Gonzalez Byass "Tio Pepe" Fino Sherry

£10.80
Tasting notes
Tangy, nutty with a long, balanced finish. Ideal with olives and nuts, tapas and Manchego.

Why we recommend this wine
The quintessential Fino, what more does one need?

The wine
Made from Palomino grapes which are gently pressed without crushing the stems, seeds, or skin; this first light pressing, is called "yema.". After fermentation, the wine is aged following the solera system; during this period the wine undergoes biological aging under a layer of yeast called ''flor," which gives Tio Pepe is distinct color, aroma, and character. Fino sherry must be served chilled, at between 7 and 9ºC.

The wine estate
Gonzalez Byass is a family-owned business founded 8 generations ago by the Gonzalez family in Spain and soon joined by Byass family in the UK. From small beginnings they now have over 4,000 hectares of vineyards spread all over Spain and six wineries.
gonzalezbyassuk.com/our-brands/tio-pepe/

Food and wine
Fino sherry has tons of acid so goes really well with rich and fatty foods – fish (think sushi and mackerel especially, cold meats, tapas and hard cheeses. Also see our guide to pairing food and wine here.

Did you know?
Flor is a thin layer of yeast cells that forms on top of sherry wines. It is a kind of ivory coloured, wrinkled, waxy foam, up to two centimeters thick, that protects the wine from air contact. Flor starts to develop on these base wines almost immediately after fermentation – the indigenous yeasts are present in the Andalusian air so it is simply the natural way of winemaking in this region. To enable the flor to grow the barrels are only filled to four-fifths of their capacity.