Technique
Rocío
The transfer of younger wine into older criadera rows in a sherry solera. Literally 'sprinkling'. Keeps the solera system in motion.
What it is
Rocío literally means “sprinkling” or “dewfall”. In a sherry bodega it’s the work step where younger wine from a higher criadera is transferred down into the older row below, to replace loss from saca (draw-off for bottling).
It’s not a separate stage but a continuous process: without rocío the solera system would dry up. Each draw from the solera floor has to be topped up from the first criadera, which in turn from the second, and so on until the youngest row receives the new harvest.
How it happens
Two techniques, both manual:
- Classical with siphon: a trained cellar hand transfers 5 to 15 litres per movement using a long tin or glass siphon. Cautiously, to avoid disturbing the flor layer in the receiving butt.
- Modern with pump: in large bodegas with hundreds of butts per criadera, guided pumps move liquid through hoses in controlled volume.
The timing follows the saca cycle. With four annual sacas (spring, summer, autumn, winter) a rocío follows immediately after each. Smaller bodegas with one annual saca run a single rocío per year.
Why rocío means “sprinkling”
The image comes from old bodega practice: the siphon liquid was often released into the butt from above in a thin stream, like dewfall on a flower. That was not just poetic but functional: a fine stream disturbs the flor less than a thick pour.
Many modern bodegas use pump and hose, losing the visual sprinkling element. The name remains, and demonstrations on tours sometimes still feature a siphon rocío for the effect.
Frequently asked questions
How much wine is transferred per rocío?
Per butt between 5 and 20 litres, depending on the saca volume. A typical sherry butt (bota) holds 500 litres, so rocío moves a few percent per cycle. For VOS certification (max 5% saca/year) that’s 25 litres per butt, for VORS (max 3.5%) about 17 litres.
Does rocío disturb the flor layer?
Indirectly yes. That’s why rocío in fino and manzanilla soleras is done with extra care: slow stream, avoiding central impact on the surface. An experienced capataz restores any disruption within days by observing flor regrowth.
How does rocío differ from saca?
Saca is the draw-off from the bottom row (solera) for bottling. Rocío is the top-up of the older row from younger rows, immediately after the saca. Saca = outgoing, rocío = incoming. Together they form one complete cycle.