Sherry vinegar has become, in recent years, one of the most appreciated condiments in the Mediterranean diet due to its great flavor, its properties and the enormous prestige of a Designation of Origin, the D.O. Sherry vinegar, which has crossed borders. Thus, JRSabater produces and bottles sherry vinegar, aged in oak casks through criaderas and soleras, which reaches countries around the world; Today we show you what sherry vinegar consists of, its characteristics, its production process and the types on the market.
What is sherry vinegar?
Sherry vinegar is a Mediterranean condiment made from sherry wines through the fermentation of acetic bacteria over a hydroalcoholic solution. Thus, Sherry vinegar comes from a wine characterized by a great variety of nuances from the Jerez lands bathed by the Atlantic Ocean, where the grapes enjoy a unique microclimate with winds that give the future Sherry vinegar strength and extraordinary flavor.
How is sherry vinegar made and bottled?
Sherry vinegar is made following the criaderas and soleras aging system that is similar to how sherry wines are aged, which provides an indescribable flavor on our palate. Sherry vinegar located at the bottom of a system of barrels in a row, known as soleras, is the oldest vinegar, containing infinite mixtures from the first vinegars that were introduced into the barrel, managing to maintain the quality of homogeneously in each bottling.
As vinegar is taken from the soleras, the barrels immediately above feed vinegar to the lower scale, so that the highest criadera is renewed with new Sherry Vinegar, or with Sherry wine. This unique system allows you to create a Sherry vinegar with a lot of flavor, aromas and different nuances.
What types of sherry vinegars exist?
Currently there are five different Sherry vinegars, classified according to their years in barrel, their characteristics and flavor. Therefore, we have the following Sherry vinegars:
- Sherry vinegar: aged between six and two years of aging, with an intense amber color and mahogany tones. On the nose, the Sherry vinegar offers nuances of dried fruits and touches of the wood of the barrels in which it is aged. Sherry vinegar is especially suitable for reductions, sauces and pickles.
- Sherry Vinegar Reserve: aged between two and ten years, it offers an intense mahogany color and hints of amber. Sherry Reserva Vinegar has an acidic and dry flavor combined with hints of vanilla, nuts and wood with hints of Sherry wine, making it perfect for cold soups and dressings.
- Gran Reserva Sherry Vinegar: aged more than 10 years, mahogany in color and with intense flavor and acidity, in the mouth it is round and balanced with its notes of nuts and spices. Gran Reserva Sherry vinegar is ideal for salmorejos, vegetables and Mediterranean salads.
- Pedro Ximénez Sherry Vinegar: aged for at least six months, it is a dark mahogany-colored vinegar with touches similar to raisins, roasted coffee or licorice. Pedro Ximénez Sherry Vinegar is the ideal vinegar for meats, salads and desserts.
- Muscat Sherry Vinegar: Aged, like Pedro Ximénez Sherry Vinegar, for at least six months, it has an intense mahogany color and a great smell of raisins that give it an unparalleled sweetness and texture. Muscat sherry vinegar is ideal for salads and dressings that combine fruits and citrus.
JRSABATER, a lifetime dedicated to Sherry vinegar
With more than fifty years behind us dedicated to packaging wine vinegar, 2004 would be the date on which we would unify our efforts to begin the aging of vinegars with the Jerez Designation of Origin in the Manufacturing and Bottling Plant in Jerez de la Frontera . For this reason, JRSABATER offers you the best of the Mediterranean diet with Sherry vinegars made with the artisan care of a lifetime dedicated to improving the diet and health of our clients.