Solera

The Oloroso type which goes through the process of oxidative maturation. The minimum compulsory aging period is three years for both types.  Sherry is aged by the system using Solera barrels containing the oldest wines and Criadera barrels containing younger wines added a little by little. For bottling, a part of the wine in Solera barrels situated in the bottom row of the system is taken out and bottled.  The emptied space is filled with the younger wines taken from the first Criadera.  The emptied space of the first Criadera is filled with the further younger wines from the second Criadera.  This process is repeated, and the last Criadera is filled with the youngest wine from the harvest already fortified and being aged in American oak barrels. Basically, Sherry does not have vintage as it is aged by this system. However, Sherry will always include very small amounts of all the wines put in the solera since the year when the Solera barrels were first installed. When finished, the required quantity for bottling is taken out of the final Solera barrels and blended in tanks prior to the bottling. Expensive Sherry aged for a long period of time has the indication of VOS or VORS on the label. This means “Sherry with certified aging period” controlled and guaranteed by the Consejo Regulador of Sherry for the four types of Sherry; Amontillado, Oloroso, Palo Cortado and Pedro Ximénez. Sherry aged over 20 years will have the certification sticker of VOS (Vinum Optimum Signatum, Very Old Sherry) and the Sherry aged over 30 years will have the sticker of VORS (Vinum Optimum Rare Signatum, Very Old Rare Sherry).First, the base white wine is made from the principal Palomino grape variety. To produce the Fino or Manzanilla type Sherry, the base wine is fortified to the alcohol degree of 15% and aged under the shield of Flor (yeast film) in American oak barrels.  When the base wine is fortified to 17% it becomes