From the Romans to the Arabs
The founders of the city of Gades -today Cadiz- brought with them from Lebanon the art of growing grapes and making wine in the 4th century B.C. The Phoenicians named the region now including Jerez as Xera, and in it prestigious wines were made that traveled all over the Mediterranean.� In 138 B.C., the so-called� vinum ceretensis became famous and was enjoyed not only Rome but other corners of the empire. Wine-drinking was banned by Islam during Arab rule starting in 711, although wine was still made for medicinal purposes, until the calyph Alhaken ordered most of the vines uprooted.�

In the 12th century the Arabs named the region Seris - pronounced sherish- which would later become sherry for English-speakers. In Spanish, it was xeres. The trade flourished in times of the expansion in the Americas. Ships traveling to the new continent brought a boost to the Jerez wine business.

Sherry in the 18th century was quite different from the sherry know today. Ageing it was banned, although the system of storing it dates from that period.

�The wines of Jerez are made in the area known traditionally as Marco de Jerez. It includes the towns of Jerez de la Frontera, El Puerto de Santamar�a, Sanl�car de Barrameda, Chipiona, Trebujena, Rota, Puerto Real and Chiclana de la Frontera. The soil is famous for its wine-growing qualities because it is good at storing moisture during the months of heat and drought.

White grapes and flowers
The grapes used to make the wines of Jerez are all white: Palomino de Jerez, Palomino Fino, Pedro Xim�nez and Moscatel. Harvesting is done by hand in September when the grapes are white and sweet.

With the winter cold, the juice is decanted and turns clean and transparent. On the surface there forms a film that is called the flor, or flower. The wine-taster's job is to sort out the wines for their classification:� fino and manzanilla - pale and light, up to 15% alcohol and the so-called olorosos, which have more body and their alcohol content up to 17%.

The Jerez and Manzanilla are next aged in American oak casks that hold 600 liters but are not filled to the top. This is known in Spanish as the sobretablas phase. The flower of the fino and manzanilla does not disappear, and keeps the wines from oxydizing. But with the olorosos this film is not eliminated, and little by little turns into Jerez amontillado.

The last phase happens in the cellar, where the wines are aged by height, depending on their age. The oldest go down close to the floor; they are said to be on the solera. Later, the youngest ones are methodically mixed with the aged wines so they acquire the characteristics of� soleraje.

Wines of Jerez
They are classified as followed:
-�Fino: Aged under flor layer, they are 15% alcohol. The aroma is delicate, sharp, dry and light. It goes well with tapas, soup, shellfish, fish, ham and mild cheeses. It is served cold.
-�Manzanilla: Made in the winecellars of Sanl�car de Barrameda. It has an alcohol level and its aroma is sharp but restrained. It is also served cold, with tapas, shellfish, mild cheese, soup, white fish and ham. The varieties are known as fina, pasada and olorosa.
-�Amontillado: It is aged in a way similar to that of fino. The bouquet is like hazelnut, restrained in its sharpness and mild. Alcohol content, between 16 and 22%. It is served with aperitifs, white meats, blue-meat fish and aged cheeses.
-�Oloroso: Dry and with a strong aroma, with body and an alcohol content of between 17 and 22%. Its aging begins with a phase under a velo and a later one of oxygenation. It is a good wine for aperitifs, and for game and red meat.
-�Palo cortado: Similar in aroma to amontillado and oloroso, with the same system of ageing. Alcohol content of between 17 and 22%.
The sweet wines of Jerez are:
-�Pedro Xim�nez: made with the grape of the same name, has a high sugar content. This wine has a sweet taste and is ideal for desserts, afternoon snacks and pastries.
-�Moscatel: smooth and sweet, also made with the grape of the same name. Goes well with pastry.
Liqueur wines include:
-�Pale Cream: with an alcohol content of 15.5%, it has a sharp, delicate aroma.
-�Cream: a mix of oloroso with sweet wine, its alcohol content is 15.5%. Served with dessert and also in a tall glass with ice.
-�Medium: Known by these names:� Golden, Abocado, Amoroso, Brown, Milk and Rich. Alcohol content below�15%.

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