All about Sherry

Traditional Method of Ageing by Solera

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All sherry is matured through a system of barrels called the solera system.

Sherry wine has a unique property in that it takes on the characteristics of the older wine once blended.

The Solera System has therefore been developed to take advantage of this.

At each stage the wine is taken from the bottom row of barrels ie the solera or shipping solera and then is filled from wines from younger criaderas (or sherry nurseries as they are known).  At each stage about a third of wine is taken out and replaced with wine from the one above until the new wine of the year goes in.

In this way, the wine in each butt is refreshed at least three times a year. 

There is no virtually other wine which is blended in this way. It takes at least 4 years minimum to reach the age of consistency in the solera at which the wine might be bottled.