RAISE A GLASS
International Sherry Week this week is perfectly timed as our thoughts are turning towards Christmas.
You shouldn’t just think of sherry as the go-to for great aunts, grandmas, or the carol singers. I love it, but I’ve told you that before.
To give you a second opinion, I asked Master of Wine and Certified Sherry Educator Sarah Jane Evans, left, for her thoughts on this delicious sip from Spain.
Sarah Jane told me: “Sherry sets the taste buds alive like no other wine.
“A chilled glass of Fino or Manzanilla is just the thing in the late morning/pre Christmas lunch.
“It is perfect with smoked salmon on rye (a must in our house), salted Marcona almonds, any favourite pre-lunch savoury. It’s also a great appetite chaser on Boxing Day.”
Sarah Jane continues: “In our house, Father Christmas always gets a glass of Dry Amontillado. Warming, nutty; after clambering down the chimney it’s a welcome reward.
“We like to linger at the table, with a bowl of nuts and the nutcrackers. And there’s always a cheese to cut into – a Comte, a mature Cheddar. Bring out the Dry Oloroso. And with the blue cheese, it’s the silky Cream. There’s one word ‘sherry’ but there are so many styles.”
One of the joys for me is that I’ve destroyed my own misconceptions.
I’ve tiptoed and discovered and wow-ed and embraced sherry. Here are some discoveries:
M&S Solera Cream Sherry, in partnership with top producer Lustau, pictured above, is down to just £8 (was £12). Aged Dry Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherries were blended and the result is flavours of dates and prunes with a nutty finish.
Tesco’s partnership with Gonzales Byass brings two lovely options; the unctuous gold medal winner Tesco Finest Pedro Ximenez, (£6.50, for 37.5cl) and the Tesco Finest Fino Sherry, left, (£6.50, 37.5cl) ) to simply enjoy with salted almonds. Or how about Solear Barbadillo Manzanilla Sherry (£10.99, at Waitrose).
Read more about International Sherry Week online at sherry.wine/ sherryweek or follow #sherryweek on social media.
Jane is a member of the Circle of Wine Writers. Find her on social media and online as One Foot in the Grapes.