PALOMINO

Palomino is a white wine grape variety grown widely in the Andalucía region of southwestern Spain. It is the grape used in the production of Sherry and occupies almost 95 percent of the total vineyard plantings in Jerez. The variety is rather neutral in flavour, with low acidity and potential alcohol, making it an ideal variety for the fortification of Sherry. 

The chalky and lime-rich soils that characterise the Jerez terroir allow Palomino to achieve the must weights required for Sherry production. The finest examples of these come from Sanlúcar de Barrameda, where it was traditionally known as Manzanilla de Sanlúcar and gave its name to the Manzanilla style of Sherry.

Several different kinds of Sherry use Palomino in varying degrees. The dry, flor-affected Fino and Manzanilla styles, and the more oxidative Amontillado, Dry Oloroso and Palo Cortado variants all use Palomino. Only the lusciously sweet PX sherries are made from a different grape variety, that being Pedro Ximénez.