Sherry

Sherry is a fortified white wine from Andalusia. It comes in a variety of styles, from light dry wines to complex and aromatic sweet varieties. They are mostly produced from Palomino grape, though sweet sherry wines also employ Pedro Ximénez and Moscatel grapes.

After the base wine is fortified with grape spirit, it is aged in a unique solera system. The maturation can be biological under a layer of flor—a film of yeast on the surface—or with oxidation. Depending on the amount of alcohol and the type of aging, dry sherry wines, or vinos generosos, are classified into five basic styles: Fino, Manzanilla, Amontillado, Oloroso, and Palo Cortado.

Sweet sherry wines, known as vinos generosos de licoror, are typically blends of dry sherry and naturally sweet wines, though some varieties also blend it with grape must. The basic categories of sweet sherry include Medium, Pale Cream, and Cream.

It should be noted that the authentic sherry is made only in the Jerez region and must be labeled as Jerez-Xérès-Sherry.