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| {{short description|Sherry originating in Spain}} | |||
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| {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2015}} | |||
| '''Amontillado''' is a variety of ] that is darker than ] but lighter than ]. | |||
| ] | |||
| '''Amontillado''' ({{IPA|es|amontiˈʎaðo}}) is a variety of ] wine characterised by being darker than ] sherry, but lighter than ] sherry. Amontillado wine is named after the ] municipality, in Andalusia, ], where the style of sherry originated in the 18th century; commercially, the name "Amontillado" is used as a measure of colour to label any style of sherry that lay between the categories of ''fino'' and ''oloroso''. In American literature, Amontillado sherry features in the title of the short story "]" (1846), by ]. | |||
| An Amontillado sherry begins as a fino, ] to approximately 15.5% ] with a cap of ] ] limiting its exposure to the air. A cask of fino is considered to be amontillado if the layer of flor fails to develop adequately, is intentionally killed by additional fortification, or is allowed to die off through non-replenishment. Without the layer of flor, amontillado must be fortified to approximately 17.5% alcohol so that it does not oxidise too quickly. After the additional fortification, Amontillado oxidises slowly, exposed to oxygen through the slightly porous American or Canadian ] casks, and gains a darker colour and richer flavour than fino. | |||
| Amontillado is characterized by nutty aromas, tobacco, aromatic herbs and often sturdy, polished notes of oak. The fusion of two different ageing processes gives Amontillado wines a specific flavour.<ref></ref> | |||
| The Amontillado name is sometimes used commercially as a simple measure of colour to label any sherry lying between a fino and an oloroso. | |||
| == Varieties == | == Varieties == | ||
| Amontillado can be produced in several different manners. A ''fino amontillado'' is a wine that has begun the transformation from a fino to an amontillado, but has not been aged long enough to complete the process. ''Amontillado del puerto'' is an amontillado made in ]. Naturally dry, they are sometimes sold lightly to medium sweetened but these can no longer be labelled as amontillado. On 12 April 2012, the rules applicable to the sweet and fortified denominations of origin ] and Jerez-Xérès-]<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511012129/http://www.sherry.org/documentacion/Pliego%20de%20Condiciones%20Jerez%20301111.pdf |date=11 May 2013 }}.</ref> were changed to prohibit sweet amontillado. They have to be labelled as Medium Sherry: blend of Amontillado or suchlike.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/boja/boletines/2012/71/d/updf/d17.pdf |title=Boletín Oficial de la Junta de Andalucía (BOJA) |number=71 |page=52 |date=12 April 2012}}</ref> | |||
| * '''Fino Amontillado''' is a wine that has begun the transformation from fino to amontillado, but is not aged long enough to complete the change. | |||
| * '''Amontillado del Puerto''' is an amontillado made in ]. | |||
| The classification by sweetness is: | |||
| * '''Medium Sherry''' is a sweetened amontillado. | |||
| {| class="wikitable" | |||
| !Fortified wine type!!Alcohol % (]) !!Sugar content,<br>grams per liter | |||
| |- | |||
| |Amontillado||16–17||0–5 | |||
| |- | |||
| |Medium||15–22||5–115 | |||
| |- | |||
| |} | |||
| == Serving == | == Serving == | ||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
| Amontillado may be served as an ] |
Amontillado is usually served slightly chilled and may be served either as an ] or as an accompaniment to food such as chicken or rabbit. Classically it was served with a fine, or thin, soup, such as a beef ]. | ||
| ==Storing== | ==Storing== | ||
| Due to its oxidative aging and preparation, amontillado is more stable than fino and may be stored for a few years before opening. After opening, it can be kept, corked and refrigerated |
Due to its oxidative aging and preparation, amontillado is more stable than fino and may be stored for a few years before opening. After opening, it can be kept for up to two months, if corked and refrigerated.<ref></ref> | ||
| ==In popular culture == | |||
| Amontillado is almost solely known outside of wine circles for its use in the title of ]'s short story, "]";<ref>{{Cite news|last = Poe|first = Edgar|author-link = Edgar Allan Poe|title = ]|newspaper = ]|year = 1846|postscript = .}}</ref> however, it has also featured in such notable places as ]'s '']''<ref>{{cite book|last = Dinesen|first = Isak|authorlink = Karen Blixen|title = Anecdotes of Destiny|publisher = Random House|date = 1958|location = New York}}</ref>, as well as in ] '']'' novel series.<ref>{{cite book|last = Bova|first = Ben|authorlink = Ben Bova|title = Mars|publisher = Bantam Books|date = 1992|location = New York|isbn = 0553078925}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last = Bova|first = Ben|authorlink = Ben Bova|title = ]|publisher = Bantam Books|date = 1992|location = New York|isbn = 0-812-57940-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last = Bova|first = Ben|authorlink = Ben Bova|title = Mars Life|publisher = Bantam Books|date = 1992|location = New York|isbn = 0765317877}}</ref> | |||
| An album called '']'' by the group ], based on the works of ], features song "]", based on the Poe's short story of the same name. | |||
| Lou Reed wrote a song titled "The Cask", on the second disk of his 2003 album ''The Raven''. The song is also based on Edgar Allan Poe's short story. Also, the band "Palm" from Portland, OR, wrote a song title "Pictish Heather Ale" about the same story, available at http://www.myspace.com/palmband. | |||
| In the movie ''Babette's Feast'', an amontillado is served at the great dinner served by Babette, paired with turtle soup. The character of General Lorens Löwenhielm comments on the wonders of the drink poured for him. | |||
| Episode 36 of ] features a vicar who is obsessed with sherry, specifically amontillado. It ends with a group of traditionally-dressed Spanish musicians singing a song praising amontillado. | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
| ==Further reading== | |||
| {{cite book|author=Julian Jeffs|title=Sherry|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w5mDtxWbpaEC|accessdate=August 25, 2011|edition=5th rev.|date=September 1, 2004|publisher=Mitchell Beazley|location=London|isbn=978-1-84000-923-1}} | |||
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Latest revision as of 00:33, 26 September 2024
Sherry originating in Spain
Amontillado (Spanish pronunciation: [amontiˈʎaðo]) 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 the 18th century; commercially, the name "Amontillado" is used as a measure of colour to label any style of sherry that lay between the categories of fino and oloroso. In American literature, Amontillado sherry features in the title of the short story "The Cask of Amontillado" (1846), by Edgar Allan Poe.
An Amontillado sherry begins as a fino, fortified to approximately 15.5% alcohol with a cap of flor yeast limiting its exposure to the air. A cask of fino is considered to be amontillado if the layer of flor fails to develop adequately, is intentionally killed by additional fortification, or is allowed to die off through non-replenishment. Without the layer of flor, amontillado must be fortified to approximately 17.5% alcohol so that it does not oxidise too quickly. After the additional fortification, Amontillado oxidises slowly, exposed to oxygen through the slightly porous American or Canadian oak casks, and gains a darker colour and richer flavour than fino.
Amontillado is characterized by nutty aromas, tobacco, aromatic herbs and often sturdy, polished notes of oak. The fusion of two different ageing processes gives Amontillado wines a specific flavour.
Varieties
Amontillado can be produced in several different manners. A fino amontillado is a wine that has begun the transformation from a fino to an amontillado, but has not been aged long enough to complete the process. Amontillado del puerto is an amontillado made in El Puerto de Santa María. Naturally dry, they are sometimes sold lightly to medium sweetened but these can no longer be labelled as amontillado. On 12 April 2012, the rules applicable to the sweet and fortified denominations of origin Montilla-Moriles and Jerez-Xérès-Sherry were changed to prohibit sweet amontillado. They have to be labelled as Medium Sherry: blend of Amontillado or suchlike.
The classification by sweetness is:
| Fortified wine type | Alcohol % (ABV) | Sugar content, grams per liter |
|---|---|---|
| Amontillado | 16–17 | 0–5 |
| Medium | 15–22 | 5–115 |
Serving
Amontillado is usually served slightly chilled and may be served either as an apéritif or as an accompaniment to food such as chicken or rabbit. Classically it was served with a fine, or thin, soup, such as a beef consommé.
Storing
Due to its oxidative aging and preparation, amontillado is more stable than fino and may be stored for a few years before opening. After opening, it can be kept for up to two months, if corked and refrigerated.
References
- Amontillado on SherryNotes
- PLIEGO DE CONDICIONES DE LA DENOMINACIÓN DE ORIGEN «JEREZ-XÉRÈS-SHERRY» Archived 11 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine.
- "Boletín Oficial de la Junta de Andalucía (BOJA)" (PDF). 12 April 2012. p. 52.
- How long can you store / drink a bottle of sherry?
Further reading
Julian Jeffs (1 September 2004). Sherry (5th rev. ed.). London: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 978-1-84000-923-1. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
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