Manzanilla is a fortified wine similar to fino

sherry Sherry ( ) is a fortified wine produced from white grapes grown around the city of Jerez de la Frontera in Andalusia, Spain. Sherry is a drink produced in a variety of styles made primarily from the Palomino grape, ranging from light versio ...

made in the port of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, in the

province of Cádiz Cádiz is a Provinces of Spain, province of southern Spain, in the southwestern part of the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia. It is the southernmost part of mainland Spain, as well as the southernmost part of ...

Andalusia Andalusia ( , ; , ) is the southernmost autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in Peninsular Spain, located in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, in southwestern Europe. It is the most populous and the second-largest autonomou ...

(

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

), and is produced under the Spanish Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) of Manzanilla-Sanlúcar de Barrameda DOP. In

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

, a

chamomile Chamomile (American English) or camomile (British English; see spelling differences) ( or ) is the common name for several plants of the family Asteraceae. Two of the species, '' Matricaria chamomilla'' and '' Chamaemelum nobile'', are commo ...

infusion Infusion is the process of extracting chemical compounds or flavors from plant material in a solvent such as water, oil or alcohol, by allowing the material to remain suspended in the solvent over time (a process often called steeping). An inf ...

is called "manzanilla"—this wine gets its name because the wine's aroma is said to be reminiscent of such an infusion. Manzanilla is manufactured using the same methods as a fino sherry and results in a very pale, dry wine. It is often described as having a savoury and salty flavour, believed to develop from the chalky soil near the sea estuary of the

Guadalquivir The Guadalquivir (, also , , ) is the fifth-longest river in the Iberian Peninsula and the second-longest river with its entire length in Spain. The Guadalquivir is the only major navigable river in Spain. Currently it is navigable from Seville ...

river. Sanlúcar de Barrameda's cool temperatures and high humidity contribute to a higher yield of flor

yeast Yeasts are eukaryotic, single-celled microorganisms classified as members of the fungus kingdom (biology), kingdom. The first yeast originated hundreds of millions of years ago, and at least 1,500 species are currently recognized. They are est ...

than in Jerez or

El Puerto de Santa María El Puerto de Santa María (), locally known as El Puerto and historically in English as Port Saint Mary, is a Municipalities in Spain, municipality of Spain located on the banks of the Guadalete River in the province of Cádiz, Andalusia. , the c ...

. The thicker cap of flor better protects the wine from contact with the air, resulting in a fresher, more delicate flavour than a fino from Jerez. It is typically aged for three to five years in a solera, but some types may be aged longer.

Special types of Manzanilla

* ''Manzanilla Pasada'' is a Manzanilla aged longer than usual (approximately seven years), so that its veil of flor begins to fade, though not long enough to become an

Amontillado Amontillado () is a variety of sherry wine characterised by being darker than fino sherry, but lighter than oloroso sherry. Amontillado wine is named after the Montilla municipality, in Andalusia, Spain, where the style of sherry originated in th ...

. * ''Manzanilla Amontillada'' is similar to a Manzanilla pasada but in some cases aged as long as 12 years, taking on more of the qualities of an Amontillado. * ''Manzanilla Olorosa'' is a rich form of Manzanilla that takes on the quality of

Oloroso Oloroso ("scented" in English language, English) is a variety of fortified wine (sherry) made in Jerez de la Frontera, Jerez and Montilla-Moriles and produced by oxidative Aging of wine, aging. It is normally darker than Amontillado. Oloroso is us ...

through extended aging, sometimes as much as 30 years. * Jerez Cortado is a ''Palo Cortado'' made from Manzanilla. On 12 April 2012, the rules applicable to the sweet and fortified Denominations of Origen

Montilla-Moriles Montilla-Moriles is a Spanish Denominación de Origen, Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) for wines located in the southern part of the province of Province of Córdoba (Spain), Córdoba (Andalusia, Spain). It is bounded by the river Genil t ...

and Jerez-Xérès-

Sherry Sherry ( ) is a fortified wine produced from white grapes grown around the city of Jerez de la Frontera in Andalusia, Spain. Sherry is a drink produced in a variety of styles made primarily from the Palomino grape, ranging from light versio ...

were changed.Boletín Oficial de la Junta de Andalucía (BOJA) Página núm. 52 BOJA núm. 71 Sevilla, 12 de abril 2012. The Andalusia Government Official Bulletin no. 71, p. 5
/ref> The classification by sweetness is:

Authorised grape varieties

The authorised grape varieties are the same as those of Jerez-Xérès-Sherry DOP: * White:

Palomino Palomino is a equine coat color, genetic color in horses, consisting of a gold coat and white mane (horse), mane and tail; the degree of whiteness can vary from bright white to yellow. The palomino color derived from the breeding of Spanish hor ...

, Pedro Ximénez, Moscatel de Grano Menudo, and Moscatel de Alejandría

Serving

Manzanilla is best served chilled at . In Spain it is often served with olives, almonds, or other

tapas Tapas () are appetisers or snacks in Spanish cuisine. They can be combined to make a full meal and are served cold (such as mixed olives and cheese) or hot (such as , which are battered, fried baby squid; or , spicy potatoes). In some bars ...

such as Jamón serrano or seafood. It is also popular in the cocktail Rebujito.

Storing

Like fino, manzanilla is a delicate form of sherry and should be drunk within a year of bottling. Once opened it will immediately begin to deteriorate and should be drunk in one sitting for the best results. If necessary it can be stored, corked and refrigerated, for up to one week after opening.

In popular culture

The 1875 French opera

Carmen ''Carmen'' () is an opera in four acts by the French composer Georges Bizet. The libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée. The opera was first performed by the O ...

Georges Bizet Georges Bizet (; 25 October 18383 June 1875) was a French composer of the Romantic music, Romantic era. Best known for his operas in a career cut short by his early death, Bizet achieved few successes before his final work, ''Carmen'', w ...

features a well-known aria, 'Près des remparts de Séville', in which the titular character, after being detained, seduces the guard assigned to her into freeing her by promising that they will visit her friend's tavern where they will dance and drink manzanilla. Part of a scene in chapter 4 of the 2018 movie Life Itself, where the character of Antonio Anderas offers the drink to one of his employees.

References

External links

Jerez-Xérès-Sherry and Manzanilla DOP official website
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