What does flor mean in wine?

What does flor mean in wine? Flor means flower in Spanish, but in wine flor means film of yeast that forms on surface of sherry and some other wines during aging, with flor being layer of yeast Saccharomyces that protects wine from oxidation and gives distinctive nutty flavor, essential for fino and manzanilla sherry styles. Flor in wine is natural film of yeast that develops on surface of wine in barrels, especially in Jerez Spain for sherry, with flor yeast consuming alcohol and glycerol and protecting wine from oxygen, creating fresh, dry, nutty flavor with notes of bread dough and almonds. Flor forms in cool, humid cellars, needs alcohol level 14.5 to 15.5 percent, with flor being crucial for fino and manzanilla sherry which age biologically under flor, while oloroso sherry ages without flor oxidatively. So flor in wine means yeast film that protects wine and adds flavor, with flor being Spanish for flower, but in winemaking flor is yeast layer, with flor also occurring in Vin Jaune from Jura France and some other wines, with flor being living yeast that gives distinctive character, making fino sherry pale and dry with flor influence, essential for sherry production, with flor being natural and traditional winemaking technique.