Pairings | Christmas

The best pairings for sweet oloroso and PX sherry

Posted by Fiona Beckett (Google+) on November 9 2023 at 07:28

Sherry gets a bad rap for being granny’s tipple of choice but if you’ve never tried an authentic Spanish style sweet sherry you haven’t lived.

There are two main kinds: sweet olorosos (though no longer officially referred to as that) which are aged without a protective layer of flor (yeast) and which I always think taste like liquid Christmas pudding and intensely treacley PX which is made from raisined pedro ximenez grapes. And cheaper cream sherries which are sweetened olorosos.

They are, of course, delicious to sip on their own but here’s some suggested pairings

Sweet oloroso and dark cream sherries

Blue cheese such as Stilton, Dorset Blue Vinney, Gorgonzola and Cabrales, especially with grilled figs

Mature Parmigiano Reggiano (parmesan) or Grana Padano

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Comments: 1 (Add)

Ben on November 2 2021 at 02:13

I love sherries - always glad to see someone trying to introduce others to them! But I think there's a little clarification needed here.
The varieties of sherry referred to here are the richest (among which oloroso is rich in flavor but not sweet per se) - but there are also light, crisp Fino and Manzanilla sherries, as well as the in-between Amontillado and Palo Cortado varieties.

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