BEST SHERRY WINES TO BUY RIGHT NOW: A Complete Bottle Guide

Sun, May 17, 2026

If you have been wondering what sherry wine to drink, or whether it is even worth exploring, this guide is for you. Sherry is one of the most misunderstood wines in the world. Most people associate it with something sweet and old fashioned, but the truth is that most sherry wines are completely dry, deeply complex, and incredibly food friendly. Whether you are looking for the best sherry wines for sipping, cooking, or entertaining, here is a look at every confirmed bottle we carry at Arlington Wine and Liquor, with tasting notes and food pairings for each one.

Is Sherry Wine Sweet?

This is the first question most people ask, and the answer might surprise you. Most sherry wine is actually dry. Styles like Fino and Amontillado have little to no residual sugar. The sweetness reputation comes from Cream Sherry and Pedro Ximenez, which are rich and sweet but represent just one corner of the category. So if you have been avoiding sherry because you assumed it was sweet, you have been missing out on some of the driest and most interesting wines Spain produces.

The Bottles: What We Carry at Arlington Wine and Liquor

1. Tio Pepe Palomino Fino Sherry

Intro

Tio Pepe from Gonzalez Byass is the most iconic Fino sherry in the world. Made from 100% Palomino grapes grown in the chalky albariza soils of Jerez, this is the bottle that has defined the Fino style for generations.

At $19.99 it is one of the best value bottles on this list and the natural first choice for anyone new to sherry wine.

Tasting Notes

It pours a pale, almost platinum gold. The nose opens with fresh almonds, a hint of warm bread dough, and a clean briny edge that signals real character.

On the palate it is bone dry, crisp, and almost weightless, with a long nutty finish that lingers. There is no heaviness, no sweetness, just pure clarity and precision.

Serve it very cold, straight from the fridge, in a white wine glass or small copita.

Food Pairing

Fried seafood
Jamón ibérico
Marcona almonds
Olives and Spanish tortilla
Excellent for savory sauces and soups

2. Lustau Los Arcos Amontillado Sherry

Intro

Lustau is one of the most respected names in sherry production and the Los Arcos Amontillado is their flagship dry Amontillado.

Sherry wine Amontillado is the style that tends to convert skeptics, sitting beautifully between the bright freshness of Fino and the dark richness of Oloroso.

This particular bottle earned 90 points from Wine Advocate and is widely regarded as one of the best value Amontillados on the market.

Tasting Notes

Warm amber in the glass with golden highlights. The nose is inviting and complex: roasted hazelnuts, dried apricot, a trace of caramel, and a subtle smoky undertone.

On the palate it is light to medium bodied, soft, and rounded with a freshly nutty character and just a hint of wood. The acidity is clean and bright, keeping the wine lively.

The finish is long, warm, and gently savory with a lingering nuttiness that makes you want another sip.

Food Pairing

Aged Manchego, Gruyere, or Parmigiano
Mushroom risotto
Roasted chicken with herbs
Duck or quail
Artichokes and charcuterie boards
Excellent in rich pan sauces and braises

3. Dry Sack 15YR Solera Especial Sherry

Intro

Dry Sack is one of the most recognized sherry names in the United States and has been a reliable crowd pleaser for decades.

Made by Williams and Humbert, one of Jerez's great historic bodegas, it is a medium dry sherry that falls comfortably between the austerity of a bone dry Fino and the sweetness of a Cream.

It is the bottle that bridges the gap for guests who are unsure where they land on the sweet to dry spectrum.

Tasting Notes

Deep golden amber with warm copper tones. The nose brings roasted nuts, dried fig, and a soft honeyed quality without being sweet.

On the palate it is smooth, rounded, and medium bodied with flavors of walnuts, dried apricot, and a gentle toffee note on the finish.

The sweetness is subtle and the overall impression is one of warmth and comfort.

Serve it slightly chilled, around 54°F, in a regular wine glass.

Food Pairing

Aged gouda, manchego, and mild blue cheese
Roasted nuts
Honey glazed ham
Light fruit based desserts
Perfect as a welcome drink before dinner

4. Harveys Bristol Cream Sherry

Intro

Harveys Bristol Cream is one of the most iconic sweet sherry bottles in the world. First produced in the 19th century, it has remained a benchmark cream sherry for well over a hundred years.

If someone at your table asks "is sherry wine sweet," hand them a small pour of this and the answer is immediately clear.

Rich, approachable, and genuinely crowd pleasing, it is the bottle most people think of when they imagine cream sherry done right.

Tasting Notes

Deep amber with warm mahogany tones. The nose is generous and inviting: toffee, dried apricot, roasted almonds, and a faint trace of orange zest.

On the palate it is smooth and full bodied, with a sweetness that is lush but balanced by a thread of natural acidity that keeps it from feeling heavy.

Flavors of caramel, roasted nuts, and dried fruit carry through to a long, warm, gently spiced finish.

Serve lightly chilled, around 54°F, or over a large ice cube.

Food Pairing

Dark chocolate
Pecan pie
Vanilla ice cream
Stilton or Roquefort blue cheese
Perfect as an after dinner dessert wine

5. Fairbanks Cream Sherry

Intro

Fairbanks is the practical, everyday cream sherry on this list. It is simpler and less complex than Harveys Bristol Cream but it has an honest, warm character that makes it reliable for both casual sipping and kitchen use.

If you cook regularly with cream sherry or want a bottle to keep on hand for guests without watching the budget, Fairbanks is the answer.

Tasting Notes

Medium amber in color. The nose is straightforward with notes of roasted nuts, light caramel, and a gentle sweetness.

On the palate it is soft, mellow, and medium bodied with flavors of dried fruit, almond, and a mild honeyed quality.

The finish is short and clean. It is not a complex wine, but it is comfortable, approachable, and honest.

Serve it lightly chilled or at cool room temperature.

Food Pairing

Shortbread cookies
Light desserts
Mild soft cheeses
Excellent for cooking and cream sherry recipes
Perfect as a relaxed evening nightcap

Does Sherry Wine Go Bad?

Yes, and this matters more with sherry than with almost any other wine, especially for dry styles. Fino is the most fragile. Once opened, it should be refrigerated and finished within one week. The protective yeast layer that keeps it fresh during aging disappears the moment the bottle is opened, and oxidation begins immediately. Pando and Tio Pepe both fall into this category.

Amontillado is more stable and will hold for two to four weeks in the fridge after opening. Richer styles like Dry Sack, Harveys, and Fairbanks Cream can last four to eight weeks refrigerated because their higher sugar content and oxidative aging make them far less delicate.

Unopened bottles of Cream and Amontillado sherry can age for many years. Fino is best consumed within one to two years of bottling. If your Fino smells flat or vinegary rather than fresh and almond-like, it has turned.

Sherry Wine Replacement: What to Use When You Are Out

For dry sherry (Fino or Amontillado): Use dry white wine or dry vermouth in equal amounts. Both carry the right acidity and a slightly nutty character that mimics sherry well in sauces, soups, and pan reductions.

For sweet or cream sherry in cooking: Marsala wine is the closest substitute. Port or Madeira also work for richer, dessert style recipes. For a non alcoholic option, mix grape juice with a small splash of white wine vinegar.

Important: Bottles labeled "cooking sherry" at grocery stores contain added salt that changes the flavor of your dish. Always use a drinking quality bottle like Tio Pepe Fino or Lustau Amontillado when cooking with sherry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best sherry wine for someone trying it for the first time?
Start with Tio Pepe Palomino Fino if you enjoy dry, crisp wines. If you want something with more depth and warmth, the Lustau Amontillado Los Arcos is an excellent introduction to sherry wine Amontillado style. For guests who prefer sweeter wines, Harveys Bristol Cream is the most familiar and accessible starting point.
What is the difference between Fino and Amontillado sherry?
Fino is aged under a layer of protective yeast called flor, which keeps it pale, light, and bone dry. Amontillado starts as a Fino but continues aging after the flor dies off. Exposure to oxygen deepens the color to amber and shifts the flavor from crisp and saline to nutty, caramel forward, and more complex. Both styles are dry, but Amontillado has noticeably more body and depth.
Is sherry wine sweet or dry?
Both exist within the same category. Fino and Amontillado are bone dry. Cream Sherry and Pedro Ximenez are sweet. Medium dry styles like Dry Sack sit in between. The style you choose depends entirely on your taste and what you plan to pair it with.
How should I store an open bottle of sherry?
Keep it sealed tightly in the fridge. Fino styles like Tio Pepe and Pando should be finished within one week. Lustau Amontillado will hold for two to four weeks. Dry Sack, Harveys Bristol Cream, and Fairbanks Cream can last four to eight weeks refrigerated after opening.
Can I use these bottles as a sherry wine replacement in recipes?
Yes. Tio Pepe Fino and Lustau Amontillado are ideal for savory cooking since they are dry and nutty. Fairbanks Cream or Harveys Bristol Cream work well in sweet recipes or cream sauces. Always use a drinking quality sherry rather than a cooking sherry bottle with added salt.
What foods pair best with dry sherry?
Fino and dry Amontillado are outstanding with salty, briny, and savory foods. Fried seafood, cured meats, olives, aged cheese, and egg based dishes are all natural matches. The salinity and dry acidity of these wines cut through fat and complement umami flavors exceptionally well.
Does sherry wine need to be refrigerated before opening?
Fino styles should be refrigerated before serving and consumed very cold, around 43 to 50 degrees F. Amontillado and medium dry sherries can be stored at cool room temperature and given a brief chill before pouring. Cream sherries are best served at around 54 degrees F, just slightly below room temperature.
How long does an unopened bottle of sherry last?
Rich styles like Amontillado and Cream Sherry can age beautifully for many years unopened. Fino is more time sensitive and is best consumed within one to two years of bottling. Check the bottling date on the label if it is available.

By Arlington Wine and Liquor