‘Palomino’ short as a reference to Palomino Fino, in my opinion a very interesting variety that is highly adaptable to the winemakers’ choices. You can either choose to make a very neutral, dry still wine, or you can create a still white wine aged on its lees and in oak (South Africa for example). Or make sherry from it, it can come in several different styles of sherry, and it can either be bone dry as a fino sherry or blended with PX to be very lusciously sweet. What is your favourite style?
It's Origin
Believed to have originated in the Andalucia region where it is said to be named after King Alfonso X’s knight Fernan Ibanez Palomino, a knight of some importance during the Reconquista, time conquest between the European and Moorish army.
Climate and Soils
Palomino is well suited to dry, sunny weather and capable of producing large yields. It thrives in chalky white Albariza soils (sand) and loves the hot mediterranean climate. In Jerez it is the principal variety for 97% of all vineyard plantings. You can find this variety in more countries than Spain.
- Spain - Jerez, Canary Islands and Galicia - (99%)
- South-Africa - (0.43%)
- Portugal - Alentejano & Madeira - (0.34%)
- California, USA - (0.16%)
- Australia - (0.12%)
- Mexico - (0.02%)
- Others; Chile
Vine Manual: How does Palomino Fino Grow
The Palomino grape has, for many centuries, been the most traditional variety and is the most abundant grown in Jerez today. Its fruit is round and medium in size with fine, green-yellow skin that turns a golden colour when ripe.
- Mid budding
- Mid-Late ripening
- Drought resistant
- Heat tolerant
- High yielding and reliable
- Susceptible to downy mildew
- Medium sized bunches, thin-skinned berries
- Prone to early oxidation
It’s all in the Name Baby.
Listán (France), Palomino, Perrum (Alentejano, Portugal), Fransdruif or White French (South Africa), Listrão (Madeira).
Tickle Your Taste Buds
Palomino's Taste ProfilePale green lemon colour, low acidity, low alcohol, light body, light intensity aromas. It is quite a neutral variety on itself, a can make quite dull wines (but doesn’t necessarily be the case), but that works wellfor Sherry.
Mainly used for fortified wines, but also for unfortified wine production. This variety blends well with Pedro Ximénez and Muscat of Alexandria. Fermentation usually in stainless steel tanks, maturation either in stainless steel or oak barrels.
Aromas and FlavoursLemon, Lime, almonds, saltiness, green-yellow apple, hazelnuts
Did you Know?
- That Christopher Columbus and Shakespeare where true groupies for Listán (Palomino) back in the day?
- That Palomino Fino was widely planted in South Africa and mainly used for distilling or basic blended wines.
History Fact
- According to the Sherry Academy they state that the origin of Sherry Wines dates back no fewer than 3,000 years when the Phoenicians founded Gades (Cádiz) in the year 1000 BC and introduced vine cultivation to the region.
Have you ever tried a wine based on Palomino that didn’t came from the Jerez region?
Any questions related to this topic? Maybe you can find your answer here. Click here!
What is Palomino Fino?
Palomino Fino is the great grape of sherry, covering about 97 percent of all vineyard plantings in Jerez. It is a highly adaptable, neutral variety: winemakers turn it into bone dry fino sherry, luscious sweet blends with Pedro Ximénez, or still white wines with or without oak and lees ageing.
What is albariza soil?
Albariza is the chalky, blinding white soil of the Jerez region, often called the queen of soils in sherry country. Palomino thrives on it in the hot, dry Andalusian climate, which is exactly the pairing this article's hero image shows in the palm of a hand.
What does Palomino wine taste like?
On its own Palomino is deliberately understated: pale green lemon in colour, low in acidity and alcohol, light bodied, with delicate notes of lemon, lime, green apple, almonds, hazelnuts and a saline touch. That neutrality is its superpower, because it makes the perfect canvas for sherry's flor and oxidative ageing.
Where does the name Palomino come from?
The grape is believed to be named after Fernán Ibáñez Palomino, a knight of King Alfonso X during the Reconquista. It also travels under other names: Listán in France, Perrum in Portugal's Alentejano, Fransdruif or White French in South Africa and Listrão on Madeira.
Is Palomino only used for sherry?
No. While sherry is its calling card, Palomino also makes dry still whites, including lees and oak aged versions in South Africa, and unfortified styles in Spain, Portugal and beyond. Columbus and Shakespeare were reportedly already fans of Listán in their day.
Resources
- WSET Diploma Study Syllables
- Jancis Robinson, “Palomino Fino” - Accessed on March 7, 2024
- Wine Searcher, “Palomino Wine” - Accessed on March 7, 2024
- Sherry Notes, “Palomino and other Sherry Grapes”, October 13, 2014 - Accessed on March 7, 2024
- Sherry Academy Basic Course (followed 2023)
- Lustau, “Albariza Queen of Soils in the Sherry Region”, August 28, 2023 - Accessed on March 7, 2024
Margot van Lieshout
Wine marketeer, sales expert with over 20 years in the trade, public speaker and international wine judge. Thousands of wines scored from Steiermark to Ningxia, and a trade she knows from the inside out. Wine with Margot is where she helps wine brands tell the stories that sell them.
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