solera

American  

[soh-lair-uh, saw-le-rah] / soʊˈlɛər ə, sɔˈlɛ rɑ /

noun

1. (especially in Spain) a series of casks, graded according to age, in which sherries and brandies are stored while maturing.

2. a classification for the sherries or brandies having the greatest maturity in a solera.

---

solera British  

/ səˈlɛərə /

noun

1. 1. a system for aging sherry and other fortified wines, in which younger wines in upper rows of casks are used to top up casks of older wines stored below in order to produce a consistently aged blend

   2. a blend of sherry produced by this system

---

Etymology

Origin of solera

< Spanish: literally, supporting beam, base (for uprights) < Vulgar Latin *solāria, equivalent to Latin sol ( um ) base, ground (> Spanish suelo ) + -āria -ary; Cf. vino de solera mature wine (presumably from the bottom range of casks) used to fortify younger wine

Example Sentences

“I just always called mine a solera bottle,” said Mr. Peters, who runs the blog the Whiskey Jug, referring to the blending process common in the production of sherry.

From New York Times

The flor-ridden barrels will then enter a solera, a complex system for blending and aging the wine.

From New York Times

Like the Roederer, this Champagne is made using a solera system.

From New York Times

In 2012, it established what it calls a perpetual reserve, a little like a sherry solera in which new wine is added to the reserve each year, theoretically growing in complexity over time.

From New York Times

These wines exhibit some similarities to sherry, but they come from a different place, are made with different grapes, are not fortified, and they are not aged as sherry is, in a solera.

From New York Times