Behind the Cork™ - Sherry & Pie Pairings for International Sherry Week

In celebration of International Sherry Week (November 8-14) and, in preparation for the upcoming holidays, here are a few suggestions for some really super Sherry offerings and some pie pairing to go along with them.

Gonzalez Byass Solera 1847 Cream ($17) & Texas Two Step Pie

This Sherry is made from 75% Palomino and 25% Ximénex grapes. It is dark mahogany in color and velvety smooth. It has flavors of dried figs and raisins, with a toffee finish. Served slightly chilled.

Gonzalez Byass Alfonso Dry Oloroso ($17) & Apple Pie

This sherry is made from 100% Palomino. It has a beautiful mahogany color with a wonderful walnut aroma. This is not a sweet Sherry. It’s dry with great nutty flavor and a long smooth finish. Served slightly chilled.

Gonzalez Byass Néctar Pedro Ximenez ($17) & Cherry Pie

This Sherry is made from 100% Pedro Ximenez. It has a deep dark mahogany color. And, oh my! It’s rich and sweet and velvety smooth with flavors of caramel, dried fruits, figs, mocha, nuts and spices. It’s dessert in a glass, but also pairs well with cherry pie! Served slightly chilled.

Harveys Bristol Cream ($20) & Pecan Pie

Did you know that Harveys Bristol Cream is Sherry? It’s actually the number one selling Sherry in the world!

This Sherry is crafted from four different styles of Sherry (Fino, Amontillado, Oloroso and Pedro Ximexez) and aged between 3-20 years in the traditional Solera system.

Serve it chilled (50-55 F) to open up its rich, yet mellow flavor notes.

All four of these Sherry offerings are from Gonzalez Byass. The first three Gonzalez Byass offerings come in both 375 ml (pictured) and 750 ml bottles. The Harveys Bristol Cream, also from Gonzalez Byass, is featured in a 750 ml bottle.

Hope you get a chance to sip one of these wonderful Sherries during International Sherry Week, or anytime, and keep these amazing pie-pairing in mind as you do. Cheers!

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Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received these samples at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Samples Provided by Donna White Communications

Ever Wonder...What is Sherry?

Sherry is an often-misunderstood drink. A lot of people think of it as something used in cooking or something their grand-parents sipped on. But, Sherry is actually a wonderful beverage that’s enjoyed by many, especially Spaniards, who sip the good stuff like a fine Scotch.

True Sherry must come from the Andalucía region in southern Spain. But, many throughout the world try to imitate Sherry and label it as such.

Sherry starts out like a wine but the final product is quite different from a traditional wine. The primary grape used in making Sherry is Palomino - a white grape. Pedro Ximenéz and Moscatel grapes are also used. Like wine, the juice of the grape is fermented. But, after fermentation, the wine is fortified with grape spirits to 17% to 22 % ABV.

Dry Sherry ages under a cap of flor yeast, preventing the wine's contact with oxygen. These wines are usually crisp and refreshing. Other Sherries are aged in contact with air which gives them a nutty, rich flavor.

Some Sherry is then aged in a solera system, where vintages are blended together to ensure the consistency of the final product.

Sherry's flavor ranges from bone dry (very low residual sugar) to syrupy sweet:

Dry Sherry: Made predominately from the Palomino grape:

• Fino & Manzanilla - Very light in flavor. Can have salty fruit flavors.

• Amontillado - A bit bolder with nutty flavors.

• Palo Cortado - This is much richer with roasted flavors of molasses and coffee.

• Oloroso - This style is intentionally exposed to oxygen during aging resulting its dark appearance and nutty flavors.

Sweet Sherry: Made from Pedro Ximénez or Moscatel grapes:

• Pedro Ximéniz (PX) - This is the sweetest style with flavors dates and figs.

• Moscatel - This has sweet caramel flavors.

• Sweet Sherry: A blend of Oloroso and PX Sherry.

And, it just so happens that International Sherry week is coming up November 8th through 14th, so look for this week’s Behind the Cork™ blog that will feature several really nice Sherry offerings. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Veramonte Cabernet Sauvignon

2019 Veramonte Cabernet Sauvignon ($11.99)

Here’s another returning favorite from Veramonte which is made with Organic grapes and a really good value.

The Veramonte wines are from organically farmed vineyards in Chile. Veramonte follows organic practices throughout their estate, ensuring optimum conditions for vine growth and that the vineyards are sustainable over time. Living, balanced soil produces quality grapes that express the fullest potential of the terroir.

The 2018 Veramonte Organic Cabernet Sauvignon is produced from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes grown in the Colchagua Valley. It underwent cold maceration for five days in stainless steel tanks and was fermented with native yeasts. After the primary fermentation, the wine is macerated with its skins for another ten days to achieve greater smoothness and intensity of flavor. It was then aged in neutral oak barrels for eight months.

It’s medium-ruby in color with deep, dark fruit aromas. This Cabernet Sauvignon is fruity with flavors of red fruit and sour cherry. And, a great value for a Cabernet Sauvignon!

These Veramonte wines are imported by González Byass USA and distributed nationally. For more information on these wines visit www.GonzalezByassUSA.com Cheers!

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Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Sample Provided by Donna White Communications

Ever Wonder? Can Aged Riesling Really Smell like Petrol?

Wines regularly get described by their aromas – floral, citrus, green apple, melon, herbal, cherry, plum and spice. But, Riesling – can it really including the aroma of petrol?

 A lot of people might assume a bottle of Riesling must have gone bad if they detect an aroma anything like petrol, gasoline or kerosene. But, this actually is a key characteristic of an aged Riesling!

 Not that a Riesling grape straight from the vine will have any such smell, but petrol is an aroma that forms during the fermentation process.

 There is a lot of chemistry that goes on during a wine’s fermentation. And, the development of exotic chemical compounds is one of these.

 As I started with, the fermentation of grapes can result in a tremendous range of aromas – most of which come from the chemical interactions of the juice of grapes and yeast. Other aromas can be introduced during the aging process (e.g., from oak barrels).

 It turns out that a petrol-like aroma is a natural occurrence in aged Riesling. Your glass of wine is not going to smell like a gas can, but there can be “delicate” aromas of petrol.

 Without getting into the chemistry details, the reason that an aged Riesling can smells like gasoline is due to a chemical compound called TDN (1,1,6-trimethyl-1,2-dihydronaphthalene). While the potential for TDN to be produced and noticed in most wines is pretty low, Riesling grapes have the highest chance to exhibit this distinctive aroma. Don’t lose sight of the fact that the primary aromas of Riesling will be tropical fruit, red fruit, melon, citrus and spice. But, there can be this petrol-like aroma compound. And, in combination with the other aromas, it can also result in aromas of honey, beeswax or paraffin.

Sources: GL Sacks et. al. (2012), C Black et. at. (2012)

So, try an aged bottle of Riesling. Not that petrol is an aroma you may desire, but open up mind and your nostrils and see if you can pick out the aroma. It’s not for everyone, but it’s certainly worth trying as you continue on your wine journey. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Riva Leone Barbaresco

2017 Riva Leone Barbaresco ($24.99)

Riva Leone was a man of unique character and personality who was an ambassador for the special wines of the Langhe all throughout Europe in the early 20th Century. His legacy lives on in the Riva Leone wines which uphold the winemaking traditions of Piedmont for a new generation of wine lovers across the world.

Barbaresco wines come from the Piedmont region of Italy and are produced from the Nebbiolo (Nebby-oh-low) grape.

This Barbaresco is aged at least two years including one year in American and French oak barrels.

This wine is medium garnet in color with delicate cherry aromas. On the palate it is medium-bodied with flavors of black cherry, firm tannin and balanced acidity that leads to a nice finish. A classic Barbaresco!

The Riva Leone wines are imported by Mack & Schühle and distributed throughout the U.S.

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Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Sample Provided by Donna White Communications