# Valdespino Oloroso Medium Sweet Solera 1842 (NV)

- **Producer:** Bodegas Valdespino
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** fortified
- **Grapes:** Palomino Fino, Pedro Ximénez
- **Region:** Andalucía, Spain
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 21.0%
- **Average price:** €45
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 12–16 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** plum, orange, toast, coffee, chocolate, cedar, dried fig, prune, hazelnut, walnut, caramel, toffee, cinnamon

## About this wine

Bodegas Valdespino is one of the oldest winemaking houses in Jerez, with roots tracing back to 1264 when King Alfonso X awarded land to Don Alfonso Valdespino following the reconquest of the city. Formally established as a commercial venture in 1430, Valdespino has served as an official supplier to the Royal Houses of Spain and Sweden. Solera 1842 is a certified V.O.S. (Vinum Optimum Signatum) sherry, guaranteeing an average age of over 20 years. The grapes originate from the iconic chalky albariza soils of Pago Macharnudo and Pago Carrascal.

## Interesting facts

- The Solera 1842 system was established over 180 years ago and continues operating today.
- Valdespino holds official appointments as purveyor to the Royal Houses of both Spain and Sweden.
- The dry Oloroso and sweet Pedro Ximénez co-age together in oak butts for over a decade before release.

## Food pairing

The combination of high alcohol content, full body, oxidative depth, and medium sweetness requires dishes with intense savory umami, rich fats, or moderate sweetness. Rich meats and blue cheeses stand up to the structure without overwhelming the complex wood spice.

## Wine making process

Base Palomino must is fermented in traditional 600-liter American oak butts using indigenous yeasts. The wine is fortified to 21% ABV to prevent flor growth, driving oxidative maturation. Midway through its long maturation process, the dry Oloroso is blended with 8% to 10% very old Pedro Ximénez. The blend then co-ages together in the historic multi-tiered solera system established in 1842 for over two decades prior to bottling.