ANDALUCIA-THE HOME OF SHERRY

Spain has more vineyard acreage than any other country in the world and here in Southern Spain one of the most famous wines in the world, Sherry is produced.

In 1587 Sir Francis Drake ransacked the port of Cadiz and stole 3,000 barrels of Sherry and returned to England with them. Since then the British have been the main international clients. They do however prefer the 'cream' Sherry, to which sugar or grape juice is added as a sweetener, whilst Spaniards prefer the dry 'fino'. Other types of Sherry include oloroso, amontillado, palo cortado and the sweet Pedro Ximenez.

Sherry can only be produced in the area lying between Jerez de la Frontera, Puerto de Santa María and Sanlúcar de Barrameda in the province of Cadiz. The secret is the combination of soil, the damp climate which encourages the growth of the flor (a coat of yeast that forms on the ageing wine and prevents it from oxidising) and the solera system used to blend the different vintages.

In the Jerez region there are more than 10,000 hectares and the predominant grape is the Palomino, named after a 13th century Spanish knight. Due to the combination of the soil and the prevailing humidity, which allows the growth of the protective flor yeast, Sherry acquires its exceptional dryness and earthy aroma. Sherry is a fortified wine meaning that extra alcohol is added to bring its alcohol content up to around 16 percent volume.

The grapes are harvested in early September and crushed to make a still white wine. This is then left to age for

about two years and it is then put through the criadera and solera system. This is when the wines of different years are blended to ensure that the finished product is of consistent quality.

Rows of barrels are stacked in layers and a portion of wine destined for bottling is drawn off from the bottom row, called the 'solera', which contains the oldest blend. These barrels are then topped off with wine from the row immediately above and so on to the top row of barrels, which are then replenished with the most recent wine, which has aged for a couple of years.
For this reason, most Sherries are not vintage wines, being blends from different harvests. In exceptional years, some wine might be set aside for ageing separately as Vintage Sherry, but this is rare and consequently expensive.

The Fino is clear and perfectly dry with an earthy aroma of almonds and is served chilled. The Manzanilla is made in Sanlúcar de Barrameda and is even drier and paler than other finos, and is greatly favoured by the Spanish. Oloroso is a rich amber colour with an aroma of hazelnuts. The colour is due to the fact that it has a thin layer of 'flor' and during the ageing process a partial oxidation takes place. The amontillado is often described as mid-way between a fino and an olorosso and is dark in colour. Palo Cortado starts out as a fino but the flor fails to develop and the result is the aroma of an amontillado and the colour of an olorosso. Cream sherry is olorosso with sweetener added, or fino as in pale cream. The PX is aged with care and the result is an elegant and velvety sherry.

NEW HOME DESIGN
by Nuria Cerrato

In keeping with the company's policy of providing a comprehensive, integral service to the clients, the management of Miraflores have introduced a brand new interior design and refurbishment department.

This exciting new service means that clients will be able to decorate the interior of their property to their own requirements, specifications and budget. And in addition to help you make the tricky decisions, there will be a wide selection of samples and catalogues to choose from, all made in the comfort of your own home.

Owners will also have the 'peace of mind' in that One Stop Service will oversee all works carried out in your home, so if you are out of the country at the time this will not create any problems.

Nuria Cerrato will be pleased to assist you with any enquiries you may have regarding any changes you wish to make to your home

One Stop Service will also take care of the maintenance and cleaning of your home. Thus ensuring that everything is made ready for your arrival and taking care of your requirements on departure.

One Stop Service Office hours:
Monday- Friday
9.30h -19.00h.

Please do not hesitate to contact our team in the One Stop Service office, located next to the main reception, Club Miraflores.

Tel: + 34 95 293 0102
Fax: + 34 95 293 1543
e-mail: onestopservice@miraflores.com

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