Definition: Xérès cream

Cream sherry is a style of sweet, dark sherry, created by blending with sweet mixtures for the British market by Harveys in Bristol. Bristol Milk was sold successfully in the early 19th century by Harveys and Averys. In this regard, it is said that a lady visiting the cellars in 1882, who was offered a new type of sweet sherry that did not yet have a name, exclaimed, "If the first one is milk, this one is cream!" This is how the famous Harveys Bristol Cream was born, going on to become a huge commercial success for sherry worldwide, but one that the Spanish avoid, knowing that these blended wines are not particularly distinguished. They are skilfully sweetened and coloured. Pale cream is similar to cream, but less coloured. These styles of sherry contain residual sugars corresponding to 4.5 to 6.5° Baumé.