It has long been viewed as the tipple of choice among British grandmas, but it seems that sherry has found favour with hipsters
It has long been viewed as the tipple of choice among British grandmas, but it seems that sherry has found favour among a younger generation of drinkers.
Drinks retailer Majestic wine has seen sales of sherry soar over the past year, as hipsters swap craft beer and gin for fortified wines.
Far from the sickly sweet taste many associate with sherry, best-sellers include ultra-dry Manzanilla styles like Tio Pepe.
Mixed with mint, ice and soda water, mixologists say the drink makes a refreshing summer cocktail.
For a richer option for the winter months, Amontillado with tapas, manchego cheese or paella is recommended.
Joe Aylmer, sherry buyer for Majestic said: ‘Good sherries are high quality, food-friendly wines that are tapping into the changing preferences of the generation that light the fuse under craft ales and craft gins.
‘It’s no longer a social faux pas for hipsters to drink sherry in tapas bars, as part of a cocktail or simply served ice-cold on a hot summer day or with tonic or as a low ABV alternative to G&T.
‘It’s a complete reinvention of the style.’
After halving between 2002 and 2010, Majestic has seen sales of sherry leap by 25 per cent in the last year.
Other fortified wines Portuguese Madeira and port are also proving popular among younger customers.
For a rich option for the winter months, Amontillado can be paired with tapas – manchego cheese or paella is recommended
And it’s not the only unusual trend in UK drinking habits, as more wine drinkers are opting for bottles from Eastern European countries like Hungary.
As Brexit pushes up the cost of wine from more traditional regions like Spain and Italy, sales of wine from Eastern Europe have increased by 279 per cent over the past year.
Hungarian wine has also drawn in 52 per cent more sales.