demands and thanks for the public,Louis Vuitton Handbags Store would give public a big surprise to give your needs.At first,Louis Vuitton Outlet Online will have a big discount for the newly iaunched bags which have the best quality lowest price.Second,Louis Vuitton Outlet Online will open the biggest fashion show to the public for the most classical style on display.If you are interested in the Louis Vuitton bags in Louis Vuitton Handbags,pls take this chance to be the lucky person for the fashion.Don't miss this chance.Louis Vuitton On Sale sincerely service for you.