Fernando de Castilla : Classic Manzanilla

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Classic Manzanilla by Fernando de Castilla

Tasting

Appearance
A pale, bright straw colour that shows its relative youth and the dominant role of biological ageing under a veil of flor.

Nose
The nose is gentle, with yeasty notes from the veil of flor and a strong salinity that recalls sea spray. Touches of green apple and citrus are lifted by hints of almond.

Palate
The palate is pleasant, light and dry. Lively acidity brings freshness and tension, leading to a clean, saline finish with notes of apple and hazelnut.

Food pairings and tasting occasions

This Manzanilla pairs beautifully with charcuterie, nuts, olives, seafood and fish. It is best enjoyed as an aperitif, served well chilled at 5°C to 8°C in a white wine glass so that its aromas can open up fully.

An Andalusian Manzanilla with pronounced salinity

The estate

Founded in 1837 in Jerez de la Frontera, in the heart of the Marco de Jerez, the House of Fernando de Castilla first made its name with brandies. Since 1999, under Jan Pettersen, it has built a range of Spanish Sherry known for its artisanal character. Located in the Barrio de Santiago in Andalusia, this Spanish bodega makes lightly filtered, unblended sherries in two ranges: Classic, a faithful expression of the traditional styles, and Antique, drawn from old soleras aged twenty to thirty years. Jan Pettersen, who previously worked with Osborne, still leads the house today. Under his direction, Fernando de Castilla keeps the ancestral methods of Sherry alive and has become an international benchmark acclaimed by critics.

The wine

The Fernando de Castilla Classic Manzanilla belongs to the Manzanilla-Sanlúcar de Barrameda denomination of origin. It represents the House's Classic range, designed as a faithful and instructive expression of the great Sherry styles. Made from 100% Palomino Fino grapes grown in the Jerez district, it is pressed and then fermented in stainless steel tanks.

This Andalusian wine is then taken to Sanlúcar de Barrameda for extended ageing in the traditional solera and criadera system, which encourages a veil of flor to form. Ageing lasts three years on average. As is customary in the solera system, this non-vintage wine carries no age statement on its label.

Grape variety

Palomino Fino.