Appears in
Oxford Companion to Wine

By Jancis Robinson

Published 2006

  • About

Spanish word with two related meanings in the sherry-making process, oloroso being the stronger, richer type of wine made in the bodega (as opposed to fino), Oloroso being one of the commercial styles of sherry. Pure Oloroso is a dry, dark, nutty wine that is basically bottled oloroso, and is often labelled Dry Oloroso. In some foreign markets, however, the term Oloroso is applied to any commercial sweet, dark blend of basic sherry plus colouring and sweetening wine that falls somewhere between amontillado and cream. Oloroso may have an alcoholic strength anywhere between about 18 and more than 20%. See sherry for more details.