Chambers 'Rosewood Vineyards' Dry Flor Apera NV
Primary flavours

Citrus

Red Apple

Floral

Nutty

Tangy
Details
Welcome to one of the most unique aperitifs on the planet. Here in Australia, we can't use the term sherry, so instead, we call our version Apera! This Dry Flor Apera is based on the 'fino' style of dry sherry, which is made using the white grape Palomino. What is basically a crisp white wine is then fortified before several years of ageing under what's called a 'veil' of flor yeast. The result is such an amazing wine - it's crisp, tangy, and salty with this quite delicate nutty, floral apple/citrus character and a distinctive, nutty flor bite. Drink it chilled (but not ice cold), and discover a champion of pre-dinner drinks!
Described as ‘nothing less than national treasures’ and ‘some of the world’s most remarkable dessert wines’, the fortified wines from Chambers Rosewood have consistently earned international acclaim, with Bill Chambers named the undisputed king of the fortified wine business. Stephen, Bill’s son, is the sixth generation of his family to make wine at Rosewood. Nestled in the heart of Rutherglen, Chambers Winery and Vineyards was established in 1858 by William Chambers who emigrated to Australia from Norfolk after a disagreement with his employer. William leased a plot of land, planted vines and a rose hedge around the boundary and named the property Rosewood. Since those early days, the Chambers family have been custodians of their land, acknowledging their heritage and upholding age-old winemaking processes, whilst protecting the rich, fertile soil on which they are privileged to sit. They use both traditional and modern methods of wine production to respect and balance nature and biodiversity, and use wooden barrels, some dating back to the 1800s, to age and refine their premium wines.
Described as ‘nothing less than national treasures’ and ‘some of the world’s most remarkable dessert wines’, the fortified wines from Chambers Rosewood have consistently earned international acclaim, with Bill Chambers named the undisputed king of the fortified wine business. Stephen, Bill’s son, is the sixth generation of his family to make wine at Rosewood. Nestled in the heart of Rutherglen, Chambers Winery and Vineyards was established in 1858 by William Chambers who emigrated to Australia from Norfolk after a disagreement with his employer. William leased a plot of land, planted vines and a rose hedge around the boundary and named the property Rosewood. Since those early days, the Chambers family have been custodians of their land, acknowledging their heritage and upholding age-old winemaking processes, whilst protecting the rich, fertile soil on which they are privileged to sit. They use both traditional and modern methods of wine production to respect and balance nature and biodiversity, and use wooden barrels, some dating back to the 1800s, to age and refine their premium wines.
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Taste Profile
This wine’s tasting notes.
Sweetness
lowmediumhigh
Body
lightmediumfull
Fruitiness
nonesomelots
Tannins
lowmediumhigh
Acidity
lowmediumhigh
Oak
nonesomelots
Alcohol
low
(under 12%)medium
(12-14%)high
(14%+)
Taste Summary
This wine’s tasting notes are leaning towards light bodied, low sweetness, with high acidity, no fruitiness, low tannins, high alcohol and no oak.
Specs
Region
Rutherglen
country
Australia
Grape type
Apera (AKA Sherry)
Wine Maker
Chambers Rosewood Vineyards
Alcohol
17.5%
Vintage
NV
Cellar period
1-3 years
Closure
Screw Cap
Production method
Fortification
Temperature
Chilled 8°C-10°C
State
VIC
collection
Pairing guide
Flor aged Apera (and sherry, for that matter) is such a unique wine, but also a surprisingly magical wine to pair with a range of different dishes! The natural choice here is to go with salty antipasto and tapas plates - olives, anchovies, warm bread with salty dips, cured meats and chips. This Chambers fortified wine is also sublime with anything fried or oily, so tempura, fried cheese like saganaki, and fried chicken work great. Finally, you really can't go past grilled fish with a creamy sauce, providing an excellent contrast between tangy wine and creamy dishes.
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Food

Antipasti

Deep Fried Foods

Fresh Fish
Tastes

Salty
Oily
Moods

Contemplative

You'll know when
Seasons

Summer

Spring
Recipe Matches
Wine region

Rutherglen, Australia
Rutherglen is located in the North East of Victoria, a region steeped in history and sticky fortifieds! It begins in the early 19th century, a period hallmarked by the gold rush and the nefarious Ned Kelly! It takes a special personality to pioneer a vineyard during this time. Lindsay Brown was one of the first vignerons to do it, planting vines at the Gooramadda Run site around 1851. He’s also responsible for one of the most enduring quotes of the time, saying, ‘dig gentleman dig, but no deeper than six inches, for there is more gold to be won from the top six inches than from all of the depths below.' And with vision, more and more vineyards sprouted throughout Rutherglen; it’s hard to believe only 30 years later, Rutherglen would be considered on the international stage for its luscious Tokay and heart table reds. Many wineries established at this time are still flourishing today, including and not limited to Gehrigs (1859), Chambers Rosewood (1859), Morris (1859), Campbells (1870), Stanton & Killeen (1875). Today the region is known for deep table reds made of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Durif, as well as fortified like Muscat and Tokay.
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