1923 Harry of Ciro's ABC of mixing cocktails (second impression)

SHERRY.

Sherry as known in England is a blended wine in the sense that it is ravely shipped as a single vintage wine, and perhaps in no other wine has the science o£ blending been carried to a higher state of per fection. Shipments are prepared according to the parti cular requirements of customers by blending wines from different " Soleras." " Soleras " are standardised wines of different types, but kept absolutely uniform in their various styles from year to year. They are kept in the Bodegas at Jerez, in the south of Spain, and form the foundation on which the shipper makes his blends for export. As he draws on them, so he replenishes them year by year, and in doing so it is vital to his business to preserve continuity of style and quality in his various " Soleras." It will thus be seen that " Soleras " are themselves the result of highly scientific and judicious blending year by year from carefully selected wines of various vintages reserved by the shippers for that purpose. At vintage time, which is generally in September, the grapes are picked and crushed. Fermentation sets in, and when completed the young wine is drawn off into fresh casks. Some few months after the vintage the young wine will fall bright, when expert tasters diagnose the characteristics of the different casks and apportion the necessary amount of Brandy to each cask. The wine is then left to