Overview
The world's most food-friendly wine. Fino Sherry and its coastal cousin Manzanilla (from Sanlúcar de Barrameda, where sea air creates extra salinity) are aged biologically under a layer of flor yeast, producing astonishingly dry, saline, yeasty wines of extraordinary complexity. Drunk cold as an aperitif with jamón ibérico they are transformative.
In The Glass
- Colour
- Medium lemon
- Nose
- Green apple, Lemon, Almond, Flor yeast and Bread dough.
- Palate
- Bone-dry, saline, biological ageing — the most unique white wine. Generally very light-bodied, crisp acidity, dry, with a long finish.
Tasting Profile
Body Very Light1/5
Tannins Silky1/5
Acidity Crisp4/5
Sweetness Bone Dry1/5
Alcohol High4/5
Grapes
Palomino Fino
Aromas And Notes
Green appleLemonAlmondOliveFlor yeastBread doughSalineChamomileWalnutHayIodine
Terroir
Hot Mediterranean — unique albariza chalk retains winter rain for summer. Atlantic influence from Sanlúcar.
Albariza (chalk-marl)Arena (sand)Barro (clay)
Food Pairings
Jamón ibéricoGambas al ajilloFried anchoviesOlivesManchego
Notable Producers
- Bodegas Lustau, founded 1896 - Almacenista Manzanilla Pasada
- González Byass, founded 1835 - Tío Pepe Fino En Rama
- Hidalgo La Gitana, founded 1792 - La Gitana Manzanilla