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WSET Level 3 Award in Wines > 42. Sparkling Wines of the World > Flashcards

42. Sparkling Wines of the World Flashcards

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1
Q

Describe the labelling system in Champagne.

A
  • There is 1 AC: Champagne AC
  • Villages (not specific vineyard sites) within Champagne can be designated as cru status:
  • -22 Premier Cru
  • -17 Grand Cru
  • Region is currently review the delineation of the appellation to determine if it should be expanded
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2
Q

How many subregions of Champagne are there? Name them.

A

5 subregions

  • Montage de Reims
  • Vallee de la Marine
  • Cote des Blancs
  • Cote de Sezanne
  • Cote des Bar
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3
Q

What is the climate and geography of Champagne? Why is it ideal for sparkling wines

A

Cool, continental climate

  • winter freeze
  • spring frosts
  • rainy, cloudy weather
  • chalky soils (good drainage)
  • vineyards on slopes (combat winter frosts)
  • grape sugar levels = very low; acid levels = very high (ideal for sparkling base wines)
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4
Q

What are the three main grape varieties of Champagne?

A
  • Chardonnay
  • Pinot Noir
  • Meunier
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5
Q

Describe Chardonnay from Champagne. In which subregions is it typically grown?

A 
Cote des Blancs
Cote de Sezanne
-lighter body
-high acidity
-floral
-citrus fruit
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6
Q

Describe Pinot Noir from Champagne. In which subregions is it typically grown?

A 
Montagne de Reims
Cote des Bar
-greater body
-structural backbone
-red fruit
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7
Q

Describe Meunier from Champagne. In which subregions is it typically grown?

A

Vallee de la Marne

  • buds late (spring frosts common here)
  • fruity flavors
  • wines drunk young
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8
Q

Describe the pre-fermentation winemaking processes used in champagne.

A
  • must be hand harvested
  • whole, healthy bunches
  • pressing is highly controlled
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9
Q

What is the cuvee? What is the taille? Which is used for the best Champagnes?

A

Cuvee: first liquor to come off the press, purest juice
Taille: remainder of the juice

Best Champagnes are made from solely the cuvee

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10
Q

What is optional in Champagne?

A
  1. oak or stainless steel

2. MLF or no MLF

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11
Q

Why is blending particularly important in Champagne?

A
  • Weather varies widely year to year

- achieve consistency in house style

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12
Q

How long must non-vintage Champagne age for? How long on lees?

A
  • 15 months

- 12/15 months on lees

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13
Q

How long must vintage Champagne age for? How long on lees?

A
  • 36 months

- no requirement for lees aging

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14
Q

Generally describe Champagne wines.

A
  • high acid

- some autolytic flavors

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15
Q

Describe non-vintage Champagnes.

A
  • lighter bodied
  • more fresh fruit flavors
  • some complexity
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16
Q

Describe vintage Champagnes.

A
  • made only in the best years
  • more concentrated
  • more toasty, biscuity notes from longer lees aging
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17
Q

Describe the best rose Champagnes.

A
  • delicately balance aromas from autolysis

- subtle fruity red berry notes

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18
Q

Describe Blanc de Blancs wines vs. Blanc de Nors wines.

A

BLANCS

  • light to medium body
  • citrus primary fruit

NOIRS

  • fuller in body
  • more red fruit flavors
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19
Q

What are Prestige Cuvee wines?

A
  • made by many Champagne houses
  • finest wine in their range
  • typically vintage (not always)
  • made from best parcel of grapes
  • can be closed, austere in youth
  • can benefit from aging
  • premium prices
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20
Q

What is the most common sweetness styles Champagne?

A

Brut

-current trend in Brut Nature wines

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21
Q

What are the most prestigious regions for cremate?

A

Cremant d’Alsace
Cremant de Bourgogne
Cremant de Loire

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22
Q

What grapes are typically used in cremant?

A

generally, wines made from still white wines of the region

Exception: aromatic varieties (e.g. Muscat, Gewurztraminer) not permitted in Alsace

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23
Q

How are cremant wines made? Years on lees?

A
  • Traditional Method

- minimum of 9 months on lees

24
Q

What are the two main subregions for sparkling wine production in the Loire? How are they made? Years on lees?

A
  1. Saumur
  2. Vouvray
    - Traditional Method
    - min 9 months on lees
25
Q

What sparkling wines are made in Saumur?

A

White: Chardonnay, Chenin, Cabernet Franc, local varieties
Red: Cabernet Franc

26
Q

What sparkling wines are made in Vouvray?

A

Chenin Blanc

  • high acid
  • not much bread, biscuity character
  • autolytic character is more smoky and toasty
27
Q

Where is Cava made?

A

Non-contiguous geographical areas caress Spain

  • Vast majority: Catalan vineyards centered on the town of Sant Sadurni d’Anoia
  • Navarra
  • Rioja
  • Valencia
28
Q

How is Cava made? What are the lees aging requirements?

A

Traditional Method

-must spend at least 9 months on the lees

29
Q

What are the main grapes used in Cava production?

A 
White
-Maccabeo (Viura)
-Xarel-lo
-Parellada
Roses
-Garnacha
-Monastrell

Recently Chardonnay and Pinot Noir were permitted, add acid and fruit to wines, point of controversy

30
Q

Describe Cava.

A
  • dry
  • medium acidity
  • some yeast autolysis character (not always bready, toasty)
  • non vintage, ready to drink (lower in acidity)
  • some premium with extensive lees aging
31
Q

Where is Asti DOCG located?

A

-Piemonte in northwest Italy

32
Q

What grape is Asti made from?

A

Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains

-Asti Method

33
Q

Describe Asti sparkling wines.

A
  • distinct grapes character
  • pronounced fruit aromas: peach, grape
  • floral
  • sweet
  • low alcohol (7% abv)
  • no autolytic flavors
  • drink young
34
Q

Where is Prosecco made? What are the main regions? Which is higher quality?

A

Northeast Italy

  • Prosecco DOC (Veneto, Friuli)
  • Conegliano-Valdobbiadene DOCG (northwest Venice)*

*higher quality

35
Q

What do the terms Catizze and Rive indicate?

A

-wine from an exception vineyard site

36
Q

What is the main grape variety of Prosecco? What did it used to be named?

A

Glera

-Used to be named Prosecco

37
Q

Where must the grapes for -Conegliano-Valdobbiadene DOCG be grown?

A

Between the two towns of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene on the steep limestone hills northwest of Venice

38
Q

How is Prosecco typically produced? Describe the wines.

A

Tank Method

  • medium acid
  • fresh aromas
  • green apple, melon
  • Brut, Extra Dry, Dry styles
  • typically have more residual sugar (chilling and filtering, interruption fermentation)
  • drink young
39
Q

What country has the highest per capita consumption of sparking wine in the world?

A

Germany

40
Q

How is Sekt made? Where are the base wines typically from?

A

Tank Method usually
-base wines from Italy or France

Some super rare premium use Traditional Method

41
Q

What is Deutscher Sekt? With which grape are the best made?

A

Base wines come from Germany

Riesling

42
Q

What is Deutscher Sekt bA?

A

Superior appellation used if all grapes come from one of the quality wine regions (e.g. Mosel)

43
Q

What premium sparkling wines are made in Australia? Where are these made?

A

Cool to moderate regions:

  • Yara Valley
  • Adelaide Hills
  • Tasmania
  • Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
  • Traditional Method
  • complex, elegant
  • styles range from vintage to non, rose, blanc de blancs, blanc de noirs
44
Q

Where do inexpensive sparkling wines come from? How are they produced?

A

Warmer regions

  • Riverina
  • tank method or carbonation
  • fruity
  • vary in sweetness
45
Q

In what country have sparkling red wines had the most commercial success?

A

Australia

46
Q

From which grape(s) are the best sparkling red wines from Australia made? Which method(s) is/are used?

A

Shiraz
-Also: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot

Methods:
Inexpensive: carbonation, tank method
Premium: traditional method

  • full body
  • red berry fruit
  • smooth tannins
  • some RS
47
Q

What sparkling wines is New Zealand known for? Where are the grown? What is the climate?

A

Traditional Method

  • Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
  • range of styles

Where?
Southern position
-maritime climate
-cool sea breezes

48
Q

Which region of New Zealand products the most grapes for sparkling wine? How do the styles differ as you get farther north?

A

Marlborough

-North Island: warmer climate = richer style, blending is common

49
Q

What fruity style of sparkling wine is particular to New Zealand?

A

Sauvignon Blanc

  • carbonation or tank method
  • retain intense aromas of variety
50
Q

In South Africa, what are wines made by the traditional method labelled?

A

Methode Cap Classique

51
Q

From which grapes are the best South African sparkling wines made? Where?

A

Pinot Noir, Chardonnay

  • Western Cape
  • hillside slopes
  • south eastern aspect
  • near the coast
52
Q

What is the Cap Classique Producers Association

A
  • recommends that its members age their wines on lees for minimum of 12 months
  • not required to be a member to use “Cap Classique” label
53
Q

Other than traditional method sparkling wines, what sparking wine is South Africa known for?

A
  • off-dry to sweet

- carbonated

54
Q

What state in the USA is responsible for the vast majority of sparkling wine production in the USA?

A

California

  • cooler locations:
    1. Los Carneros AVA
    2. Anderson Valley AVA
55
Q

How are premium sparkling wines made in the US? What grapes? Lees aging? Describe the wines.

A

Traditional Method

  • Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
  • Extended aging on lees (5 yrs not uncommon)
  • concentrated, complex
  • high acid
56
Q

How and where are inexpensive US sparkling wines made? Describe the wines.

A

Carbonation or tank method

  • fruity
  • medium sweet to sweet
  • range of grapes
  • warmer, high yielding areas
  • Central Valley

WSET Level 3 Award in Wines (41 decks)

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