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 I am very pleased that there are more new importers of Sherries that are now offering a greater variety of Sherries. This is important because Sherry is the most varied in terms of styles wine in the world. From Spanish tapas to Japanese food, as featured in our last Sherry Wine Association Taiwan dinner, to the spicy Szechuan Cuisine featured in our Sherry Wine Association China dinner in Shanghai, there's a perfect Sherry to embellish you meal. Its also no secrete that a Manzanilla or Fino are ideal aperitifs while a good cream, sweet or super sweet Pedro Ximenez are the perfect after dinner drinks to help one digest while contemplating the beauty of these sophisticate wines. Contact these importers so you can offer your customers, as well as yourself, one of the world's greatest wines ~ Sherry!
John H. Isacs - CEO of EnjoyGourmet Digital & Print Media
/Founder of Sherry Wine Association - Greater China |
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Greetings from Sherry Lovers
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 Because of Sanmao’s Spanish husband and the instinct nose of Shaoxing wine, Sherries are neither strangers nor friends yet to us. The catalog of Sherries going to fortified wines makes people lose courage to get along with them. Liquor and dessert wine lovers eliminate Sherries for sure. Those are worldwide known Sherries — a kind of wines men should have once, said Napoleon.
Sherries actually aren’t people’s first choice. Once you find out the chocolate and mature fruit smell with a little bit mysterious floral aroma of Sherries; however, you’ll know what a perfect match is between Chinese cuisine and Sherries. For the first time I took part in Sherry Wine Association Dinner, I suddenly realized the surprising taste and long-lived finish of Sherries……The love of autumn is quiet a suitable image for Sherries.
Jessica Yuan - Marketing Director of Drinks Wines & Spirits Co., Ltd.
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Sherry News
Sharing a Passion |
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 The Sherry education programs developed by the Consejo Regulador have become an important platform for the dissemination of Sherry culture both in Spain and in international markets. So far more than 12,000 people have taken part in an intensive program of promotional activities which, through seminars, tastings, courses and workshops, are contributing to igniting the passion for Sherry around the world.
In a saturated world wine market, in which we see the emergence of new brands and wine producing areas nearly every day, consumers with a keen interest in wine culture may be surprised when they discover the intangible values of Sherry. Few wines in the world have the uniqueness and high quality of a Sherry. Behind every glass of Sherry there is a history which can be traced back to the arrival of the Phoenicians in the Peninsula. Sherry is a byword for a world-renowned wine culture which is undergoing a constant process of development; and architecture which has defined a matchless style; a centuries-old wine making tradition which has been passed down from generation to generation with the aim of producing a wine with a truly unique character. This is the background information which the Consejo has chosen to disseminate in an exciting and informative manner through a program of activities which are being received with much interest an enthusiasm by the target public.
The main aim of the education project developed by the Consejo Regulador is disseminating the culture of Sherry and Manzanilla worldwide and furthering the knowledge and understanding of our Denominations of Origin. After just two years in operation, more than 12,000 people have received training through a program consisting of more than 200 seminars and activities. The project has been specifically devised for opinion-makers, trendsetters and various professional groups associated with the Sherry world: hoteliers and people working in the tourism sector; restaurateur chefs and sommeliers; university students and professors; liberal professionals (doctors, engineers, etc.); specialized journalists; wine and food critics; writers… both from Spain and from countries with a long-standing tradition of Sherry consumption (the United Kingdom, Germany, Holland) and others with potential expansion opportunities (Japan, China, South Africa, Canada, the United States).
Although the target public of this ambitious project is broad, activities are especially aimed at individuals and tourists who have a special interest in the Denomination of Origin itself. Thus, some 2,000 people have already taken part in the “Saturday tasting sessions” which are held at the Casa del Vino in collaboration with the bodegas of the wine producing area of Jerez. The tastings, which have been a resounding success, are also giving the local population the opportunity to discover their own wines.
The program also includes a series of seminars which are especially aimed at leading wine experts and opinion makers and will certify them as “Sherry Educators”. Thus, the “Sherry Academy” program which includes a wide range of training and dissemination activities has become one of the key elements of an intense promotional strategy developed by the Consejo to further the knowledge and appreciation of Sherry across the world.
Sherry Educators
The members of the “dream team” who have been already been awarded the official title of Sherry Educators by the Consejo Regulador are wine specialists, critics, lecturers, professors, and opinion makers from Spain and other countries in which Sherry has a strong presence. The task of these Sherry Educators is to multiply the effects of the program of promotional activities developed by the Consejo to further the promotion of Sherry culture.
Official Venenciadores
The official diploma awarded by the Consejo aims not only at certifying that official Sherry ‘venenciadores’ have the skills required to serve a Sherry but also at guaranteeing that they have a sound knowledge about essential aspects of the wines produced in the Area of Jerez. Thus, the modern day ‘venenciadores’ become true Sherry ambassadors to the world and are regarded as master sommeliers. The title has an international character and is becoming increasingly prestigious in Japan, where there are more than fifty officially approved venenciadores.
Bodega Guides
One of the most important challenges of the sector is strengthening oenological tourism and to achieve this target it is necessary to develop programs that train the personnel involved in this type of activity. In line with this objective, the Bodega Guide title has been specifically created to certify that guides have a comprehensive knowledge of Sherry culture and good communication skills to convey the information to the hundreds of thousands of people who visit the bodegas and information centers every year.
Public Tasting Events
Despite that fact that in recent months the promotion of Sherry culture internationally has been the main focus of its strategy, the Consejo has not overlooked the importance of developing promotional campaigns at a local level. A clear sign of this are the public tasting events which the Consejo is hosting on the first Saturday of every month. The tastings are held at the organization’s head offices in collaboration with the bodegas of the Denomination of Origin.
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Sherry Wine Association Activities
Delicious Trio — Sherry, Whisky & Thai Cuisine
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 As the weather gets cooler, it is a warm enjoyment to have Sherry or Whisky at dinner! On October 23rd Sherry Wine Association and DIAGEO held a wine dinner at Grand Patio Thai Restaurant. Served with Thai food, Sherry wine shows its diversified styles and pairing versatility. Meantime, single malt Whisky is the best-ever co-leading role. The complex Sherries, intense Whiskies and spicy Thai dishes would be an innovative trio of deliciousness. The happy smile on everybody’s face could tell how successful the wine dinner was.
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Sherry Wine Association Activities
When Sichuan Food Meets Sherry Wine
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 On the evening of October 15th, interested wine lovers gathered at "Chuan Guo Yan Yi" on Xujahui Road, Shanghai. Some of them are curious about Sherry wine itself; while the others are curious about its pairing with Sichuan food.
Guests at the October banquet of the Sherry Wine Association - Greater China (Shanghai) included Manuel León, Director para China / Country Manager of Andalucia, Spain Business Development Unit, Shanghai, Isabel Xie, editor-in-chief of FT Rui magazine, Shanghai and South China, Cici Chan, senior editor of Hotel-Yummy magazine, Philip Wang, CEO of Shanghai International Wine Center, etc. In addition, two representatives of Spanish bodegas attended the events. One is Francisco de Borja MartÍon Garrido, Area Manager of WILLIAMS & HUMBERT; the other is Stefan Fleischer, Greater China Representative of GARVEY GROUP. Borja, who was born and bred in Jerez, told interesting stories about Sherry wine. And Stefan, who speaks good Chinese, explained diversified styles of Sherry wine.
During the banquet, each guest got a score sheet. According to preference, they could score the Sherry wines as well as the food and wine pairings — a helpful way to learn about Sherry wine’s marketing tendency and pairing versatility. The wines selected that night included Harveys Fino from BEAM GLOBAL ESPAÑA, La Gitana Manzanilla from BODEGAS HIDALGO, Sacromonte Amontillado, Prune Medium from BODEGAS VALDIVIA, Dry Sack Medium Dry, Canasta Cream from BODEGAS WILLIAMS & HUMBERT and Pedro Ximenez from EL CANADADO. The most popular ones among them are from WILLIAMS & HUMBERT. With a taster similar to Shaoxing wine, the two semi-sweet Sherry wines are more delicate and concentrated. They are lovely to be served whether alone or with food. The NO 1 food and wine pairing went to Smoked Duck with Tea Leaves & Spices VS Sacromonte Amontillado. The similar styles of the food and wine led to a complex flavor.
All the guests felt surprised at the diversified styles and pairing versatility of Sherry wine. Borja pointed out that a lot of premium Scotland Whiskies are aged by using Sherry barrels. Whisky connoisseurs must be interested in Sherry wine, and they can be potential consumers.
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Word of the Month
Fortified Wines |
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Fortified wines are grape wines that have alcohol added to them to stop the fermentation process and make them higher in alcohol (15~22%); therefore better able to travel or be shipped. Sherry is a type of fortified wine. |
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Food & Wine Matching
Grilled Water Bamboo Served with Asian Spicy Sauce |
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 What do we get when we pair an excellent cream like the Santa Maria Cream from Osborne with a spicy Asian bamboo dish? The answer is: pure gourmet bliss, an excellent example of true culinary synergy. Attendees at the 6th Taiwan Sherry Wine Association dinner experienced this lovely duo first hand and gave it the highest marks of any food and wine paring that evening. The sophisticated soothing sweetness of the Cream Sherry was the perfect offset to the spiciness of the Asian sauce, while the alcohol in the wine distinguished the unique snappy texture of the water bamboo. The clean finish of the Sherry also prepared the palate for the next bite of this savory dish.
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Wine Notes
Beam Global Espana-Harveys Fino |
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Wine Notes
Beam Global Espana-Harveys Bristol Cream |
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Wine Notes
Osborne, Santa Maria Cream |
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Founder's Message
Region：Jerez-Xérès-Sherry DO
Region：Jerez-Xérès-Sherry DO
Region：El Puerto de Santa María, Spain