Sherry vinegar facts for kids
Sherry vinegar (called vinagre de Jerez in Spanish) is a special kind of vinegar. It's made from sherry wine. This unique vinegar comes from a specific area in Spain. This area is in the Cádiz province, often called the "sherry triangle." This triangle connects the city of Jerez de la Frontera with the towns of Sanlúcar de Barrameda and El Puerto de Santa María.
To be called vinagre de Jerez, the vinegar must follow strict rules. For example, in the USA, it has to age in American oak barrels for at least six months. It can only be aged within the "sherry triangle." Also, it must have at least 7 degrees of acidity. Many sherry vinegars are aged using a special method called the solera system. This is the same system used for sherry wines and Brandy de Jerez.
The quality and making of sherry vinegar are carefully watched. A group called the Consejo Regulador makes sure the rules are followed. Sherry vinegar even has its own special label, a Denominación de Origen. This label is protected by Spanish and European Union laws. Only a few other vinegars have such protected labels. These include ""Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale"" from Italy and "Condado de Huelva" and "Montilla-Moriles" from Spain.
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How Sherry Vinegar is Aged
Sherry vinegar is aged in wooden barrels. The longer it ages, the more special it becomes. There are different categories based on how long it spends in the wood:
- Vinagre de Jerez: This vinegar is aged for at least 6 months in wood barrels.
- Vinagre de Jerez Reserva: This type is aged for a minimum of 2 years in wood. It has a richer flavor.
- Vinagre de Jerez Gran Reserva: This is a newer and very special category. It means the vinegar has been aged for at least 10 years in wood.
Different Kinds of Sherry Vinegar
The taste and style of sherry vinegar mostly depend on the type of grape used to make the wine.
Palomino Grape Vinegar
Most sherry vinegar is made from wines using the Palomino grape. The wine used can be young or already aged. This gives the vinegar its classic taste.
Pedro Ximénez Grape Vinegar
Vinegars made from the Pedro Ximénez grape are usually sweeter. This is because the wines from this grape are often very sweet. These vinegars might have a sweet, raisin-like smell. Sometimes, Palomino vinegars are made a little sweeter by adding a small amount of Pedro Ximénez wine.
Moscatel Grape Vinegar
A small amount of sherry vinegar is also made from the Moscatel grape. This type offers another unique flavor.
How Sherry Vinegar is Used
Sherry vinegar is a popular ingredient in cooking. It is used a lot in both Spanish and French dishes. In 2008, France was the biggest buyer of sherry vinegar.
Flavorful Dressings
A Vinaigrette made with sherry vinegar tastes especially good. It has a deeper flavor compared to vinaigrettes made with regular wine vinegar. It goes well with many different foods.
Traditional Spanish Dishes
In Jerez de la Frontera, there is a traditional dish called "Riñones al Jerez." This dish uses lamb kidneys with a sauce made from both sherry wine and sherry vinegar.
Enhancing Flavors
The best sherry vinegars have a deep and complex taste. They can make soups, stews, sauces, casseroles, and salad dressings taste even better.
The History of Sherry Vinegar
Vinegar made from sherry has been around for a long time. It dates back to when sherry wine was first made in the Jerez area. For many years, winemakers thought that wine turning into vinegar was a mistake. They called these "failures."
However, starting in the 1950s, winemakers began to see sherry vinegar differently. They realized it could be a valuable product on its own. They even started to encourage its creation and carefully age it, just like their wines and brandies.
Old Barrels and New Discoveries
Barrels that contained vinegar were always quickly moved away from the wine cellars. This was to stop other wine barrels from also turning into vinegar. Barrels that had held vinegar usually couldn't be used for wine again. In the past, this vinegar was often given away to staff or sold cheaply. Some barrels were stored separately and sometimes forgotten. Many of these old vinegars, some over 50 years old, are now being found again and are highly prized.
Images for kids
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A bottle and bowl of sherry vinegar produced in Sanlúcar de Barrameda
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DO Vinagre de Jerez
See also
In Spanish: Denominación de Origen Vinagre de Jerez para niños
