Unveiling Sherry: A Sneak Peek with Peter Liem

Discover the magic of sherry with Peter Liem, acclaimed wine writer and leading sherry authority, as he presents WSG’s inaugural Sherry Wine Tour through Jerez. In this engaging online session, Peter will reveal the magic of sherry—a wine unlike any other—offering a glimpse into its fascinating production methods, rich history and the unforgettable experiences planned for this tour.

During this 30-minute live session, Peter Liem will provide an insider’s view of the Sherry/Jerez Wine Tour and highlight the unique experiences planned for participants:

• Sherry: A Wine Like No Other

Part of the challenge of sherry is that it’s so radically different from other wines, both in its flavor profile and its method of production. On this tour, you will not only learn a great deal about how sherry is made, but also gain an insider’s perspective on the intricacies of the solera blending system, as we taste from different portions of the solera and follow a wine’s evolution through the aging process.

• History, Identity and Place

Sherry has a long and richly colorful history and it’s a wine that’s inextricably linked to a specific culture and place. We’ll talk about how sherry reflects both its historical traditions and its vineyard site, but also how it’s influenced by the place where it’s made—in effect, a terroir of the bodega.

• An Overview of Sherry Styles

Explore the world of sherry in all its diversity, from refreshingly saline manzanilla to complex, decades-old oloroso and rich, luscious Pedro Ximénez. The vast array of sherry styles might initially appear confusing, but Peter will break it down for you into easily understandable components.

• What to Expect on the Tour

Peter will explain the concept of the trip, including the CSWS® certificate and detail the itinerary, which will include exclusive visits with leading winemakers, masterclasses with guided tastings and lunches and dinners where we’ll pair a wide range of sherries with the local cuisine.

Peter Liem

Wine Writer

Peter Liem is a James Beard award-winning wine writer and long-time specialist in Champagne and Sherry. Following nearly a decade in the wine trade, Liem was senior editor, critic and tasting director for Wine & Spirits magazine, and his writings on have appeared in publications such as The World of Fine Wine, Decanter, The Art of Eating and The San Francisco Chronicle. Together with Jesús Barquín, Liem authored Sherry, Manzanilla & Montilla, which Ray Isle of Food & Wine magazine called "the single best book ever written on sherry.” Liem and Barquín followed this with a second, Spanish-language edition, entitled Jerez, Manzanilla & Montilla: Vinos Tradicionales de Andalucía. Liem currently divides his time between France and New York City.