Sherry Manzanilla & Montilla

by Peter Liem, Jesús Barquín

Sherry is one of the world’s great forgotten wines. Immortalized by writers such as Shakespeare and prized by wine connoisseurs of the past, sherry was once considered to be an indispensable element of a well-stocked wine cellar, yet in modern times it has been largely ignored, to the point where it is sometimes forgotten that sherry is even a wine at all. Recent years, however, have seen a resurgent interest in sherry among wine consumers worldwide, particularly when it comes to top-quality dry versions, from fino and manzanilla to oloroso, amontillado or palo cortado.

In this authoritative guide, Peter Liem and Jesús Barquín present a detailed and thorough introduction to these inimitable wines. While they acknowledge sherry’s historical significance and rich tradition, they focus on discussing sherry from a contemporary perspective, describing the vast array of sherry styles and examining the intricate methods of production and aging that shape the wine’s character, as well as offering extensive profiles of sherry bodegas and producers. Also included is a chapter on Montilla, a closely-related Andalusian wine that demonstrates an identity all its own.

Sherry, Manzanilla & Montilla is the first entirely new book on sherry to be published in the United States in over two decades, making it an indispensable resource for anyone seeking to learn more about this remarkable wine.

Genres: Wine

270 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Jim Laughren · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good wine book makes you want to buy, and try, the wines discussed; accordingly, this is a very good wine book. Sherry is a complicated subject covering a "family" of wines from pristinely crisp and dry to rich, sweet and unctuous. Some produced under/with flor and some not. Depending on its particular style, it may be enjoyed as an aperitif, an accompaniment to light soups and salads, an accompaniment to meats and fish and cheeses, and as a marvelous dessert. A traditional wine produced in a most intriguing and traditional manner. If sherry has always seemed a bit remote or confusing this very well written guide is just the ticket. The authors are clearly expert in the subject and passionate about sherry's history and its future. I'm rearranging a future trip to include Jerez right now.

[Rafael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the updated version in Spanish. Wonderful analysis of the history of the fascinating Sherry and Montilla wines and very interesting thoughts on current/future developments. Good balance between the historical, socioeconomic, technical and -as they call it- hedonistic aspects of these wines.
To name one defect, some very niche concepts are discussed without explanation, which gives the lay reader a bit of extra work. Would be nice to add a glossary of terms perhaps.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it. Clear, concise. Made me want to try more Sherry!