What is Sherry?

The word Sherry is derived from "Xeres", the older spelling of Jerez. Sherry is the anglicised name for what the Spanish call Vino de Jerez.

Made according to centuries-old traditions and methods. Sherry is protected by the Denomination of Origin, a law constituted in 1935. This was the first Protected Designation of Origin to be legally constituted in Spain.

Sherry is fortified with high-proof grape spirit, distinguishing it from non-fortified wines. And fino and manzanilla sherries are the ONLY fortified wines that are fortified after fermentation has finished.

Sherry is made from three noble grape varieties. (Actually, there are now six permitted due to three heritage varieties recently also permitted to help alleviate climate change. However, these 'new' varieties are yet to produce commercially available sherry.) Importantly, all these are white grape varieties. No red grapes are made into sherry.

Almost all, around 99% of sherry, is non-vintage, while the majority of table wines are identified by their year of harvest. The way sherry is matured ensures that sherries remain consistent from one year to the next, while other wine producers delight in differences between vintages.