sherry

sherry [from Jérez], naturally dry fortified wine, pale amber to brown in tint. The term sherry originally referred to wines made from grapes grown in the region of Jérez de la Frontera, Andalusia, Spain; today it may refer to any of the fortified wines from S Spain and is also applied to similar wines produced in the United States, Latin America, and South Africa. After fermentation the wine is fortified with brandy. Matured in cask for several years, the wine when mature is classed as palma, very dry; raya, full and rich; or palo cortado, an intermediate variation. The big sherry houses blend the wines with reserves from the Soleras, collections of flavoring wines from very fine vintages, kept in dated casks and maintained for long periods by exact replenishment of the blending wine withdrawn from the oldest cask with wine from the next oldest. The varieties of sherry include amontillado and manzanilla, apéritif wines of the palma type; the fairly sweet, fruity oloroso and amoroso, blended from palo cortado; and the very sweet golden or brown sherries, raya blends. The dessert sherries are usually colored and sweetened by the addition of dark, syrupy wines. Sherry contains from 15% to 23% alcohol, the more highly fortified wines being for export. Sherry must be long matured in wood and bottle to acquire the mellowness demanded of brandied wines. It is a widely used flavoring in fine cookery.

Fortified wine of Spanish origin. It takes its name from the province of Jerez de la Frontera in Spain. Essential to its taste is the action of flor, a mildewlike growth encouraged by a slight exposure to air after fermentation. Also unique is the solera system of blending wines of many vintage years. Sherry is fortified after fermentation with high-proof brandy to 16–18percnt alcohol. It is served primarily as an aperitif, though sweeter, heavier sherries are used as dessert wines.

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Sherry is a town in Wood County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 809 at the 2000 census.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 35.4 square miles (91.6 km²), of which, 35.3 square miles (91.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (0.34%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 809 people, 270 households, and 217 families residing in the town. The population density was 22.9 people per square mile (8.9/km²). There were 280 housing units at an average density of 7.9/sq mi (3.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.79% White, 0.25% Native American, 1.36% Asian, 0.49% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.99% of the population.

There were 270 households out of which 44.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.7% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.3% were non-families. 14.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 3.36.

In the town the population was spread out with 30.8% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 103.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $52,143, and the median income for a family was $53,036. Males had a median income of $33,250 versus $25,341 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,728. About 1.8% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.9% of those under age 18 and 2.6% of those age 65 or over.

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