Sherry

Fino – this is the driest style of sherry. Palomino grapes are fermented dry, then fortified to 15.5% and put into barrel, not quite full, so a layer of flor, a white yeast cover, can develop over the top and stop all oxidation. The flor also eats up any remaining sugar, hence a Fino is bone dry.  

Manzanilla – very much like Fino, but it comes from a specific location. Manzanilla may only come from Sanlucar de Barrameda, a town just that bit nearer the Atlantic, so the ocean has more of an influence on its flavour as it ages in the cellar.   

Amontillado – this starts life like a Fino. Palomino fermented dry and fortified to 15.5% and put into barrel for 3-4 years to develop flor. Then, if the winemaker decides it should be an Amontillado, they fortify it to 18° (so the flor dies) and leave it to age in barrel for longer. The wine takes on a richer amber hue and a whole different spectrum of rich flavours.   

Oloroso – nearly always dry in style and made all from Palomino grapes, using the second pressing juice, fermented dry, then fortified to 18°, put into barrel five sixths full, so it is open to oxidation, then left to mature for between 3 and 40 years.  

Palo Cortado – a sherry of great complexity, this starts off as a Fino, aged in barrel, but for whatever reason, the white layer of flor dies off, leaving the wine exposed to the air. It continues to mature there in barrel, gaining an array of gorgeous, intriguing flavours.  

Cream – a blend of Oloroso sweetened with other wines such as Pedro Ximénez or Amontillado.   

Pedro Ximénez – created by sun-drying Pedro Ximénez grapes to concentrate the sugars before fermentation, then ageing with no flor on top, like you would an Oloroso.

Examples of Dry Sherry styles: Fino, Manzanilla, Amontillado, Palo Cortado, and Oloroso

Examples of Sweet Sherry styles and blends: Pedro Ximénez (PX) and Cream Sherry

The Solera System

Sherry’s distinctive character is largely a result of the Solera System, a unique ageing process involving fractional blending in a series of barrels arranged in tiers. The higher tiers are called ‘criaderas’ and hold the younger wines, while the oldest wines are stored in the bottom row of barrels, known as the ‘solera’.

When sherry is extracted for bottling, it’s drawn only from the oldest casks. These casks are then replenished with wine from the next oldest tier, and so on, with the top tier filled with the new wine.

This continuous blending process ensures consistency in flavour and style, with no single vintage dominating the blend.

Aging terms:

VOS (Vinum Optimum Signatum / Very Old Sherry): Certified average age of 20 years.

VORS (Vinum Optimum Rare Signatum / Very Old Rare Sherry): Certified average age of 30 years.

What does 'en rama' mean?

A sherry labelled ‘en rama’ indicates it is unfined and unfiltered. The words ‘en rama’ mean literally ‘from the branch’ and means, in essence, straight from the barrel, so it’s a true artisan wine, bottled without fining or filtration, fuller and more complex in flavour. Fino or Manzanilla en ramas tend to be slightly darker in colour too.

The date of your wine delivery will depend on which option you choose at checkout. We offer:  

Standard delivery is ideal if you’re buying for yourself or as a thank you gift. We’ll deliver your order within three working days.  

Next-day delivery is a great choice for last-minute gifts, while Named-day delivery is perfect for anniversaries, birthdays and special occasions. Do bear in mind that we don’t deliver on Sundays or Bank Holidays.  

Top tip: for the best experience, subscribe to our Unlimited service. You’ll make a one-off payment of £29.99 which entitles you to free delivery for a year – as often as you like – even on single bottles.

Our wines are covered by a no-quibble guarantee.  

That means, if, for whatever reason, a bottle fails to satisfy, we’ll arrange to collect it. You’ll have the option to either receive a full refund or replace the wine.   

It’s that simple.

100,000 customers already love our wine subscriptions, and enjoy lower prices on their favourites all year round.

With a Laithwaites wine subscription, you can tell us what kind of wine you prefer, and how many bottles you’d like to receive on each delivery.

You can then choose how often you’d like to receive your case – every four or eight weeks. And delivery is free too!