Sherry

Sherry is a fortified wine made from white grapes. While many countries produce this style of wine, the name “Sherry” is a protected term in most parts of the world, that can be used only for wines produced near the town of Jerez, in southern Spain, where it originated as early as the 13th century.  By the 15th century, sherry (also known as “sack” in those days), enjoyed a reputation as one of Europe's finest wines.

Sherry is similar to port in that brandy is added to the wine, but there are significant differences. Port is made primarily from red grapes, while sherry is made from white grapes, mostly Palomino. Brandy is added to ports before fermentation is complete so that not all the sugar is converted to alcohol; sherries are not fortified until after fermentation, so they are usually drier. And sherry is aged in a unique solera system, a series of barrels used to blend older and newer wines. New wine is added to the top barrels, and while no barrel is ever completely emptied, a portion from each level is transferred to the barrels below, with the finished wine removed from the bottom barrels.

Sherry is produced in a number of styles, from pale and dry wines, such as Finos and Manzanillas, to sweet sherries made with Pedro Ximénez or Moscatel grapes that have been partially dried before fermenting. Other countries such as the US have started to produce sherry-type wines, though they must be labeled with a region of origin (e.g. “American sherry”).