One of our most recognized gourmet products, coming from one of the most traditional wines in Spain, Jerez wine.
What is vinegar?
Vinegar is an acidic liquid that is used as a "seasoning." It is obtained by the action of bacteria of the genus Acetobacter that, in the presence of air, oxidize the ethanol contained in wine, other fermented alcoholic beverages, into acetic acid.
Its name derives from the French "sour wine"(sour wine).
Not all vinegars are the same
To choose the vinegar that best suits your dish, I am going to tell you about one of the most appreciated vinegars: Sherry Vinegar.
How is sherry vinegar made?
The place where these vinegars are made is known as Marco de Jerez, and it is the same area of origin of the excellent Sherry Wines.
The Sherry Vinegar is aged following the same and genuine method of the Sherry Wines, the traditional system of criaderas and solera. This method is based on a prolonged aging process that sometimes exceeds 10 or 20 years and that explains the complexity of these vinegars.
How does this method work?
The criaderas y solera system is a system of barrels placed in rows one above the other, with the row located at ground level containing the oldest vinegars, and the highest row containing the newest vinegars.
We can explain it in 3 steps:
- Step 1: to be bottled, the vinegar is extracted exclusively from the solera (row of barrels located at ground level) which is the one that contains the oldest vinegars.
- Step 2: the quantity that is bottled from the solera, is replaced by younger vinegar from the immediately superior row or first criadera.
- Step 3: the same operation to replace the vinegar that we have extracted is produced in the second row or second hatchery, with the vinegar from the immediately higher row (the third hatchery) and so on.
This same operation is repeated with the vinegar contained in the third row of barrels, the second criadera, and so on.
En Made in Spain, you can try this exclusive product with characteristics that will surprise you, both in aroma and in the mouth.
For example, him Sherry Vinegar with Pedro Ximénez Reserva de Bodegas Lustau aged in American oak casks following the Solera y Criaderas System. Later, it is mixed with Pedro Ximénez, which gives it a touch of sweetness and elegance. The flooring only consists of 5 boots.
It has a dark mahogany color, with iodized notes typical of its old age. Aromatic and very strong, with notes of oak. Elegant, smooth and slightly sweet.
A vinegar appreciated by chefs around the world for its uniqueness and quality.
Or the Vinegar with Pedro Ximénez 12 years from Sotaroni. A magnificent and exclusive vinegar, which after resting in American oak barrels, obtains the perfect balance between the acidity of vinegar, the sweetness of Pedro Ximénez and the aromas of white vinegar. The notes of aged wine and caramel allow it to appear in the best salads that you can prepare to enjoy alone or with the family.
AUTHOR: Ana Gómez, graduate in Chemistry, Biochemistry and WSET3 sommelier. CEO of Perfectanino.
