I have to admit that I don’t drink very much Sherry. The last time I ordered a glass in a restaurant was sometime in 2018. Interestingly, it was a glass of Lustau Vermut Blanco, which I enjoyed. I ordered a glass of the Blanco because the previous fall I had been served a glass of Lustau Vermut Rojo and liked it.
There is a story behind that glass of Lustau Vermut Rojo. The bartender in one of our favorite Scottsdale restaurants, who knew I enjoyed wine, told me he was going to pour me a glass of something different and wouldn’t charge me for it if I could identify it. Ok, game on, even though I’m not skilled at all in blind-tasting wine. I identified it as botanically infused and may have mentioned Vermouth. He acted impressed and generously gave me credit for that overly general answer. True to his promise he didn’t charge us for the Vermut.
So, when we received an offer to receive a tasting sample of Lustau Vermut Blanco I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to taste it again. We also received a sample of Lustau East India Solera Sherry.
Sherry is made in Andalusia, a region in Spain’s southwest. Three cities, Jerez de la Frontera, Sanlúcar de Barrameda and El Puerto de Santa María, outline a roughly triangular area where Sherry may be made. Sherry is a fortified wine made one of several ways resulting in dry and sweet Sherries.
The excellent website, Sherry Notes, gives a concise introduction to Sherry and is a detailed resource to understanding Sherry’s production and how to enjoy Sherry. Another comprehensive source of information about Sherry, including its history, is Sherry Wines.
Lustau Vermut Blanco — light golden with generous herbal aromas including crushed marjoram, dried orange peel and chamomile. Flavors include dried orange peel and dried herbs. The wine is viscous in the mouth, sweet and slightly bitter with a warming finish. 15% abv. $18-$25 online
The base wine is a blend of two Sherries: a dry, mineral Fino and a sweet, floral Moscatel. The main botanicals used to infuse the unique flavors include: marjoram, gentian, rosemary, wormwood and chamomile.
I particularly like the Lustau Vermut Blanco served over ice. Its ample flavors are not muted by chilling and the drink makes for a very refreshing sip with appetizers.
Lustau East India Solera Sherry — dark mahogany with generous aromas of dried figs, iron, toffee and earth. Flavors include iron, earth, blackstrap molasses, hazelnuts and dried figs. The wine is viscous and very sweet with a warming finish. 20% abv. $25-$32 online
The East India Solera Sherry is a blend of Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez Sherries that were made separately and aged in their own solera for 12 years. Once blended together, the resulting Sherry is returned to a 45-cask solera for a further 3 years of aging.
Lustau describes the inspiration for its East India Solera Sherry:
“In centuries gone by, casks with sherry were lashed to ships sailing for the Indies and were found to develop an extraordinary smoothness and complexity. Lustau has revived this style of sherry in the East India wine.”
Lustau suggests pairing this Sherry with light desserts, creamy cheeses or foie-gras. I’m happy to see they also suggest serving it over ice with a slice of orange. That would be my choice.
Both of these Sherries offer complex flavors and are very delicious. Being give permission to enjoy them over ice by Lustau may just inspire me to enjoy a glass of either a little more often than every 7 years or so!
What became Emilio Lustau S.A. was established in 1896 by José Ruiz-Berdejo. He began by cultivating grapes and making Sherry wines that he then sold to larger producers. In 1931 his daughter purchased a winery closer to the center of Jerez de la Frontera and winemaking was moved there. Maria’s husband, Emilio Lustau Ortega, moved the winery to the historic quarter of Jerez de la Frontera where the winery expanded and eventually sold its own brands of Sherry.
Lustau continued to grow and innovate through the 1980s and in 1990 it merged with Luis Caballero, a prominent family-owned Spanish wine and spirits company. The Luis Caballero Group’s Sherry Division is now located in six 19th-century bodega buildings in the center of Jerez that have been fully restored.
Lustau has received many awards for their wines and their winery; it is a highly-regarded Sherry producer.
Thanks to IT Public Relations for organizing our tasting.
Cheers!
I think you know I’m a Sherry lover! I havn’t had that Lustau Vermouth. Will have to keep an eye out for it. On the other hand I’ve had the East India Solera a few times. We like it over vanilla ice cream! Cheers to you both!