SHERRY - Winemaking - The Solera system

4 important questions on SHERRY - Winemaking - The Solera system

What is the Solera system

A method of fractional blending that is used to maintain consistency and quality year after year

How is a Solera system build up

  • The barrels are grouped in sections known as criadera
  • The criadera of the oldest wine is called the solera
  • The criadere with the next oldest wine is called the 1st criadera, then the 2nd and so on
  • Each criadera's barrels are stacked together in an area of the bodega

Two rules for Sherry Solera system

  • Not more than 40% of the wine from one solera system can be removed each calendar year > the system always retains most of its wine
  • Any wine released and bottled for sale must be a minimum of two years old
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Describe the basic process of the Solera system

  • A proportion (up to 40%) is taken from each barrel in the solera (= the oldest group of barrels)
  • The same proportion is taken from the barrels in the 1st criadera and blended in a tank to ensure consistency
  • This wine is used to top up the barrels in the solera
  • The same proportion is taken from the 2nd criadera, blended and used to top up the barrels in the 1st criadera
  • This the same for the following criadera's
  • The barrels in the last criadera are topped up with the young wine from the sobretablas

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