Grape Varieties

The rules of the Sherry regulation Board list the following grape varieties as apt for the production of Sherry :
- Palomino Fino:
It has many synonyms: Albán, Albar, Horgazuela, Jerez, Jerez fina, Listán, common Listán, Palomino, Palomino de Chipiona, Palomino de pinchito, etc. Its cultivation in the region can be considered indigenous. It is a white variety. According to various authors, it belongs to the Proles occidentalis. Due to its special qualities it has become the predominant variety in Sherry production. When grown in "albariza" soil it gives rise to high-quality wine with characteristics that are quite specific to the region.
- Pedro Ximénez:
Its main synonyms are: Alamis, Pedro Jiménez, Pedro Ximen, Ximen, Ximénez, etc. It has long been grown in the Sherry region and is a traditional variety in other areas of Andalusia. A white grape that has been classified as belonging to the Ximenencia family within the so-called Prole orentalis, Subprole caspica. It gives sweet wines of high quality which have a fruity flavor and a distinctive aroma which is achieved by leaving the grapes in the sun so they lose some of their moisture. Its thin skin speeds this process.
- Moscatel:
The variety grown in the Sherry region to produce wines of the same name. The Moscatel grown here is called "de Chipiona". Other synonyms are Moscatel de Alejandría, Moscatel gordo, Moscatel de España, etc. It's a universal white variety, to be found in winegrowing areas throughout the world, and was already referred to in the first years of the Christian Era. A native of Africa, it has been classified as a member of the Moscatel family and Prole orientalis, Subprole caspica. It grows best in vineyards close to the sea.