manzanilla

Your ABC guide to Sherry Styles

Where to drink Sherry Sherry Week Jerez Helena Nicklin Recommends The Three Drinkers

It’s Sherry week, so what better time to get to know this misunderstood and underated tipple? Sherry lovers around the world have been banging the drum for these unique, moreishly saline, food friendly sippers for years and finally, the message is getting through: Sherry ‘proper’ is not sweet! Read that again. Here’s why it’s time to reacquaint ourselves with this liquid treasure from the sun-soaked vineyards of southern Spain. 

Wine? Spirit? Liqueur? What exactly is Sherry?

In recent years, Sherry has experienced a renaissance, with younger generations discovering its charms and Sherry bars popping up in trendy neighbourhoods worldwide and restaurant lists boasting numerous offerings. But what is it exactly? In a nutshell, Sherry is a fortified wine that hails from a triangle of villages in Spain’s Andalusia and more often than not, it is bone dry. Yes, there are two types of sweet Sherry - naturally so or not so naturally so - but when wine lovers talk about authentic Sherry, it’s the dry stuff they mean.

It all starts with Palomino Fino grapes, which are grown around the city of Jerez de la Frontera in Andalusia. Being an ‘Old World’ (European, essentially) wine style, it takes its name from the place rather than the grapes and ‘Sherry’ is just a poor (in my opinion) English translation of ‘Jerez’. Wine is made by grapes here in the normal way, but just before fermentation ends, a splash of grape spirit is added to stop the process and fortify the wine. The historical reasons for doing this were many, but the key reason was to raise the wine’s alcohol content to make it less susceptible to spoilage, especially during transportation. After all, the Andalusian climate is warm and humid, so normal wine would go off very quickly in the days before air conditioning. 

What makes the dry styles of Sherry unique?

It’s what happens once the wine is fortified and put into wooden barrels that the Sherry magic happens: A small amount of space is left as the liquid ages and the region’s humidity causes a thin layer of yeast called ‘flor’ to develop on the top of the wine, which helps protect it from being completely oxidised. Whether this flor layer remains intact or not and how long it remains then defines the final style of the Sherry inside the barrel. Here’s a rundown of the five, stunningly dry Sherry styles and a cheeky, naturally sweet one to try:

Manzanilla (15-17% abv typically)

Manzanilla is the seaside cousin of the famous Fino and has an unmistakable maritime vibe. It can only be made in the town of Sanlúcar de Barrameda and has a characteristic chamomile note (manzanilla is Spanish for chamomile). It also tends to be a touch lighter and more saline than Fino. Picture sipping the sea breeze captured in a bottle with a delightful, fresh bread yeastiness. Great with savoury snacks and salty cheeses. 

Best Manzanilla La Gitana Manzanilla Sherry from Tesco Helena Nicklin Recommends The Three Drinkers

Try: La Gitana Manzanilla, £9.75 from Tesco 

Fino (15-17% abv typically)

Fino is a similarly pale and bone-dry style that's as crisp as a newly ironed shirt. Unlike Manzanilla, it can be produced in any of the three towns within the Sherry Triangle and has more of a roasted, salted almond note with hints of crunchy apple. A great aperitif that also loves salty snacks and can cut through fried food like a blade. It’s also awesome with tonic. Incidentally, the famously sweet ‘cream’ sherries that Granny loves are often Finos with added concentrated grape must or grape syrup. 

Best Fino Sherry from Morrisons Helena Nicklin Recommends The Three Drinkers

Try: Tio Pepe Fino, £13 from Sainsbury’s, Morrisons 

Amontillado (17-22% ABV typically)

While both Manzanilla and Fino are made with wines where the flor layer has stayed intact, Amontillado is what you get when flor is removed. Starting life as a Fino, it spends  time ageing in barrels before having a slosh of brandy for fortification. This spirited wine then moves to a new barrel, where it begins its journey into oxidative ageing, resulting in a darker, amber colour with notes of roasted nuts, tobacco, spice and dried fruit, all the while keeping  a tangy saltiness. Amontillado can also have a bit of PX (see below) added for sweetness.

Best Amontillado to try Ocado Helena Nicklin Recommends The Three Drinkers

Try: Gonzalez Byass Vina AB Amontillado £16.50 from Ocado 

Oloroso (16-20% ABV typically)

Made deliberately without any flor from the start and subjected to extensive ageing, Oloroso is the darkest dry Sherry style and is full-bodied, concentrated and complex. Silky smooth and intensely nutty in character, it has wonderfully Christmassy notes of dried raisins, figs and salted caramel. Stunning alone but it also loves mature cheeses and can handle game too. 

Best Oloroso Sherry Waitrose Helena Nicklin Recommends The Three Drinkers

Try: No.1 Emilio Lustau Dry Oloroso, £13.49 from Waitrose 

Palo Cortado (17-22% ABV typically)

Palo Cortado is the style to ask for in a bar if you want to show off your Sherry skills. Made often unintentionally when the flor layer naturally dies away on wines destined to be Fino or Amontillado, PC combines the dryness of Amontillado with the nuttiness and body of Oloroso. Think tangy, salted almonds, hazelnuts, dried fruits, toffee, and vanilla oak. It’s what the Sherry hipsters are drinking!

Best Palo Cortado from Ocado Helena Nicklin Recommends The Three Drinkers

Try: Very Rare Palo Cortado, £8.49 for 37.5cl from M&S and Ocado 

Something different:

Pedro Ximenez (PX)

PX, as it is affectionately known, is a sweet style of Sherry made with very ripe, white, Pedro Ximenez grapes, which are air dried on mats to concentrate sugars and flavours before being gently pressed. The lusciously sweet juice is then aged in barrels for a long time - sometimes decades, to achieve a thick, dark, treacley consistency and flavours of dried fig and baking spice. Stuff the chocolate sauce, pour this over your ice cream! Note: This is not the sweet ‘cream’ sherry beloved by elderly parents at Christmastime. 

Best Pedro Ximenez PX from Morrisons Helena Nicklin Recommends The Three Drinkers

Try: The Best Pedro Ximenez, £7 for 37.5cl from Morrisons 

Ultimately, there’s nothing at all wrong with these stalwart cream styles, especially the top names like Croft Original - and they still sell by the truck load during the festive season. It’s just not what the Sherry revolution is about. So, why do we all assume Sherry is always sweet? I blame onomatopoeia. And 1980’s trifle.

Where to taste Sherry this Sherry Week?

Beginner guide to sherry week what is sherry oloroso amontillado fino Helena Nicklin recommends The Three Drinkers

Check out www.sherryweek.wine to see all activities for Sherry Week 6th -12th Nov 2023

UK specific events here!

21 Great Spots to Drink Sherry in the UK

Where to drink Sherry in the UK for International Sherry Week and all year round…

Now in its 9th year, International Sherry Week is the world’s largest celebration of Sherry wines from Southern Spain. This year, it runs from Monday 7th - Sunday 13th November 2022. 

Fino, Manzanilla, Amontillado, Palo Cortado, Oloroso, Cream Sherry… Lovers of this fabulous, fortified wine from Jerez, Spain, know that it’s not all about the sweet stuff Grandma drinks at Christmas but instead, is about enjoying a savoury and saline, food friendly drink in all its wonderfully complex, fudge, salted almond and citrus peel glory.

You can watch a short film and read about what Sherry actually is this bite-size guide but if you just want to get out there and do some tasting, perhaps with a masterclass or with some tapas thrown in, then here’s your ultimate guide to some great venues around the UK for discovering the delights of Sherry for Sherry Week and beyond. 

Sherry Week Events (7th-13th November)

All the locations below are fantastic destinations to try Sherry all year round, but first, here are some specific events to check out during International Sherry Week this November:

Helena with José Pizzaro at José in Bermondsey Street, London.

José Pizarro’s restaurants and tapas bars (London)

‘Get lost in our huge Spanish wine list and sherries and cocktails’ they say. We say, ‘yes please!’ A celebration of all things Spanish awaits you all year round at José Pizarro’s venues but for Sherry week, they are offering the perfect way to kick start your dinner: try three sherries beautifully complemented by Jamón Ibérico Cinco Jotas. £18.50 per head from 7th-13th November.

Pizarro
194 Bermondsey St, 
London,
SE1 3TQ.

José Tapas Bar
104 Bermondsey Street,
London,
SE13UB.

José Pizarro Broadgate Circle
36 Broadgate Circle,
London,
EC2M 2QS.
josepizarro.com

At José on Bermondsey Street, London

Fourth And Church (Hove)

This restaurant and wine bar has quickly earned a reputation as a great foodie destination in Hove, offering tastings and events all year round. Join their expert Paul for a relaxed afternoon during Sherry Week, exploring six wines from Jerez, all perfectly paired with a six course menu.

When: November 13, 2022, 1-4pm
84 Church Rd, 
Hove,
BN3 2EB
www.fourthandchurch.co.uk

Ambiente Tapas (Hull, Leeds & York)

Ambiente Tapas is a welcoming group of restaurants dotted around the country, each celebrating the world of Spanish food and wine - especially Sherry. To celebrate International Sherry Week, Ambiente is hosting exclusive, five course, sherry paired dinners featuring wines from Gonzalez Byass sherries across its various locations:

When: 9th November - Bodega Lustau  - Hull. 
When: 10th November - Bodegas Gonzalez Byass - Leeds.
When: 11th November - Bodegas Barbadillo - Tabanco By Ambiente Restaurant, York
ambiente-tapas.co.uk

The Reliance (Leeds)

This pretty bar and dining room has the gorgeously relaxed feel of an old school classroom with its wooden floors and mismatched chairs and tables. For Sherry Week, join the team on the 9th November for a menu of seasonal small plates paired with eight delicious Sherries.

When: 9th November
76-78 North Street,
Leeds,
LS2 7PN.
The-reliance.co.uk

The Wine Rooms (Cambridge)

A destination fine wine bar and shop bringing the world of wine to life through their extensive list of over 500 bottles and a large list of wines by the glass. During Sherry week, Spanish Sommelier Gonzalo will lead a masterclass through all the styles of Sherry. Come here any time of year though to taste with seasonal plates and regular events. 

When: 10th November
57 Hills Road,
Cambridge,
CB2 1NT
thewineroomscambridge.com

Lo Rapitenc Spanish Deli (Frome)

For something a little different, hold onto your hats and head to Lo Rapitenc in Frome! Join Antonio Morenés, co-founder of Diatomists and leader of the so-called ‘Sherry Revolution’ for an overview of the region and tasting of each wine. Described as ‘a guerrilla wine night, which promises to be intoxicating, festive and a delight to the senses,’ the evening will conclude with after dinner drinks and live music by a Latin music duo. Bring your dancing shoes!

When: 12th November
21 Cheap St, 
Frome,
BA11 1NN
Lorapitencspanishfood.com

Lunyalita (Liverpool)

Ok, so not officially set in Sherry week, but just afterwards, Luyalita will be hosting a Sherry tasting of six wines with matching tapitas, hosted by their resident expert, Ian Jackson. Part of the Lunya family, Lunyalita is set over two floors overlooking Liverpool’s gorgeous Albert Dock. The menu offers a  wide range of classic and modern tapas at lunch and breakfast, with tapas, deli platters and paella served throughout the rest of the day.

When: 24th November
Britannia Pavilion, 
Royal Albert Dock, 
Liverpool, 
L3 4AD.
lunya.co.uk/events

Great Spots to Drink Sherry in the UK

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (Edinburgh)

The brilliant Rose Murray Brown MW will be hosting a 12 wine tasting including Fino, Manzanilla, Amontillado, Palo Cortado, Oloroso & PX from leading bodegas, all served with Spanish charcuterie. Personalised gift vouchers are also available on request. No prior knowledge required!

When: 9th November
The Vaults, 
87 Giles St, 
Leith, 
Edinburgh,
EH6 6BZ.
Rosemurraybrown.com

Lind and Lime Gin Distillery (Leith)

Lind & Lime Gin Distillery has got together with Slonk for a fantastic Sherry experience. On arrival, you'll be treated to a Sherry Cocktail, followed by a five Sherry masterclass served with a delicious Spanish Tapas feast by Pablo Sensat of Manda Huevos fame.

When: 13th November
24 Coburg Street,
Leith,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6HB.
Tickets here

Oxford Wine Café (Oxford)

This cosy café style wine bar is a vino lover's dream, boasting a huge list of wines from all over the world, made by smaller, ultra-passionate, boutique-style producers that you will not find in supermarkets and big chains. During Sherry week, they will be showcasing an extensive sherry menu paired with a number of delicious tapas dishes and are holding a big tasting on the Thursday night.

When: 11th November
32 Little Clarendon Street,
Jericho,
Oxford,
OX1 2HU.
oxfordwinecafe.co.uk

Other great locations to taste Sherry all year round

BRISTOL

Adelina Yard

Adelina Yard is found nestled in Bristol’s Welsh Back district and serves fine, seasonal, modern European dishes in a relaxed, informal, yet highly instagrammable atmosphere.

Adelina Yard, 
Queen Quay, 
Welsh Back, 
Bristol,
BS1 4SL.
adelinayard.com


BIRMINGHAM

Loki Wine

Loki Wine has risen to fame these past few years and is the most awarded wine merchant in Birmingham. This fabulous, wine merchant-cum-wine bar offers a huge range of Sherry and other wines to purchase as well as taste by the glass. This is also the place for various fun, wine and tasting courses and events. Choose from any of their three locations:

Loki Wine Edgbaston, 10 Greenfield Crescent, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 3AU
Loki Wine Birmingham City Centre (GWA), 36 Great Western Arcade, Birmingham, B2 5HU
Loki Wine Knowle, 20-22 Station Road, Knowle, Solihull, B93 0HT
Lokiwine.co.uk


FROME

The High Pavement 

This cosy, Moorish jewel of a restaurant is set above the picturesque cobbled streets of Frome’s St Catherine’s quarter and offers a delicious, ever changing menu of Moorish Tapas inspired by the flavours of Spain, North Africa and the Middle East. The wine list boasts an excellent selection of bottles from small, independent growers as well as an extensive sherry list.

8, Palmer St, 
Frome,
BA11 1DS.
thehighpavement.co.uk

LEEDS

Iberica (Leeds)

The stunning Hepper Building in Leeds is a location to behold with its high ceilings and chandeliers. It’s like stepping back in time! Iberica is a place to celebrate all Spanish food and drink with an extensive wine list including many types of Sherry. Check out their events too and you can opt for private dining and even a Spanish afternoon tea. 

Hepper House, 
17a East Parade, 
LS1 2BH, 
Leeds.
Ibericarestaurants.com


LONDON

Gordon’s Wine Bar

Gordon’s wine bar is a London institution. The city’s oldest bar is set in a fabulous, candlelit, 19th Century vaulted cellar that has maintained its original Dickensian décor, it boasts a fabulous range of wines including an impressive array of Sherries. Come here to plot a revolution and have a great glass of vino.

47 Villiers Street,
London,
WC2N 6NE.
Gordonswinebar.com

The Opera Tavern

Part of the Salt Yard group, the famous Opera Tavern is a classic, Covent Garden pub and is ideal for a quick bite of jamon Iberico and a slurp of Palo Cortado before catching a show at the theatre or opera. 

23 Catherine St, 
London,
WC2B 5JS.
saltyardgroup.co.uk

Great Spots to Drink Sherry in the UK

Bar Pepito

Cosy and romantic with bottles everywhere, Bar Pepito combines a warm, Andalusian atmosphere with an extensive range of speciality Jerez sherries and a fantastic tapas menu served with a twist. It’s a must at any time of year!

3 Varnishers Yard,
The Regent Quarter,
Kings Cross,
N1 9FD.
camino.uk.com


Andanza

Down the road from Pizarro in Bermondsey is a tiny little, rustic, Spanish foodie gem in the form of Andanza. Come here for authentic Spanish meats and cheeses with a great range of wines and Sherries. You’ll want to photograph everything too!

66 Weston St,
London,
SE1 3QJ
andanza.co.uk

MANCHESTER

Flok

Flok is a cosy, yet vibrant,  vintage feel bar and kitchen offering Mediterranean-inspired small plates as well as wines, craft beers, cocktails and spirits. This place has a reputation for its Sherry list too, which you can taste by the glass. Highly recommended. 

5 Stevenson Square, 
Manchester,
M1 1DN
flokmcr.co.uk

CARDIFF

Curado Bar & Vermut

Curado Bar Jamon & Pintxos in Cardiff and its snug little wine bar Vermut next door, offer a piece of authentic Spain right in the heart of the city. Vermut has Spanish wines on tap and specialises in three styles of wines: Sherry, Vermouth and Montilla-Moriles. 

2 Guildhall Place, 
Westgate Street, 
Cardiff, 
CF10 1EB.
curadobar.com


BATH

Pintxo Bath

Tucked away in Barton Street, Pintxo de Bath is a cosy, wood-clad, authentically Basque-style tapas and sherry bar in the heart of Bath’s theatre district. Inspired by the famous Pintxo bars of San Sebastián, they also serve a large range of Sherries all year round and even have a secluded, dedicated Sherry garden! 

31 Barton Street, 
Bath, 
Somerset,
BA1 1HG.
pintxobath.co.uk

Heading to these? Tag us on Instagram @TheThreeDrinkers using #SherryWeek. Want more sherry info? Here’s Helena’s wine basics video guide.

Bite-size Sherry Basics

Don't ignore Sherry because you once tasted the sweet stuff your Nan drinks. Real Sherry is a whole world of moreish deliciousness! In this video, Helena answers the big questions: What is Sherry? What makes Sherry unique and what are the keys styles of Sherry? All with Russian dolls with beards and a nice Vinalogy about a choir. And a dog. Happy Sherry Week! #SherryWeek

Perfect Pairings: Manzanilla with Fish & Chips

Manzanilla with fish and chips.jpeg

If you’re thinking ‘Manza-what-now?’, you’re not alone. Manzanilla is a style of aged white wine that’s a bit different to the norm as it’s made in a super dry, deliberately savoury style that evoques salted almonds and something reminiscent of twiglets. It sounds weird, granted, but it’s immensely moreish, umami and textural - the very definition of a food wine. It hails from the south of Spain, not far from Seville, where it is sipped chilled on hot, dusty nights with small plates of nuts and tapas.

Why it works

The crispness of the Manzanilla cuts through the oiliness of the batter beautifully and the saltiness of it balances the fat and brings out the subtle flavours in the fish. Zesty, fresh, saline and nutty, it’s little wonder that Manzanilla is perfect with seafood. Cuisine in the Spanish, seaside town where it’s made is dominated by fresh fish and as they say: what grows together, goes together!

Try: Barbadillo Solear Manzanilla

Considered the benchmark for Manzanilla, this wine has been aged a bit longer than most (6 years) and is lip-pursingly dry and saline with subtle, chamomile notes.

RRP: Currently on offer at £9.19 from Waitrose for 70cl or £5.25 for 37.5cl from various stockists (see below*) including The Wine Society.

More about Manzanilla

You will know Jerez by its English translation: Sherry. In Europe, it’s usually the region that gives the name to a style of wine, so in the UK and the US, wines from here are known as ‘Sherries’. This fact has become a bit of a problem for the region as ‘Sherry’ is a word with so many associations to all things sweet, such as trifle and that sickly stuff in granny’s drinks cabinet. While it’s true that you can get sweet, ‘cream’ Sherries, the real stuff; the interesting stuff is bone dry, saline, nutty and complex. Manzanilla, like Fino, is white wine made from the Palomino grape that is aged in barrels under a layer of ‘flor’, which is a frothy, white yeast up to 2cm thick that protects the wine underneath from oxidation. This flor can only grow in this very specific part of Spain, which is why its effects on the texture and flavour of the wine are unique. The wines are also made using a solera system, where older barrels are topped up by the fresher barrels over time. Typically, the final wines are blends between 4 and 7 years old.

The difference between Manzanilla and Fino sherry is that Manzanilla is ever so slightly lighter than Fino in both colour and flavour, thanks to the cooler location where its made and aged, just down he road from Jerez in Sanlúcar de Barrameda by the sea. Manzanilla is still ostensibly known as a Sherry and Jerez and Sanlúcar are the only two locations where these wines can be made.

*Other stockists of the 37.5cl bottle:

Amazon, Oddbins, Bestway Retail (Wine Rack), Cambridge Wine Merchants, Connolly’s Wine Merchants (West Midlands), Village Wines (Kent), Baythorn Wines (Essex), Martinez Wines (Yorkshire), Lewis and Cooper, R Campbell, Roberts & Speight (Yorkshire), The Wine Press (West Midlands), Beers of Europe (Norfolk), Vintage Cellars (London), Sandhams Wine Merchants (Lincolnshire), Corkscrew Jersey, Mumbles Fine Wines (Wales), Richard Granger (Tyne & Wear), Alexander Hadleigh (Hampshire), Shaftesbury Wines (Dorset), George Hill of Loughborough, The Fine Wine Co (Scotland), Borders Wines (Scotland).

By Helena Nicklin

Disclaimer: We are regularly sent samples to taste for consideration for magazine pieces and social media. Not all of them are used. We are not paid to feature anything unless the article or post clearly states that the content is a promotion or sponsored.