11 - Aromatised Wines Flashcards

1
Q

List the three most important types of aromatised wines

A

Vermouth
Quinquina/Chinato
Americano

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2
Q

How do all aromatised wines begin?

A

As wine

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3
Q

Briefly describe the process of creating aromatised wines

A

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

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4
Q

Can any colour of grape be used for aromatised wine?

A

Yes

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5
Q

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

A

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

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6
Q

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

A

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

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7
Q

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

A

Individual re-distillation
Macerating all botanicals together

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8
Q

What flavours can be used when making aromatised wine?

A

Any (unlimited)

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9
Q

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

A

Bitterness from one or more of the botanicals

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10
Q

Name some bitter botanicals which may be used for aromatised wines

A

Wormwood
Quinine
Gentian

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11
Q

Certain types of aromatised wines must contain…

A

One bitter botanical

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12
Q

Describe sweetness in aromatised wines

A

They are made with varying levels of sweetness
Rarely truly dry

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13
Q

Why are aromatised rarely dry?

A

Sweetness is needed to balance the bitterness

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14
Q

Where might sweetness come from?

A

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

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15
Q

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

A

By halting fermentation with spirit
Mistelle

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16
Q

What must be added to aromatised wine?

A

Distilled alcohol

17
Q

What must the final abv of aromatised wine be?

A

Between 14.5% abv and 22% abv

18
Q

Aromatised wines are technically a type of …

A

Fortified wine

19
Q

What are the advantages of fortifying the base wine?

A

Longer shelf life
Stabilises the wine

20
Q

How many aromatised wines are sweet?

A

Most

21
Q

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

A

Neutral alcohol
Low-strength, characterful distillates

22
Q

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

A

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

23
Q

When does blending of AW take place?

A

At the end of production

24
Q

What is blended?

A

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

25
Q

What kinds of colouring are used in AW?

A

Caramel and others

26
Q

What will happen once an AW has been blended?

A

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

27
Q

Aromatised wines can be made where?

A

Anywhere in the world

28
Q

Where are the vast majority of AW made?

A

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

29
Q

What is the most important type of aromatised wine?

A

Vermouth

30
Q

What must be used in vermouth?

A

Wormwood

31
Q

What may cause variation in vermouths?

A

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

32
Q

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

A

It may add caramel aromas and some bitterness

33
Q

What must be used in Quinquina/Chinato?

A

Quinine

34
Q

Several examples of chinato are made using…

A

Red wines

35
Q

Why are either quinquina or chinato used?

A

Quinquina=France
Chinato=Italy

36
Q

With what must Americano be flavoured?

A

Wormwood
Gentian

37
Q

How may americano appear?

A

Either yellow or red

38
Q

Where might the red colour come from in americano?

A

Added colour
Red base wine