11 - Aromatised Wines

Question 1

List the three most important types of aromatised wines

Answer 1

Vermouth
Quinquina/Chinato
Americano

Question 2

How do all aromatised wines begin?

Answer 2

As wine

Question 3

Briefly describe the process of creating aromatised wines

Answer 3

The wine is flavoured with botanicals
It’s fortified with spirit/distilled alcohol
Typically then sweetened
Sometimes coloured

Question 4

Can any colour of grape be used for aromatised wine?

Answer 4

Yes

Question 5

What are the most popular characteristics for aromatised wine grapes? Why?

Answer 5

Neutral, high acid, white varieties
A neutral, dry base wine allows botanicals to shine through

Question 6

What other choice of grape might be used for aromatised wine? For what purpose?

Answer 6

Aromatic white varieties such as Muscat might be used
The maker may want more character from the base wine
Black varieties for red or rose might be used for the same reasons

Question 7

What are the main methods for processing botanicals in aromatised wines?

Answer 7

Individual re-distillation
Macerating all botanicals together

Question 8

What flavours can be used when making aromatised wine?

Answer 8

Any (unlimited)

Question 9

What is the one flavour feature that all aromatised wines have in common?

Answer 9

Bitterness from one or more of the botanicals

Question 10

Name some bitter botanicals which may be used for aromatised wines

Answer 10

Wormwood
Quinine
Gentian

Question 11

Certain types of aromatised wines must contain…

Answer 11

One bitter botanical

Question 12

Describe sweetness in aromatised wines

Answer 12

They are made with varying levels of sweetness
Rarely truly dry

Question 13

Why are aromatised rarely dry?

Answer 13

Sweetness is needed to balance the bitterness

Question 14

Where might sweetness come from?

Answer 14

Sugar which has been added to the dry base wine
The grapes

Question 15

How might grape sweetness be created when required for aromatised wine? What is the resulting liquid called?

Answer 15

By halting fermentation with spirit
Mistelle

Question 16

What must be added to aromatised wine?

Answer 16

Distilled alcohol

Question 17

What must the final abv of aromatised wine be?

Answer 17

Between 14.5% abv and 22% abv

Question 18

Aromatised wines are technically a type of …

Answer 18

Fortified wine

Question 19

What are the advantages of fortifying the base wine?

Answer 19

Longer shelf life
Stabilises the wine

Question 20

How many aromatised wines are sweet?

Answer 20

Most

Question 21

What is mostly used to fortify aromatised wine? What is the other option?

Answer 21

Neutral alcohol
Low-strength, characterful distillates

Question 22

What is the advantage of using neutral spirit for aromatised wine?

Answer 22

It does not contribute any flavours that could compete with the botanical flavours the producer is trying to showcase

Question 23

When does blending of AW take place?

Answer 23

At the end of production

Question 24

What is blended?

Answer 24

Dry base wine
Distilled alcohol
Flavoured distillates and tinctures
Sugar or mistelle
Colouring (if required)

Question 25

What kinds of colouring are used in AW?

Answer 25

Caramel and others

Question 26

What will happen once an AW has been blended?

Answer 26

It will be stored for a few weeks in stainless steel to allow flavours to integrate prior to bottling and release Some producers use oak barrels for extra complexity

Question 27

Aromatised wines can be made where?

Answer 27

Anywhere in the world

Question 28

Where are the vast majority of AW made?

Answer 28

In an area straddling the Alps, which incorporates south-east France and north-west Italy

Question 29

What is the most important type of aromatised wine?

Answer 29

Vermouth

Question 30

What must be used in vermouth?

Answer 30

Wormwood

Question 31

What may cause variation in vermouths?

Answer 31

Aromatic intensity of the base wine The level of sweetness The use of caramel colour

Question 32

What other purpose may be served by using caramel colour in red vermouth?

Answer 32

It may add caramel aromas and some bitterness

Question 33

What must be used in Quinquina/Chinato?

Answer 33

Quinine

Question 34

Several examples of chinato are made using...

Answer 34

Red wines

Question 35

Why are either quinquina or chinato used?

Answer 35

Quinquina=France Chinato=Italy

Question 36

With what must Americano be flavoured?

Answer 36

Wormwood Gentian

Question 37

How may americano appear?

Answer 37

Either yellow or red

Question 38

Where might the red colour come from in americano?

Answer 38

Added colour Red base wine