What do the Spanish call Sherry?

Answer 1

Sherry is a fortified wine made in the area around Jerez de la Frontera. "Fortified" means that pure alchol is added to the wine. The wine is aged in "Bodegas", literally warehouses, that are special. They have dirt floors and little sunlight. The barrels are placed in long rows several barrels high. The wine to be bottled is removed from the bottom row of barrels. It is replaced by a like amount removed from the next row above. The process is repeated until the top row is partially empty. The top row is then filled with new wine from the current "Cosecha" or the newest crop. In this way the wines from succeeding crops is blended with the older wine. The result is that the wine that is bottled for sale tastes exactly as the wine bottled in prior years. So "Sherry" is a fortified wine that is blended and always tastes the same. THe Spanish call this product "Vino de Jerez". Even though it may be made in other towns in the area, if they follow this process it is "Vino de Jerez."