Sherry vinegar is a fine, matured vinegar made from sherry wines in the Jerez region of Spain, aged in oak casks by the traditional solera system. The slow ageing develops a complex, nutty, mellow acidity quite unlike sharp distilled vinegars, with the depth of the base wine shining through. It is protected by designation of origin, and the best grades spend years in cask. In the kitchen it is a vinaigrette vinegar of the first rank, lifting salads, gazpacho, and lentil dishes with rounded acidity, and a few drops finish sauces and soups. Its balance of acidity and savoury depth makes it the connoisseur’s everyday vinegar, equally at home in a simple dressing and a refined sauce.