10 Facts about the Sherry vineyard

1. Cruel summer

The Sherry Triangle is in a hot, dry corner of south west Spain, and the summer heat is fierce.  Despite this, irrigation of the sherry vineyard is forbidden at any time of the year.  The only water that is available to the vineyard is rain; something in relatively short supply.

2. Albariza to the rescue

The vineyards in the Sherry Triangle (except for the Moscatel vineyards near the coast) are on a type of soil called Albariza.  This bright white crumbly soil has high proportions of calcium carbonate and a highly porous structure thanks to the millions of diatomic marine fossils it contains.  It soaks rain water up like a sponge, and then the sun bakes the surface into a hard crust which locks the water inside so it can’t evaporate.  Because it’s so crumbly, the roots can penetrate it easily, often travelling for many metres.  This means the roots can access precious water during the dry growing season.

3. Location, location, location

The vineyard areas of the Sherry Triangle are divided into different zones, known as ‘Pagos’.  Some of the better known pagos include Macharnudo, Carrascal, Añina and Balbaina. Each pago has different climate, aspect, geographical and soil characteristics which contribute to the quality and character of the grapes.  For instance, there’s been a recent debate about whether the pagos nearer the sea create saltier grapes and whether this might be responsible for some of Manzanilla’s salty character.  Some sherries specify which pagos their grapes originate from on the label.

4. Trapping every drop of rainwater

Since irrigation is forbidden, it’s vital that every drop of rain that falls is captured in the albariza soil.  Rain falls in the autumn and winter, often in short but torrential downpours.  To catch all the water, the soil between the rows of vines is dug into small square troughs that the water can collect in.  This process – known as ‘aserpiado’ – minimises run-off and gives the soil chance to soak up all the rain that falls.  At the end of the rainy season, the soil is flattened again. 

5. Vigorous vines

A good sherry harvest needs vigorous vines in their absolute prime.  Therefore, unlike some winemaking regions, vineyards in the Sherry Triangle don’t retain ‘old vines’.  Vines are usually replaced every 30-35 years, on a rotation basis.  When old vines are removed, the land is rested for two years before the new vines are planted.  The new vines become productive about three to four years after planting.