A Quick Guide to Sherry Styles

Sherry is one of the world’s great wine categories, ranging from bone-dry and delicate to rich, dark and lusciously sweet. The style depends largely on how the wine is aged and whether it develops under a layer of yeast called flor.

Fino – Dry, fresh & delicate
Pale, crisp and bone-dry, with flavours of almonds, green apple and sea-spray. A classic aperitif and brilliant with seafood, tapas and salty snacks.

Manzanilla – Dry, saline & vibrant
Made in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Manzanilla is typically even more delicate and saline than Fino, with a distinctive freshness. Fantastic with seafood, olives and jamón.

Amontillado – Dry, nutty & complex
Starts its life ageing under flor before continuing to mature without it. The result is a dry, amber-coloured wine with layers of roasted nuts, spice and dried fruit.

Oloroso – Rich, dry & powerful
Aged without flor, giving a fuller, deeper style with aromas and flavours of walnuts, spice, leather and dried fruit. Superb with richer meats, game and mature cheese.

Palo Cortado – Rare, complex & elegant
One of Sherry's great rarities, combining the aromatic elegance of an Amontillado with the richness and structure of an Oloroso.

Pedro Ximénez (PX) – Lusciously sweet
Made from sun-dried Pedro Ximénez grapes, this is intensely sweet and rich, packed with flavours of raisins, dates, figs and dark caramel. Wonderful with blue cheese, chocolate or poured over vanilla ice cream.

Cream Sherry – Rich & sweet
Usually based on Oloroso blended with sweet wine, Cream Sherry is full-bodied, smooth and rich, with flavours of dried fruit, caramel and nuts.

Sherry in a nutshell

Fino & Manzanilla → Dry & delicate
Amontillado → Dry & nutty
Oloroso → Rich & dry
Palo Cortado → Rare & complex
PX & Cream → Sweet & luscious