Sherry can be crisp and bone dry, richly nutty or intensely sweet. Knowing which style you enjoy makes choosing a bottle much easier, and there is no better place to start than the world's best selling Fino: Tio Pepe Fino Sherry 1L from Gonzalez Byass.
The Gonzalez Byass collection at Whiskey Online covers the full range, from classic Tio Pepe Fino to nutty Oloroso, sweet Pedro Ximenez and rare 30 year old VORS releases. Whether you are choosing a bottle for seafood, a cheese board or an after dinner pour, this guide will help you find a starting point.
A Sherry House Rooted in Jerez
Founded in 1835 by Manuel Maria Gonzalez, Gonzalez Byass is based in Jerez de la Frontera in southern Spain, the heart of sherry country. Its most famous wine is named after the founder's uncle, Jose Angel de la Pena, known to the family as Tio Pepe, who helped guide the young winemaker in his early years.
How a sherry is aged decides its style. Fino develops beneath a natural layer of yeast called flor, which protects the wine from oxygen and keeps it pale, fresh and savoury. Oxidatively aged styles such as Oloroso mature without flor, building deeper colour and richer, nuttier flavours. Both are aged in the traditional solera system, where younger wine is blended through older casks over many years to keep the house style consistent.
Why Start with Tio Pepe Fino
If you think of sherry only as something sweet from the back of the cupboard, Tio Pepe Fino Sherry 1L will change your mind. It is the benchmark dry sherry and the best selling Fino in the world.
- Grape and origin: 100% Palomino grapes from the chalky albariza soils around Jerez.
- Ageing: matured under flor in American oak casks through the Tio Pepe solera for several years.
- Style: pale straw colour, bone dry, with aromas of almond, fresh bread dough, green apple and a light saline finish.
- Alcohol: 15% ABV, lighter than many people expect from a fortified wine.
The 1 litre bottle is great value for a household that enjoys a regular aperitif, and it is ideal for entertaining.
How to Serve Tio Pepe
- Serve it cold: chill to around 5 to 7 degrees, straight from the fridge.
- Use a wine glass: a white wine glass shows the aromas far better than a small sherry schooner.
- Keep it fresh: like a white wine, Fino is best enjoyed soon after opening. Reseal it, keep it in the fridge and finish it within about a week.
Food Pairing with Tio Pepe Fino
Fino is one of the most food friendly wines there is. Its dry, salty edge loves:
- Olives, salted almonds, jamon and Spanish style tapas
- Oysters, prawns, green lipped mussels and fish and chips
- Sushi, sashimi and tempura
- Manchego and other hard cheeses
Tio Pepe Cocktails
- Tio Pepe and Tonic: 50ml Tio Pepe Fino over plenty of ice, topped with 100ml premium tonic and a twist of lemon. A lighter, lower alcohol alternative to a G and T.
- Rebujito: the classic drink of the Seville and Jerez fairs. Mix one part Fino with two parts lemonade over ice and add fresh mint.
- Sherry Martini: stir equal parts Tio Pepe and La Copa Extra Dry Vermouth with ice, strain and garnish with an olive.
Go Deeper with Tio Pepe En Rama and Las Palmas
Once you enjoy Tio Pepe, the next step is to taste how the same wine changes when it is bottled differently or aged for longer.
- Tio Pepe En Rama: Fino bottled straight from the cask with only light filtration, released once a year in spring. It is fuller, more intense and closer to tasting sherry in the bodega. Try the Tio Pepe En Rama 750ml or the En Rama 375ml half bottle.
- Tio Pepe Las Palmas: a series of limited releases selected from the oldest Tio Pepe casks. Each extra palma marks an older, more complex wine: Una Palma, Dos Palmas, Tres Palmas and the rare Cuatro Palmas. Tasting them side by side is a great way to understand how long ageing transforms Fino.
- Elegante Fino: for an easy everyday dry sherry, Gonzalez Byass Elegante Fino 750ml is a smooth, approachable option.
Richer Dry Styles: Oloroso and Palo Cortado
If you prefer more weight and savoury intensity, move on to the oxidatively aged styles.
- Alfonso Oloroso Seco 375ml is dry, nutty and warming, with walnut and dried fruit notes. Lovely with aged cheese, mushrooms or slow cooked meat.
- Leonor Palo Cortado 375ml combines the fine aromatics of an Amontillado with the body of an Oloroso, a rewarding bottle for curious drinkers.
- For a medium style with a touch of sweetness, try Elegante Medium Sherry 750ml.
Sweet Styles: Cream and Pedro Ximenez
For a sweeter glass, start by deciding between Cream sherry and Pedro Ximenez.
- Cream sherry blends dry Oloroso with sweet wine for a smooth, gently sweet style. Try Solera 1847 Cream 375ml or Elegante Cream 750ml with fruit desserts, Christmas cake or a cheese board.
- Pedro Ximenez, often shortened to PX, is made from sun dried grapes and is dark, syrupy and full of raisin, fig and coffee flavours. Nectar Pedro Ximenez 375ml is superb with chocolate desserts, or poured over vanilla ice cream.
Rare 30 Year Old VORS Sherries
VORS stands for Very Old Rare Sherry, wines certified at over 30 years of average age. They are made for slow sipping: pour a small measure into a wine glass, let it open and taste it slowly.
Check each product description carefully, as old sherries still vary widely in sweetness and style. Age alone does not tell you whether a bottle will suit your palate.
How to Pick Your First Bottle
- For a chilled, dry aperitif: Tio Pepe Fino Sherry 1L
- For a fuller, more intense Fino: Tio Pepe En Rama or the Las Palmas series
- For a richer savoury wine: Alfonso Oloroso or Leonor Palo Cortado
- For a gently sweet glass: Solera 1847 Cream or Elegante Cream
- For a concentrated dessert style: Nectar Pedro Ximenez
- For a special occasion: a 30 year old VORS
If you are buying a gift, knowing whether the recipient prefers dry or sweet wine is more useful than choosing by age or price alone.
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FAQs
Is Tio Pepe sweet or dry?
Tio Pepe is a bone dry Fino sherry. It has no residual sweetness and tastes crisp, savoury and slightly salty.
Should Tio Pepe be served chilled?
Yes. Serve Tio Pepe well chilled, around 5 to 7 degrees, in a white wine glass.
How long does Tio Pepe last once opened?
Treat it like a white wine. Reseal the bottle, keep it in the fridge and enjoy it within about a week for the freshest flavour.
What food goes with Tio Pepe Fino?
Olives, almonds, jamon, oysters, prawns, sushi and fish and chips are all excellent matches.
What is the difference between Tio Pepe and Tio Pepe En Rama?
Tio Pepe En Rama is bottled straight from the cask with minimal filtration and released once a year, so it is fuller and more intense than the classic Tio Pepe Fino.
Do you deliver sherry across New Zealand?
Yes, we deliver throughout New Zealand. Delivery is included on orders over $250. See our shipping and refund policy for details.
Please drink responsibly. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol in New Zealand.
