Think of Sherry as the distant cousin you always forget is awesome, but immediately click with at each family reunion – it can be sweet, complex and refreshing all at the same time. Now, to get all the low down on Sherry you’ll have to come to our kick ass Crash Course at Downtown Wine and Spirits, but here is a little snippet about the “unappreciated” and forgotten wine treasure Spanish Sherry.
Traditional Sherry is made from white grapes grown in Jerez, Spain, which causes the wine to be called “vino de Jerez” in Spanish. Considered one of the most versatile wines Sherry is known for working with any meal, any time and any day! Cookout? Passed with appetizers? After a long day for dessert? Yes, yes and yes! Made with three main grapes, Pedro Ximenez, Palomino and Moscatel, Sherry can come in a bunch of different styles including lighter (fino), dry and sweet (oloroso), which is decided during fermentation. The Jerez region is great for these sweet, little grapes as it is extremely warm all year long, has lots of sunshine and its porous soil keeps a great deal of moisture for the dry months. So, check out three bottles that tantalized my taste buds this past weekend:
Emilio Lustau Reserva Sherry NV
Winning the Sherry Popularity Contest, Palomino Fino grapes make a dry and light Fino Sherry. One favorite that I tried over Memorial Day weekend was Emilio Lustau Reserva Sherry NV –kickass flavors of nuts, spices and honey with a hint of lemon makes this is a sweet but refreshing glass of vino. At only $16 a bottle you won’t be sad that you went through an entire bottle of this sweet goodness on a Sunday night paired with a big bowl of gelato.
Osborne Pedro Ximenez Sherry
Sherry is even a great match for late night bonfires where you can sit around roasting marshmallows and reminding everyone that time so-and-so made a fool of themselves. For an intense body but sweet undertones go with Osborne Pedro Ximenez Sherry (running about $20); wines made with Pedro Ximenez (P.X.) grapes are on average denser, with a dark coloring and complex sweetness. This wine goes above and beyond that general description as it’s brimming with caramel, fig, coffee, and molasses flavors. Intermingled with a hint of mocha, a long finish and complex body it is perfect for those cool summer nights.
Pedro Romero Moscatel Sherry Dark Sweet
Are you in the mood for a glass that tantalizes all your taste buds? A glass of Pedro’s Moscatel Sherry and you’ll be singing to the Sherry God! The color of amber and intense flavors of tropical fruits, maple syrup and a hint of nuttiness makes this a very versatile bottle of Sherry. Vibrant and refreshing but with a complex body, Pedro’s Sherry will be perfect for a quick drink after work to settle the nerves or to accompany you while you get your grillin’ on!
So you better not miss out on our Sherry Crash Course with rockstar Jeff Golden, when he dispels the nasty belief that Sherry is just for your beloved grandma. You’ll be sure to get your learn on and enjoy several glasses of vino all at the same time. Oh, and we bet you won’t brush off Sherry as a woosy-grandmother drink any longer.
