Palomino Fino is a white grape most famous for its use in making sherry. Known in South Africa as Fransdruif and White French or Listan in France, it can also be found in Australia and California.

Named after Fernan Yanez Palomonio, one of King Alfonso X`s knights, Palomino is a high yielding variety that is primary planted in the region of Jerez that produces large bunches of golden yellow grapes that ripen in early September. Generally split into three sub-varieities Palomino Fino, Palomino Basto and Palomino de Jerez, this grape typically makes thin tasteless wines that lack both fruit and acidity; however when used in the production of sherry, it creates intensely aromatic and flavorful wines.

It is one of the few grapes that is capable of growing in very chalky soil called albariza, which has a high concentration of both lime and magnesium and found in the southern Spanish region of Alicante in Jerez. Made into sherry through the Solera method, the Palomino varietal quickly produces an important film of yeast that grows on the top of the Sherry and protects it from oxygen, producing pale, delicate, crisp and delicious sherries.

For more information on the making of sherry, please visit our sherry article here.

Search here for tasting notes for Sherry wines: Sherry Tasting Notes