Sherry Wine - The Sherry Triangle

Sherry Wine is uniquely Andalucian Produce

The Sherry Triangle encompasses three Andalucian locations:

• Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz
• Puerto de Santa María, Cadiz
• San Lucar de Barrameda, Cadiz

Denominacion de Origin: DO Protected labels of Origen

Jerez de la Frontera is the core of Sherry Wine production. The British switched the name to Sherry.

Etymology of Jerez

Jerez originated from an Arab name: Šeriš (Sherrish its pronounciation).

In 1150 AD, Al-Idrisi delineated a regional map, commissioned by the Sicilian King, Roger II.

Its existence, proved vital, for winning the Spanish sherry producers' prosecution, in 1967, against the British: proving that Jerez was the rightful Denominacion de Origen.

The British were manufacturing Sherry Wine under "British Sherry" labelling.

(The location of Al-Idrisi's map is the Bodleian Library, in Oxford University.)

The Cadiz Raid

After the Reconquista was completed: wine production was resumed.

April 29th 1587 AD, Sir Francis Drake surprize-attacked Cadiz. This particular foray became known as "The Cadiz Raid."

Three days later... the British had ransacked 32 Spanish warships of any valuable commodities, finally burning and scuttling them.

Massive Tio Pepe road sign in Andalucia

Tasty Booty

Waiting for loading, on the Cadiz docks, were 2,900 caskets of wine. Sir Francis Drake took the lot. During the following month Sir Francis Drake looted every Spanish Armada supply ship that sailed between the Cabo de San Vicente and Lisbon.

A vast amount of wine arrived in England.

It was "Sack" a dry white wine.
The British loved it and developed a veritable taste for it. Shakespeare's ink flowed freely through consumption of the wine. There was so much wine, everyone became familar with it. They called it Sherry.

Shelves and Shelves of Andalucian Wine

Apéritif Wine

Sherry Wine is an Apéritif Wine.
It is a fortified wine with an alcohol volume of 16%
Amontillado
Oloroso
Palo Cortado
with the exception of Pedro Ximenez which is a dessert wine.

Manzanilla is a dry Sherry exclusive to San Lucar de Barrameda: try Manzanilla with the fabulous langoustines which are the speciality of that area's Andalusian Gastronomy.

How three civilizations had a role in What is the Mediterranean Diet.

What is so special about the Sherry Triangle?

• The soils: Albariza - moisture absorbant, white chalky soil (the first thing the Phoenicians saw, realising, this was an excellent area for viticulture), Baros has a high clay content and Arenas is sandy
  Different Grapes suit the different soils
• the moist climate
• Flor yeast is vital during the wine maturation-period to prevent oxidisation
• the solera maturing processes:
  Lines of barrels are stacked in layers, with young wine in the top barrels. Stacked wine matures for two years before it moves down. The lower line is known as the Solera: the maturest wine and ready for bottling.

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