Solera

The solera system is a method for the aging of sherry or brandy. It has its name method (Spanish solera, lying on the ground ') by the name of the bottom row of barrels, the stacked above series is called criaderas (Spanish criadero, breed ').

This oak casks (Spanish bota ) with a capacity of 520 liters stacked one above the other. From the bottom row of barrels one third of the final mature sherry or brandy is bottled about. This partly emptied casks are then filled with younger wine from the next higher number. This procedure is repeated until the highest rank is empty and is replenished with fresh distillate. Products produced according to this system is generally referred to as Soleras.

While going through the various ranks of the wine matures. The resulting mixture of old and young wines is described by the winemakers as marriage. Profane, one could say that everyone in the sherry trade is a kind blend of many ages. Therefore, this procedure causes no age information can be given.

In addition to sherry and brandy also wine vinegar in the solera system can be established. In this case, the age information is possible, as for the production of these types of vinegar Solera only certain age groups may be used as a starting point. In the Catalan region of Penedès, there are estates that produce according to this system in Criaderas white wine vinegar and red wine vinegars Chardonnay based on Cabernet Sauvignon - based. The products will reach a storage age of three when Chardonnayessig and eight or 16 years when Cabernet Sauvignon vinegar. The unique flavor and consistency of products are now sold in many countries and are becoming increasingly not only in many international chefs popular.

Chance of reds in the solera system are aged.

In reality, the Criadera stages are not usually one above the other, but often in different Bodega buildings, and the superposed barrels in a wine cellar usually contain all the same Criadera level. When filling is then pumped with hoses and pumps of the barrels in such a Criadera the next stage. The only way is to achieve that often 10 or more Criadera stages are involved in the production of a Sherry.

Solera method in the whiskey production

The distillery Glenfiddich sells for several years a filling, which bears the words " Solera ". It is a 15 -year-old whiskey, whose production is based on the solera method. Three different types of oak barrels are used.

• Ex- sherry casks
• Ex-bourbon barrels
• New barrels (new oak )

In these barrels of whiskey stored first 15 years. Then they are in large Solera vat (Oregon pine Solera vat) " married ". This gives them time to harmoniously together. For the filling at the most half of the barrel content is used, the other refill.