Are you supposed to drink sherry straight? A guide to enjoying fortified wine

December 15, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the Consejo Regulador de Jerez, the official governing body for sherry, some styles are specifically aged to be enjoyed neat. When answering the question, 'Are you supposed to drink sherry straight?' it's essential to understand the different types, their proper serving temperatures, and how they interact with food to truly appreciate their complexity.

Quick Summary

Sherry can be enjoyed straight, but the optimal serving temperature and glass depend on its style. Dry varieties like Fino and Manzanilla are best served chilled, while richer Olorosos and sweet Pedro Ximénez can be served slightly cooled or at room temperature. The right preparation enhances its unique aromas and flavors.

Key Points

Yes, you can drink sherry straight: It's a traditional and highly recommended way to enjoy this fortified wine, especially in its native Spain.
Serving temperature depends on the style: Dry sherries like Fino and Manzanilla are best served chilled, while richer Olorosos and sweet PX are served slightly cooled or at room temperature to express their full character.
Choose the right glassware: A standard white wine glass or a traditional copita is preferable to tiny, ornate glasses, as it allows the wine's aromas to concentrate.
Consider food pairings: Though excellent straight, sherry often shines brightest when paired with food, such as salty tapas with Fino or mature cheese with Oloroso.
Open bottles have a limited life: Unlike standard wine, an opened bottle of sherry has a varying but shorter shelf life, especially lighter, drier styles, which should be consumed within a week.
There is a sherry for everyone: With a range of flavors from dry and savory to intensely sweet, there is a sherry style to suit nearly every palate and occasion.

Understanding Sherry Styles for Straight Sipping

Sherry is a diverse fortified wine from Spain's Jerez region, ranging from dry to sweet. Whether you should drink it straight, and how to best enjoy it, depends on the specific style. Different production methods, like aging under flor or oxidative aging, create distinct flavors that are highlighted by proper serving.

Dry Sherries: The Chilled Approach

Dry sherries, such as Fino and Manzanilla, have crisp, often saline and almond notes. These are typically best enjoyed straight and served very cold, between 7–9°C (45–48°F). Chilling enhances their freshness and makes them excellent aperitifs. Sipping them straight allows the intricate flor-yeast flavors to be appreciated.

Fino: Light with yeast, almond, and saline notes. Serve very cold in a tulip glass.
Manzanilla: A coastal Fino with a distinct salty character. Serve very cold.

Medium and Oxidative Sherries: A Cooler Experience

Amontillado and Oloroso undergo oxidative aging, resulting in richer, nuttier profiles. These are also best served straight, but slightly warmer than dry sherries, around 13–14°C (55–57°F). This temperature helps reveal their complex aromas of nuts, tobacco, and dried fruits.

Sweet and Dessert Sherries: Room Temperature Indulgence

Sweet sherries like Pedro Ximénez (PX) and Cream Sherry are ideal for drinking straight, often as dessert. PX, made from sun-dried grapes, is intensely sweet with flavors of raisins and figs. Cream Sherry, typically a sweetened Oloroso, offers rich nutty and dried fruit notes. These can be served slightly chilled or at room temperature.

Comparison of Sherry Styles for Straight Drinking


Style	Serving Temperature	Flavor Profile	Best Time to Drink	Glassware	Shelf Life After Opening
Fino/Manzanilla	Chilled (7-9°C)	Dry, crisp, saline, almond	Aperitif, with tapas	Tulip-shaped, small white wine	Up to a week (refrigerated)
Amontillado	Slightly chilled (13°C)	Nutty, savory, dried fruit	Before or with main course	White wine glass	A few weeks (cool, dark place)
Oloroso	Slightly chilled (10-14°C)	Rich, full-bodied, nutty	After-dinner, with cheese	White wine glass	4-6 weeks (cool, dark place)
Pedro Ximénez	Room temperature/Slightly chilled (13-14°C)	Intensely sweet, raisin, fig	Dessert	White wine or small tasting glass	Several months (cool, dark place)

How to Serve Sherry Straight

Glassware: While a copita is traditional, a standard white wine glass is often preferred today as it helps concentrate aromas.
Temperature: Follow the guidelines above: very cold for dry sherries and slightly chilled for richer or sweeter styles.
Pour Size: Serve modest amounts due to the higher alcohol content.
Pairing: Sherry pairs wonderfully with food; dry with tapas and richer styles with meats or cheeses.
Storage: Opened Fino and Manzanilla should be refrigerated and consumed within a week. Oxidized styles last longer in a cool, dark place.

The Spanish Tradition of Drinking Sherry

In Andalusia, Spain, sherry is traditionally enjoyed straight as part of a meal or with tapas at places like tabancos. This cultural practice emphasizes savoring the wine's character in its purest form, confirming that drinking sherry straight is not only acceptable but traditional.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the answer to whether you should drink sherry straight is a definitive 'yes', but with the important consideration of serving method based on the specific style. From chilled Fino to room-temperature PX, understanding and applying the right techniques for temperature, glassware, and pairing will allow you to fully appreciate the depth and versatility of this fortified wine, just as it is enjoyed in its Spanish homeland.

Here is a guide to sherry styles that can help you explore the range of options available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Dry sherries like Fino and Manzanilla are the best choices for drinking straight and well-chilled. Their light, crisp, and salty characteristics are amplified by a lower temperature, making them refreshing aperitifs.

Yes, absolutely. Sweet sherries such as Pedro Ximénez (PX) and Cream Sherry are meant to be enjoyed straight, often as a dessert course. They can be served slightly chilled or at room temperature.

For these richer, nutty sherries, serve them straight but only slightly chilled, around 13–14°C (55–57°F). This temperature allows their complex aromas and flavors to be fully expressed.

While a traditional copita is an option, a small white wine glass is generally recommended. Its wider mouth helps concentrate the sherry's aromas, offering a better tasting experience than older, smaller glasses.

For Fino and Manzanilla, yes, refrigeration is crucial to preserve their delicate flor-aged character. Oxidative sherries like Oloroso and PX can be stored in a cool, dark place for longer periods after opening.

Yes, it is. As a fortified wine, sherry has a higher alcohol content and a wider range of styles, each with its own recommended serving temperature. This makes understanding the type of sherry you're drinking more important than with most standard wines.

No. While excellent straight, sherry is also a versatile ingredient in cocktails and cooking. However, for a true appreciation of its unique character, enjoying it straight is the most revealing method.