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The Consejo Regulador in Jerez has decided on the most extensive changes to the production rules for sherry in 50 years. Thus, the acreage of the DO Jerez/Xérèz/Sherry and DO Manzanilla de Sanlúcar Barrameda appellations will be increased and the regulations will be opened up for six white grape varieties from the time before the phylloxera plague: Beba, Cañocazo, Mantúo Castellano, Mantúo de Pilas, Perruno and Vigiriega. In the future, there will also be an updated and much more extensive map of the special vineyards, the so-called Pagos of Jerez.
In addition, there are important changes in the classification: The designation Viñedos de Jerez Superior is now available for all areas of the DO and no longer only for Jerez, El Puerto, Sanlúcar and Trebujena. In addition, the new category "Fino Viejo" was created for sherries with at least seven years of ageing, and the Manzanilla Pasada must now also have at least seven years of ageing. In sherry production, it is no longer necessary to fortify wines if they reach the required alcohol content naturally during fermentation. This means that wines that have not been fortified now also receive DO recognition.
President of the Consejo Regulador César Saldaña described the innovations as "a big step" for sherry production to differentiate between the "qualities of these exciting wines and get closer to consumers looking for a product with added value."
(ru / Source: Drinksbusiness; Photo: Pixabay)