Sherry, a magical Spanish wine that has meandered through history with such force that it has played a central role in the works of literary geniuses such as Shakespeare and Poe. No other drink played such a central role in the colonization and exploration of the New World. When Magellan set out to circumnavigate the world, he spent more on Sherry than on weapons during his entire trip. As fortified wine, he was better able to make the long journey across the oceans. As the first wine from the New World, sherry is still important in the world of wine today.
Traditional Jerez begins its life in the vineyards of the Cádiz region of Spain. It is made with three types of autochthonous grapes from the region, palomino, pedro ximénez and muscatel. After being harvested by hand, they are gently squeezed to obtain the first must. Only this first pressing that is used to produce Jerez, this ensures the highest quality of the wine. The pressing is immediately reserved for fermentation.
After the initial fermentation, the new wine is tested for quality and divided into one of three categories. The lighter and paler wines will be set aside to become Fino and Amontillado, Jerez’s highest grade. The slightly darker but still clean wine will be set aside to become Oloroso, a darker sherry. The third category destined to become Sherry will require further development before its final product can be determined.
Once its destination has been decided, the wine begins its journey through the solera, a cascade of barrels through which the wines will move. This is a journey that takes a long time, as each year some wine is moved from one barrel to the next in line. With a small portion of the previous year’s wine in the barrel, these soleras are passed down from generation to generation. There is always a small amount of wine left in the last barrel, so over the years the last barrel of the solera will still have a very small amount of the first wine that was put into it, this wine can sometimes have several hundreds of years and helps ensure a balanced and uniform product. A true taste of history!
Today, Jerez is not as important as it was in the past. I can guarantee that today more is invested in assembling a ship of the line than in Jerez in its pantry. However, it is one of the most storied of the wine family and one of the most versatile wines available today. Sherry can be served as an aperitif, drunk neat, and is also a great addition to the kitchen. Try this wine cake recipe from www.beyond-wine.com.
Ingredients:
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1 5 oz box vanilla instant pudding
- 3 eggs
- vegetable oil
- SHERRY CREAM (must be cream)
Set the oven to 350
Mold for greasing and flouring
Mix all the ingredients listed on the box and half the amount of water using the cream of sherry for the other half. Bake approx. Bake for 40 minutes until golden brown and when inserted with a toothpick it comes out clean. Allow to cool slightly and edge the edge with a fine knife before removing. Drizzle a frosting on the cake, powdered sugar with a touch of lemon juice or vanilla.
I hope this has enlightened you on the delights of sherry, an Old World wine making its way into the new millennium. Visit www.beyond-wine.com for wine accessories and everything you need to enjoy your glass of sherry, from glasses and decanters to stoppers and pourers. For a limited time, get a free barrel stave chandelier with any purchase of $150 or more.
