Sherry Making
The solera method of sherry production
Sherries are most normally made from the Palomino Fino grape, famed for growing in chalky soils that soak up the sun, but retain essential moisture. The initial part of the sherry making process is the same as wine making, grapes are harvested, pressed and the resulting must is left to begin fermentation. Once the wine has fermented a few months however a layer of yeast (known as flor) forms on the surface of the wine. At this point the wine is ready to transfer into the start of a series old American Oak barrel layers that form the solera process (older barrels are better as they ensure a simpler/cleaner flavour).
Sherry wineries (known as bodegas) normally stack between 3-7 layers of barrels on top of one another (the number depending on the age of the sherry to be made). Each barrel is approximately three quarters full, with the bottom layers containing the oldest wine and the top layers the newest. Around three times annually around 10% of the wine is exacted from the bottom layer for bottling. This is then replaced with 10% of the wine from the barrel above, a process which is repeated up to the top layer (thereby gradually blending a small amount of newer wine into each of the older wine layers below).
Sherry’s are normally fortified with brandy just prior to bottling, bringing alcohol up to 18-20%. However the traditional method of sherry making that has evolved in Spain’s celebrated sherry triangle often negates this, the main drawback of this (if you consider it one!) is the sherry’s fermentation has not been entirely stabilised meaning that, similar to wine, it needs drinking within a few days of opening.
Types of sherry
The main types of sherry are dry or sweet. The dry sherries are usually straw-like in colour whereas sweet sherries are darker (usually fermented using late harvest grapes and raisins/cherries or such like). Within Spain’s sherry making regions this region you will find it is sherry rather than wine which is served in traditional tapas bars and restaurants.
Sherry making regions
The following towns all also provide bodega tours. For the widest selection of sherry wineries (& English speaking tours), Sanlucar de Barrameda is recommended.
- Andalucia, Spain: Sanlucar de Barrameda
- Andalucia, Spain: Jerez de la Frontera
- Andalucia, Spain: El Puerto de Santa Maria
- Madeira, Portugal: Douro River Valley