42. Sparkling Wines of the World Flashcards
Describe the labelling system in Champagne.
- 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
How many subregions of Champagne are there? Name them.
5 subregions
- Montage de Reims
- Vallee de la Marine
- Cote des Blancs
- Cote de Sezanne
- Cote des Bar
What is the climate and geography of Champagne? Why is it ideal for sparkling wines
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)
What are the three main grape varieties of Champagne?
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Noir
- Meunier
Describe Chardonnay from Champagne. In which subregions is it typically grown?
Cote des Blancs Cote de Sezanne -lighter body -high acidity -floral -citrus fruit
Describe Pinot Noir from Champagne. In which subregions is it typically grown?
Montagne de Reims Cote des Bar -greater body -structural backbone -red fruit
Describe Meunier from Champagne. In which subregions is it typically grown?
Vallee de la Marne
- buds late (spring frosts common here)
- fruity flavors
- wines drunk young
Describe the pre-fermentation winemaking processes used in champagne.
- must be hand harvested
- whole, healthy bunches
- pressing is highly controlled
What is the cuvee? What is the taille? Which is used for the best Champagnes?
Cuvee: first liquor to come off the press, purest juice
Taille: remainder of the juice
Best Champagnes are made from solely the cuvee
What is optional in Champagne?
- oak or stainless steel
2. MLF or no MLF
Why is blending particularly important in Champagne?
- Weather varies widely year to year
- achieve consistency in house style
How long must non-vintage Champagne age for? How long on lees?
- 15 months
- 12/15 months on lees
How long must vintage Champagne age for? How long on lees?
- 36 months
- no requirement for lees aging
Generally describe Champagne wines.
- high acid
- some autolytic flavors
Describe non-vintage Champagnes.
- lighter bodied
- more fresh fruit flavors
- some complexity
Describe vintage Champagnes.
- made only in the best years
- more concentrated
- more toasty, biscuity notes from longer lees aging
Describe the best rose Champagnes.
- delicately balance aromas from autolysis
- subtle fruity red berry notes
Describe Blanc de Blancs wines vs. Blanc de Nors wines.
BLANCS
- light to medium body
- citrus primary fruit
NOIRS
- fuller in body
- more red fruit flavors
What are Prestige Cuvee wines?
- 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
What is the most common sweetness styles Champagne?
Brut
-current trend in Brut Nature wines
What are the most prestigious regions for cremate?
Cremant d’Alsace
Cremant de Bourgogne
Cremant de Loire
What grapes are typically used in cremant?
generally, wines made from still white wines of the region
Exception: aromatic varieties (e.g. Muscat, Gewurztraminer) not permitted in Alsace
How are cremant wines made? Years on lees?
- Traditional Method
- minimum of 9 months on lees
What are the two main subregions for sparkling wine production in the Loire? How are they made? Years on lees?
- Saumur
- Vouvray
- Traditional Method
- min 9 months on lees
What sparkling wines are made in Saumur?
White: Chardonnay, Chenin, Cabernet Franc, local varieties
Red: Cabernet Franc
What sparkling wines are made in Vouvray?
Chenin Blanc
- high acid
- not much bread, biscuity character
- autolytic character is more smoky and toasty
Where is Cava made?
Non-contiguous geographical areas caress Spain
- Vast majority: Catalan vineyards centered on the town of Sant Sadurni d’Anoia
- Navarra
- Rioja
- Valencia
How is Cava made? What are the lees aging requirements?
Traditional Method
-must spend at least 9 months on the lees
What are the main grapes used in Cava production?
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
Describe Cava.
- 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
Where is Asti DOCG located?
-Piemonte in northwest Italy
What grape is Asti made from?
Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains
-Asti Method
Describe Asti sparkling wines.
- distinct grapes character
- pronounced fruit aromas: peach, grape
- floral
- sweet
- low alcohol (7% abv)
- no autolytic flavors
- drink young
Where is Prosecco made? What are the main regions? Which is higher quality?
Northeast Italy
- Prosecco DOC (Veneto, Friuli)
- Conegliano-Valdobbiadene DOCG (northwest Venice)*
*higher quality
What do the terms Catizze and Rive indicate?
-wine from an exception vineyard site
What is the main grape variety of Prosecco? What did it used to be named?
Glera
-Used to be named Prosecco
Where must the grapes for -Conegliano-Valdobbiadene DOCG be grown?
Between the two towns of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene on the steep limestone hills northwest of Venice
How is Prosecco typically produced? Describe the wines.
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
What country has the highest per capita consumption of sparking wine in the world?
Germany
How is Sekt made? Where are the base wines typically from?
Tank Method usually
-base wines from Italy or France
Some super rare premium use Traditional Method
What is Deutscher Sekt? With which grape are the best made?
Base wines come from Germany
Riesling
What is Deutscher Sekt bA?
Superior appellation used if all grapes come from one of the quality wine regions (e.g. Mosel)
What premium sparkling wines are made in Australia? Where are these made?
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
Where do inexpensive sparkling wines come from? How are they produced?
Warmer regions
- Riverina
- tank method or carbonation
- fruity
- vary in sweetness
In what country have sparkling red wines had the most commercial success?
Australia
From which grape(s) are the best sparkling red wines from Australia made? Which method(s) is/are used?
Shiraz
-Also: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Methods:
Inexpensive: carbonation, tank method
Premium: traditional method
- full body
- red berry fruit
- smooth tannins
- some RS
What sparkling wines is New Zealand known for? Where are the grown? What is the climate?
Traditional Method
- Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
- range of styles
Where?
Southern position
-maritime climate
-cool sea breezes
Which region of New Zealand products the most grapes for sparkling wine? How do the styles differ as you get farther north?
Marlborough
-North Island: warmer climate = richer style, blending is common
What fruity style of sparkling wine is particular to New Zealand?
Sauvignon Blanc
- carbonation or tank method
- retain intense aromas of variety
In South Africa, what are wines made by the traditional method labelled?
Methode Cap Classique
From which grapes are the best South African sparkling wines made? Where?
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
- Western Cape
- hillside slopes
- south eastern aspect
- near the coast
What is the Cap Classique Producers Association
- 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
Other than traditional method sparkling wines, what sparking wine is South Africa known for?
- off-dry to sweet
- carbonated
What state in the USA is responsible for the vast majority of sparkling wine production in the USA?
California
- cooler locations:
1. Los Carneros AVA
2. Anderson Valley AVA
How are premium sparkling wines made in the US? What grapes? Lees aging? Describe the wines.
Traditional Method
- Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
- Extended aging on lees (5 yrs not uncommon)
- concentrated, complex
- high acid
How and where are inexpensive US sparkling wines made? Describe the wines.
Carbonation or tank method
- fruity
- medium sweet to sweet
- range of grapes
- warmer, high yielding areas
- Central Valley
