Classification: DO Jerez-Xérèz-Sherry

Color: Dessert wine

Country: Spain

Region: Andalusia-Jerez

Producer: Bodegas Sánchez Romate Hnos, Jerez de la Frontera

Grape varieties: pedro-ximénez

Wine production: The average age of this sherry is around 6 years. After harvest, the grapes are exposed to the sun so that they dry out slightly. Maturation takes place via the Solera system. This consists of a long row of barrels stacked high on top of each other. The young Sherry is placed in the top barrel, and each year a portion is transferred to the barrel below. The final product is bottled from the bottom barrel, making this sherry a complex blend of multiple vintages.

Producer information: Sánchez Romate Hnos is a medium-sized company where very fine sherries and the world-famous Brandy ‘Cardenal Mendoza’ are made. The Bodega was founded in 1781 by Don Juan Sánchez de la Torre and after more than 200 years is still family owned. Quality and tradition are highly valued at Sánchez Romate and anyone who has visited the impressive barrel cellars in Jerez de la Frontera can attest to that. Romate is the only firm in Jerez of which the largest part of the wine distillates is exported. Important customers are Latin America, North America, Canada, Great Britain, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Japan.

Area information: The southern part of Spain is called Andalusia and is divided into 8 provinces, one of which is Cádiz. The vibrant heart of the Sherry region is Jerez de la Frontera. Most of the largest bodegas are located in this city. The seaside city of Sanlúcar also houses several bodegas. The annual rainfall averages less than 500 mm. The best sherries come from the chalk-white, lime-rich soils, which are called albarizas. This soil acts like a kind of sponge during the rainy season and retains a water reserve for the hot summer months. Other soils are called barros and arenas. The latter is more clayey.

Serve with: With desserts, e.g. tiramisu, nougat, caramel, nuts, and especially desserts with dark/bitter chocolate.

Serving temperature: 16ºC

Other information: The maturation of this Pedro-Ximénez sherry is oxidative, whereby the oxygen present in the partially filled barrels influences the flavor. The color changes from golden yellow to medium to dark brown. The result is a ripe, lush wine with a velvety flavor containing notes of (wal)nuts and a refined aroma.