Sherry is a fortified wine which is, unlike Port, fermented right out, and has no sugar. A white wine, it is stored in butts in bodegas (warehouses). The majority of these are in Jerez de la Frontera, Andalucia. Several more are in Puerto de Santa Maria, a village by the sea; and two are in Cadiz.
In a blending room the recipes for all the sherries the firm supplies are kept. When an order is received, a sample of the blend is then made up from the wines in the butts, and any sweetening is added. The result must be an exact copy of the previous order. The order is then made up.
The three main types of sherry are Fino, Amontillado, and Oloroso; and in addition there is Palo Cortado (very special).