17.3 Blending in a Sweetening Component

Question 1

What is the easiest way to produce a wine with RS?

Answer 1

Adding a sweetening component

Question 2

Describe the process of producing a wine with RS by adding a sweet component.

Answer 2

• dry wine can be stored until it is ready to be bottled

- sweetening component is then blended in

Question 3

What are the benefits of this method?

Answer 3

• Dry wines are less susceptible to microbial spoilage than wines with residual sugar
• Winemaker able to trial, measure and add the amount of sweetener that is needed to produce the style of wine desired (high level of control, enabling high volumes of a consistent product to be made)
• Maintain or possibly slightly increase the volume of the final wine

Question 4

For what quality level of wines is adding a sweetening component typically used?

Answer 4

High volume, inexpensive wines

Question 5

Name 3 common sweetening components.

Answer 5

1. Sugar
2. Rectified concentrated grape must (RCGM)
3. Unfermented grape juice

Question 6

What is Süssreserve?

Answer 6

German term for unfermented grape juice

Question 7

What will adding unfermented grape juice contribute to the wine?

Answer 7

grape-juice-like character

Question 8

What will adding RCGM contribute to the wine?

Answer 8

• It’s processed so that it just contains the sugar from the grape
• Neutral (does not add any additional flavours)
• Smaller amounts are required to sweeten the wine

Question 9

What sometimes determines the substance used for sweetening wine?

Answer 9

Local wine regulation

Question 10

Give 2 examples of local wine regulations that limits substances used for sweetening wine.

Answer 10

• the use of sugar is not permitted in the EU
• Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) wines - unfermented grape juice must come from the same wine region as the wine being made