The range consists of ten wines, seven from Domecq®, four of which are classified as VORS (Vinum Optimum Rare Signatum or Very Old Rare Sherry) and three from Harveys®.
Granted the official qualification VORS (age over 30 years) in 2001 by the Sherry Denomination of Origin, the Domecq® range consists of; Sibarita, an Oloroso, Venerable, a Pedro Ximenez, Capuchino, a Palo Cortado and Amontillado 51-1a. These wines are extremely rare with only 400 cases of each being drawn from the soleras each year.
The wines have recently been repackaged combining a distinctively modern and contemporary style with strong references to the immense heritage and craftsmanship of these wines. The script used on the VORS range originates from the original documents produced when the soleras were founded in the 1700s. “We felt taking this piece of history and developing a modern packaging design around it gave a great balance between the old and the new, ” explained Joanne Smith, Brand Manager for Harveys® and Domecq®
The names of the VORS wines have been selected to reflect the history and heritage of the range. Sibarita comes from ‘Sybarite’, meaning a person who dedicates time to finding and enjoying the pleasure of good food and good wines. Venerable means old, wise and respectable, whilst Capuchino refers to the Capuchin monks who live in Jerez (it is thought their distinctive brown outfits inspired the use of the word ‘Cappuccino’ to describe the Italian coffee we drink today). Amontillado 51 1ª takes its name from the solera in which the wine is matured; a solera that was founded in 1830. This solera is one of the youngest involved in the production of the VORS wines. The solera in which Capuchino is aged dates back to 1790, the Sibarita solera dates from 1792 and the Venerable solera is the most recent of the four, dating from 1902.
The Harveys® rare sherry portfolio consists of Harveys® Palo Cortado, an exceptional type of sherry produced only very occasionally from a small percentage of fino barrels when the yeast does not form properly. It is then matured in a solera founded in 1906 and has the characteristics of a 50 year old wine with “ the full body of an oloroso combined with the delicate and sharp nose of a dry amontillado” explains Beltran Domecq, Master Blender of Sherry & Brandy de Jerez at Bodegas Domecq® and Harveys®. The stunning Harveys® Fine Old Amontillado and Harveys® Rich Old Oloroso complete the Harveys® portfolio.
The three premium sherries which make up the Domecq® portfolio are Rio Viejo, an Oloroso, Viña 25, a Pedro Ximenez and the award-winning Domecq® La Ina® Fino sherry, recently hailed as the ‘Best Spanish Wine of the Decade’ by highly respected Spanish wine critic, José Penin. The appraisal, which was featured in ‘Sibaritas’ Magazine in May 2003, was part of a report dedicated to Spanish Bodegas whose wines have obtained mean scores equal to 90 or more over the last 10 years in specialised magazines and wine guides. La Ina was found to have the highest mean score of all wines that appeared in these publications.
“Creating interest in the sherry category is key to the development and growth of the sector,” explained Smith. “General industry trends seem to identify a move towards higher quality wines, offering consumers alternatives to their usual choice of style, and encouraging them to develop new tastes and interests. We are also finding that consumers are also showing more interest in brands that can offer history, heritage and authenticity, offering a reason to trade up. We believe premium sherry offers an exciting option for consumers looking to find something different”.
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