4: 24 Sparkling Wines Flashcards
Where do the bubbles in sparkling wine come from?
The bubbles are dissolved carbon dioxide gas
(CO2)
They get into the wine in one of several ways:
- Injection method (low quality, inexpensive wines);
- As a by-product of secondary fermentation, which can take place in tank or bottle (used for quality wines, e.g. Prosecco or Champagne).
What are the 2 types of secondary fermentation used for quality sparkling wines. Give examples. :)
- The Tank Method (Prosecco)- 2nd fermentation in a tank before bottling
- The traditional Method- (bottle fermentation) (Cava and Champagne)
What liquid is used for the 2nd fermentation? What is this?
A dry base wine.
A still wine that is a result of primary fermentation.
(usually low in alcohol (10-11%) and high in acid because grapes are intentionally picked barely ripe).
Base wines are often blends…..blends of what?
- Grape varieties
- Vintages
- Villages/terroirs
What stops the CO2 from escaping in the secondary fermentation?
Sealed containers (either tank or bottle)
How’s the secondary fermentation initiated?
Yeast and sugar are added to the dry base wine and fermentation begins again. As the container is sealed the CO2 is trapped and is dissolved into the liquid..
What flavors are sought in bottle fermented, or Traditional Method, sparkling wines?
Autolytic flavors, such as bread, toast, and biscuit.
Traditional method sparkling wines take on these bread-like flavors from their aging on the lees.
The process is autolysis.
In the Traditional Method (Methode traditionelle), what step happens after the sugar and yeast are added to the base wine?
The bottle is sealed with a “soda pop” crown cap, and left to age for several months for autolytic compounds to develop.
The secondary fermentation occurs inside the bottle - capturing CO2, which dissolves in the wine since it can’t escape.
What is riddling?
The lees need to be removed form the finished wine before sale. the bottle is inverted to a vertical position so the lees slide into the bottle neck. Originally done by hand, now the process is automated in a gyropalette.
What is disgorgement?
Once riddling is complete, the neck of the bottle (with the lees) is frozen. The crown cap’s removed and an ice plug, containing the lees shoots out.
What’s Dosage?
After disgorgement, the bottle’s not full. Wine is taken form another bottle to fill up the disgorged bottle. Often SUGAR is added to balance acidity.
What’s liqueur d’expedition?
The mixture of wine and sugar used for the dosage.
What 3 grapes are used in Champagne?
Chardonnay
Pinot Noir
Pinot Meunier
What determines the final sweetness of the wine?
What are 2 terms indicating varying levels of sweetness?
The amount of sugar in the liqueur d’expedition.
Brut (a small amount of sugar is used - this is most common designation, producing a dry wine)
Demi-Sec (more sugar is used. The wines are medium sweet)
What is re-sealing?
The bottles are corked and a wire cage is used to secure the cork, as the contents are under pressure.
