Definition of the word sherry

The origin of the word "sherry" can be traced back to the medieval port of Santiago de la Riba in Spain, commonly known as "Sherish" or "Xeres" in Arabic due to the Muslim conquest of the area in the 8th century. Sherry was produced and exported from this region, and it was originally referred to as "vino de Jerez" in Spanish. The English started using the term "sherry" in the 13th century, after sailors returning from wine-trading voyages to Spain brought back samples of "virgin" wine that had been aging in oak casks in the port of Sherish. This wine, which was highly valued due to its rich flavor and longevity, was typically sold by merchants to British noblemen, who would then gift it as a symbol of honor and respect, known as a "shire reye" or "sheriff's wine." As the popularity of sherry grew in England, the word "sherry" became synonymous with this type of wine, and it regained its original meaning in Spain, where the term "Jerez" is still used today to refer to the smaller, more complex Sherry wines that are produced exclusively in the provinces of Cadiz and Seville. Thus, the word "sherry" has had a long and fascinating journey, from its origins in the ancient port city of Sherish to its current use as a globally recognized term for a unique and beloved style of fortified wine.