1. Standard options in sparkling winemaking Flashcards
What sort of climate is ideal for sparkling wine?
Cool climates where grapes struggle to ripen.
Why is it desired to grow grapes for sparkling wine in a cool climate?
- They are just-ripe in flavour
- They retain high acidity
- Sugar accumulates slowly, giving low alc (9-11 percent)
Why is it important that the potential alcohol in grapes for sparkling wine is low?
Because the second fermentation produces additional 1-2 percent alc
Mention a few famous areas for sparkling wines and their cooling environmental conditions
Greater latitudes: Champagne, England, Tasmania
Near coast: Sonoma
High Altitude: Trento DOC
What are sparkling wines from warmer areas generally like?
Short-aged wines with dominant fruit flavours, made from transfer method or short times on lees from trad. method
What sort of sparkling wines can be fund on flat, fertile plains and why?
In-expensive sparkling wines. The environment isn’t suitable for still wines as the grapes won’t get the concentration or ripeness needed for still wines.
What are the most common grape varieties for premium and super-premium sparkling wines?
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
What is autolysis in a short answer?
The breaking down of dead yeast cells
Why is Chardonnay so suitable for lees aging?
It’s subtle apple and citrus aromas and flavours compliment rather than compete with biscuity aromas from autolysis
How is Chardonnay when it comes to ripening, acidity, alcohol and flavour?
Early ripening, which is beneficial in cool conditions. It retains high lvl of acidity and offer low lvl of alcohol while avoiding underripe flavours.
What is the con of Chardonnay being an early budding grape?
It’s prone to coulure, millerandage and spring frosts. Also Powdery mildew, grapevine yellows and to botrytis. However, it’s more disease resistance than PN.
What happens in good years with Chardonnay?
It can bring high yields without loosing quality.
Why is Pinot Noir suited for a cool climate?
It’s early ripening and early budding
What is the early budding and thin skinned PN prone to?
Spring frosts
Coulure
Diseases (downy mildew, esp. powdery) Botrytis
Fan leaf and leaf roll
What happens with PN if produces high yields?
Drop in quality
What is PNs function in a blend?
Adds body
Mention other sparkling wine varieties and their associated wines
Macabeo, Xarel-lo, Parellada in Cava
Glera in Prosecco
What factors within a grape variety can influence the style of wine?
Intensity of aromas (aromatic vs neutral)
Ability to retain acidity while ripening
How the base wine respons to autolysis
How does Chardonnay and Xarel-lo react to autolysis?
Chardonnay becomes creamy, Xarel-lo becomes toasty and smoky
What is the difference in yields when it comes to sparkling wine vs still and why?
Higher yields which gives higher acid lvls, lower pot. alc, and delicate flavours.
What affect the decision when in comes to the decision of training and trellising techniques?
Climate, varieties, nutritional status of the soil. the priority is to obtain clean, healthy frut.
Why is sparkling wine more unforgiving when it comes to diseased fruit?
Off-flavours may be enhanced by the effervescence (bubblor) and also enzyme laccase from Botrytis can cause serious oxidation