Definition: Solera

In Spain, the process of blending and ageing sherry. The vintages are stored in a series of barrels (botas) arranged in rows (criadera) stacked on top of each other, the contents of which are transferred and blended from the youngest to the oldest as they are drawn off for bottling. A criadera may consist of only one or two botas on a small estate, and up to 30,000 in a large company. This system ensures consistency of taste and quality. This technique is also used in the production of Madeira and certain Banyuls wines. The level closest to the ground, called the solera, contains the oldest wines. Above it are the different criaderas, arranged in successive tiers from the most mature to the youngest wines, with the wines of the current year, the añada, at the top. This method of ageing is called dynamic, as opposed to static ageing, which is traditional in barrels.