When the holidays roll around, sherry comes to mind. It is festive, often sweet and pairs well with things like pumpkin and pecan pies. There's no reason to relegate sherry to
only the the holiday season, but it seems to be a little more welcome at this time.
In fact, International Sherry Week begins today, November 8, 2021. It's the perfect excuse to get to know Sherry better. There are so many styles of sherry from which to choose and so many pairings, especially at Thanksgiving, that maybe you could use a little help. The folks at Gonzalez Byass - Spain's most well-known sherry producer - suggest a few ways to enjoy sherry in its different forms, with pie.
Apple Pie with Gonzalez Byass Alfonso Oloroso
This sherry is produced from 100% Palomino grapes and is significantly drier than Apple Pie, but the toasty flavors pair nicely with the sugar to provide a contrasting taste that is not cloying. The nutty character of the Alfonso pairs perfectly with the cinnamon and clove spices of the Apple Pie. 18% abv, $17
Pecan Pie with Harveys The Bristol Cream This sherry is produced from a blend of 80% Palomino and 20% Pedro Ximénez grapes. Its semi-sweet, velvety character enhances the nuttiness in both the pie and the Sherry. 17.5% abv, $20
Texas Two Step (a pecan and chocolate brownie pie) with Gonzalez Byass Solera 1847 Cream
This sherry is produced from a blend of 75% Palomino and 25% Pedro Ximénez grapes. It adds a touch of sweetness and pairs nicely with the nuttiness and the not-too-sweet chocolate in this pie. 18% abv, $17
Cherry Pie with Gonzalez Byass Néctar Pedro Ximenez
This sherry is produced from 100% Pedro Ximénez grapes. It brings with it aromas of candied fruit, figs and raisins and offers a good contrast to the tart cherry flavors of the pie. 15% abv, $17
Harveys the Bristol Cream has been billing itself that way since 1882, when wine merchant John Harvey was importing what was known as Bristol milk, named after the British port city through which it passed on its way from Jerez, Spain. It's a sherry, not a liqueur, and it is the only Spanish product with a Royal Warrant from the Queen of England, which was issued in 1895.
This sherry is a blend of four different sherries from the solera, the racks of barrels where sherry is aged for up to two decades. The four sherries used in Harveys Bristol Cream - Fino, Amontillado, Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez - are of different ages, all made from 80% Palomino grapes and 20% Pedro Ximénez, in the home of sherry, Jerez, Spain.
The company advises you to serve The Bristol Cream "chilled or over ice in a wine glass with a slice of orange." The iconic blue glass bottle now has one of those labels with a logo that turns blue when the perfect serving temperature is reached. It carries an alcohol content of 17.5% abv and retails for about $20. As you can see by the picture, I had mine at room temperature - no blue letters.
This sherry has a gorgeous chestnut brown color and an aromatic nose for days. Raisins, brown sugar, dried apricots. It's all on the palate, too - complex in an easy-to-understand way. The sip is smooth but the acidity is quite useful if you want to pair it with food. Try it with banana nut bread, ginger snaps or pumpkin pie. By the way, the finish won't stop.
