1.1 - Standard Options: Natural factors & the grape growing environment

Question 1

What are the three advantages of using Chardonnay as sparkling grape variety?

Answer 1

1. It has apple and citrus aromas that complement autolysis
2. It’s early ripening, therefore well-suited to cool climate regions
3. It retains high acid, low alcohol and high yielding variety.

Question 2

What are the three challenges of using Chardonnay as a sparkling grape variety?

Answer 2

1. It’s early budding and therefore vulnerable to spring frosts.
2. It’s prone to collure and millerandange
3. It’s prone to disease, particularly powdery mildew, grapevine yellows and botrytis

Question 3

What are the two advantages of using Pinot Noir as a sparkling grape variety?

Answer 3

1. It’s early ripening, therefore well-suited to cool climate regions
2. Lends body to the blend

Question 4

What are the four challenges of using Pinot Noir as a sparkling grape variety?

Answer 4

1. Early budding and therefore prone to spring frosts
2. Prone to collure
3. If yields are too high, grape quality will fall
4. It’s thin skinned and therefore disease prone, particularly to downy and powdery mildew, botrytis, and fan and leaf roll.

Question 5

What are the three Cava varieties?

Answer 5

Macabao, Xarel-lo and Parrellada

Question 6

What is the variety used for Prosecco?

Answer 6

Glera, previously called Prosecco

Question 7

What are the three grape characteristics that need to be considered when choosing which grape variety to use?

Answer 7

1. Intensity of aromas (aromatic versus neutral variety)
2. Retention of acidity while ripening
3. Response to autolysis (eg Chard becomes creamy, Xarel-lo becomes toasty/smoky)

Question 8

What three characteristics desirable for sparkling wine are best achieved at higher yields?

Answer 8

1. High acid levels
2. Low potential alcohol
3. Delicate flavours

Question 9

What is the advantage to growers of maximising yields for sparkling wine production?

Answer 9

It can minimise some of the risk involved in growing in cooler, wetter climates; providing some assurance that even in difficult years a decent crop can be produced.

Question 10

What is the optimum outcome for training and trellising decisions for sparkling prodiction?

Answer 10

Clean and healthy fruit.

Question 11

Why is clean and healthy fruit a priority for sparkling wine production? (2)

Answer 11

1. Characters that evolve as a result of disease in the vineyard are amplified by effervescence.
2. Laccase, the enzyme released by botrytis infection can cause oxidation

Question 12

What is the name of the enzyme released by botrytis infected fruit?

Answer 12

Laccase

Question 13

What are the three characteristics sought by harvesting early?

Answer 13

1. High acid levels
2. Low potential alcohol
3. Delicate flavours

Question 14

Why are high acid levels desirable for sparkling wine production?

Answer 14

Retains freshness, and lowers the risk of oxidation and helps with longevity of the finished wine.

Question 15

Why is low potential alcohol desirable for sparkling wine production?

Answer 15

Because secondary fermentation will add an additional 1-1.5% alcohol.

Question 16

Why are delicate fruit flavours desirable for sparkling wine production?

Answer 16

Because more delicate flavours will take on the flavours of yeast autolysis better.

Question 17

Why is early harvesting advantageous for cool climate grape growing?

Answer 17

The fruit can come off the vine before autumn, minimising the risk of autumn frost and fungal disease

Question 18

What is the risk of early harvesting?

Answer 18

Unripe flavours are undesirable and will only increase as the wine ages.

Question 19

What are the three positive outcomes of hand harvesting?

Answer 19

1. Permits hand sorting
2. Minimises splitting/crushing and therefore oxidation
3. Keep whole bunches

Question 20

What are the challenges of hand harvesting?

Answer 20

It’s slow, labour intensive and expensive

Question 21

What are the three positive outcomes of machine harvesting?

Answer 21

1. Faster and cheaper
2. Permits night time harvesting and therefore cooler grapes retaining freshness better
3. Diseased of damaged fruit can still be removed in the vineyard, just prior to harvest.

Question 22

What are the challenges of machine harvesting?

Answer 22

Can rupture the skin leading to oxidation and premature phenolic extraction.

Question 23

What climates are best suited for growing grapes for sparkling wine?

Answer 23

Cool climates where the grapes struggle to ripen.

Typically at greater latitudes, or else in places with cooling influences such as oceans or altitude.

Question 24

Why are cool climates best suited for sparkling grape growing? (3)

Answer 24

1. The keep potential alcohol lower (9-11%) because secondary fermentation will add an additional 1-2%.
2. To keep acidity high (clean, healthy must)
3. To keep overtly ripe fruit flavours at bay for TM wines.

Question 25

What kind of areas can fruit for less expensive sparkling wine be grown?

Answer 25

Flat fertile plains, where land is cheaper and easier to cultivate.
Or, in places where fruit is not suitable for still wines.