What does manzanilla mean?
A manzanilla is a Spanish sherry in the fino family, valued for being pale, light-bodied, dry, and sharply refreshing. It is associated with the coastal town of Sanlúcar de Barrameda in Andalusia, where the warm, maritime climate helps produce its distinctive style. Because its high acidity and minimal sweetness can make it resemble a dry white wine, it is often served chilled, particularly with seafood, olives, or other savoury foods. The word is borrowed from Spanish and is commonly encountered in wine lists, restaurants, and discussions of sherry. Although manzanilla belongs to the broad fino category, it is distinguished by its pronounced dryness and delicacy. It should not be confused with amontillado, which is also a fino-related style but generally has a richer, nuttier character. Within the world of sherry, manzanilla occupies a distinctive position: it combines the freshness and finesse of fino with an especially austere, bone-dry finish.
nounA pale, dry, light style of Spanish sherry associated with Sanlúcar de Barrameda in Andalusia. It is generally served chilled.
- A dry, pale Spanish sherry made in the style of Sanlúcar de Barrameda in Andalusia.
"They shared a bottle of manzanilla and a small plate of olives by the sea."
"The restaurant served manzanilla with grilled seafood."
"She chose manzanilla because she wanted a bone-dry sherry rather than a richer amontillado."
The plural is grammatically possible but uncommon because the word is usually used for a type of wine.
"The sommelier recommended two manzanillas for the tasting."
A manzanilla is among the driest and most delicate styles of sherry, often mistaken for a light white wine because of its dryness and restrained character.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does manzanilla come from?
The English word is borrowed from Spanish manzanilla, a diminutive related to manzana, meaning apple, and also used for chamomile. The Spanish sherry name belongs to the same broader etymological family as these apple-related forms, although the precise historical reason for the wine's name is not certain. The drink is closely associated with the historic sherry-producing town of Sanlúcar de Barrameda.
How manzanilla is actually used
The term is normally used for a wine in the manzanilla style, not simply as a general term for dry sherry. In British usage it is often pronounced with a final stress on the first syllable, as /ˌmænzəˈnɪlə/.