WINES : SHERRY

SHERRY

All about Sherry and why you should be drinking more of it!

It’s fitting that the American wine consumer gets the word “Sherry” from a mispronunciation of Jerez, the town where the fortified wine originates, because Sherry might be the most misunderstood, underappreciated alcoholic beverage on the planet. It is also one of the most expressive, versatile, and affordable luxury drinks ever vinified and PJ Wine is thrilled to have one of the best Sherry selections anywhere. We consider ourselves Sherry ambassadors, and we’re on a mission to bring Sherry into the mainstream.

So, what are the different types of Sherry?

Fino
Finos are bone dry and pale straw in color. They are lightly fortified to about 15.5% alcohol. Surprising to many, they are quintessentially fresh and fragile wines that must be drunk promptly to be at their best. Once open, a bottle is best consumed within 3 or 4 days. They should always be served chilled and are the ultimate thirst quenching aperitif with almonds, olives, seafood and fried hors d’oeuvres as well as with just about any salty appetizer you throw at them. They are also excellent with sushi and shellfish. Swirl your glass before every sip to release the delicate aromas.

Manzanilla
Manzanillas are a sub-category of Finos and also bone dry and pale straw in color. They are made in the same way as other Finos, except they are exclusively from the town of Sanlúcar de Barrameda. They share the same character as Finos, except they tend to be somewhat lighter in weight and more delicate with a distinctive hint of saltiness. As with other Finos, they should always be served chilled.

Amontillado
Amontillados are dry and clear amber colored, although some producers ship them off-dry for the American market. They start their lives as Finos but are given additional cask aging without flor, which adds wood, nut and caramel notes. They are dry, but intense and powerful. They feature a lively snap on the palate which makes them pair well with rich consommés, roasted chicken, pork or duck dishes, plus they are exceptional with foie gras. They also work well before meals with toasted nuts, cured meats, cheese and other rich appetizers.

Palo Cortado
Also dry and amber colored, this is the rarest style of sherry. It’s an aged Amontillado that acquires the rich toffee, butterscotch, smoke, milk chocolate, burnt orange and spicy notes of an Oloroso. Almost always blended dry or just off-dry, these are among the most subtle and complex vino de meditazione made anywhere in the world. They pair beautifully with aged cheese, toasted nuts as well as flan and crème brulée type desserts.

Oloroso
Olorosos are dry and range in color from amber to deep brown. They are fortified to about 17.5% and then wood aged without time under flor. They are darker and fuller-bodied and range from bone dry to off-dry, depending on the producer’s house style. These rich, nutty, toasty, smokey, caramel, butterscotch, toffee and milk chocolate character wines also show hints of dried fruit such as burnt orange, lemon peel and even caramelized banana. They are excellent after dinner wines and the best examples display extraordinary smoothness.

Amoroso / Oloroso Dulce
These are Olorosos in the off-dry to sweet range and are blended with small amounts of Pedro Ximenez to add sweetness. They are also from amber to a deep nut brown in color. The added sweetness rounds out the edges of the dryer styles and makes for a wonderful, mildly sweet dessert wine. These wines work in the same settings as Olorosos but with a sweeter character. Again, the level of sweetness depends on the producer’s house style.

Cream
Cream Sherries are Olorosos which have substantial amounts of sweet Pedro Ximenez wine added before aging. This adds raisin and fig notes to the nuttiness of Olorosos making for rich dessert wines to sip alone or match with creamy cheeses, ice cream and sweeter cakes and chocolate desserts. Traditionally Creams are amber to nut brown in color, but are also available in a "Pale Cream" style, similar to Finos in color. Creams are the best known style in the US.

So there you have it. Embark on your Sherry tonight by sampling one of our bottles from our vast selection. See below for all that we have to offer: