Brandy Flashcards

1
Q

How is Brandy different from Whiskey?

A
  • “more feminine” - delicate aromas of flowers, fruit, subtle oak, spice
  • distilled from WINE not fermented grain
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2
Q

What is does “eau de vie” mean?

A

Water of life

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3
Q

What is brandewijn?

A

“burned wine”

-story of Dutch trader preserving essence of wine on trip north, thought he could reconstitute with water but men liked it so birth of brandy

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4
Q

How does EU define brandy

A
  • a distillation of wine (not pomace)
  • minimum 36% abv
  • minium oak aging 6 months
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5
Q

What two AOCs historically produce the world’s best brandy?

A

Cognac and Armagnac in SW France

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6
Q

When was Cognac AOC defined/finalized?

A

1909/1938

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7
Q

Where is Cognac AOC?

A

NE of Bordeaux region

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8
Q

Name the 6 regions of production in Cognac from best to worst quality

A
  • Grande Champagne
  • Petit Champagne
  • Borderies
  • Fins Bois
  • Bons Bois
  • Bois Ordinaires (Bois à Terroirs)
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9
Q

What makes Grande Champagne and Petit Champagne superior to the outlying regions?

A

Soil - higher percentage soft chalk

-outlying regions have more hard limestone, sand, clay

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10
Q

What grape is primarily used to make Cognac? What percentage does it make up in region?

A

Ugni Blanc

98% of vineyard acreage

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11
Q

What grapes other than ugni blanc are permitted for Cognac production

A

Folle Blanche
Colombard
Others

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12
Q

How is Cognac distilled

A

Twice, in copper Charentais pot still

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13
Q

What is the result of the first distillation of Cognac called?

A

spirit 28-32% alcohol

called Brouillis - several batches returned to pot still for second distillation

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14
Q

What is the second distillation of Cognac called and how is it divided?

A

bonne chauffe - colorless spirit about 70% abv

divided into:

  • tête (head)
  • coeur (heart)** Only part used to make final Cognac (~40%)
  • seconds (second cuts)
  • queue (tails)
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15
Q

Where are oak casks for Cognac traditionally sourced?

A

Limousin and Tronçais forests

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16
Q

What may be added to fix Cognac’s strength and color before bottling?

A

Water and caramel color

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17
Q

Cognac age designations:

A

VS, or *** - at least 2 years in cask
VSOP - at least 4 years in cask
XO - at least 10 years in cask (as of 2018, was 6 years before)

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18
Q

What does VS, VSOP, XO mean?

A

VS - Very Special
VSOP - Very Special (/Superior) Old Pale
XO - Extra Old

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19
Q

May vintages be blended in Cognac? What does age designation indicate on label?

A
  • Yes, vintages are often blended

- age designation refers to age of youngest eau-de-vie in the blend

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20
Q

Are there vintage Cognacs?

A

Yes, but rare

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21
Q

What is required if region is listed on label?

A

100% eau-de-vie originated from named area

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22
Q

What is Fine Champagne Cognac?

A
  • Distilled entirely from wines produced in Grande and Petite Champagne regions
  • Grande Champagne at least 50% of blend
23
Q

Where is Armagnac AOC located?

A

SW of Bordeaux

24
Q

What are the three areas of production in Armagnac?

A
  • Bas-Armagnac
  • Armagnac-Ténarèze
  • Haut-Armagnac

(West to East)

25
Q

What grapes are used to produce Armagnac?

A

Ugni Blanc
Colombard
Folle Blanche (picpoul)
Baco Blanc (hybrid)

26
Q

What is special about Baco Blanc?

A

It is the only hybrid grape authorized in any French AOP

27
Q

Is Armagnac more frequently made from single varietal or a blend of grapes?

A

A blend

28
Q

How is most Armagnac distilled?

A

-95% distilled in copper continuous still

twice distilled in copper Charantais pot still is also allowed

29
Q

What is the result of distilling in the simple continuous still rather than distilling twice in a pot still?

A

More flavorful, less pure, less alcoholic spirit

30
Q

How is Armagnac aged?

A

in oak casks until desired state, or bottled after 3 months in inert container as Blanche Armagnac AOC

31
Q

What is Blanche Armagnac AOC? When did it reach AOC status?

A
  • Clear spirit aged three months in inert containers then bottled
  • became AOC in 2005
32
Q

Who oversees production in Armagnac?

A

BNIA (Bureau National Interprofessionel de l’Armagnac

33
Q

Grading system in Armagnac? When was new system required?

A

VS or *** - aged in barrel 1-3 years
VSOP - aged in barrel 4-9 years
XO, or Hors d’Age - at least 10 years in barrel

This simplified version was required by 2013

34
Q

What is Coupage?

A

Blending a number of barrel selections in order to achieve a desired style that is consistent throughout years

35
Q

What is added to Armagnac before bottling to achieve appropriate strength?

A

A mixture of distilled water and Armagnac (petits eaux) to get to min 40% abv

36
Q

Can vintage bottlings be done in Armagnac?

A
  • Yes, more common than Cognac

- must age 10 years in cask before release

37
Q

Major Cognac Houses

A

Rémy Martin
Hennessy
Martell
Courvoisier

38
Q

Two Prominent Armagnac Houses

A

Larressingle

Château Laubade (focuses on vintage)

39
Q

Three other regions of France with Brandy production?

A

Fine de Bordeaux
Fine de Bourgogne
Fine de la Marne

40
Q

German Brandy -

name, producer, technique

A
  • Weinbraund (means German Brandy)
  • Produced by Asbach,
  • distilled in Charentais pot still
  • base wines from Coganc grapes
41
Q

Where is the most notable region in Spain for Brandy production?

A

Andalucía (predates Cognac)

42
Q

What is Brandy de Jerez?

A

Protected designation for brandy produced in Sherry aged in similar solera method

43
Q

How is Brandy de Jerez distilled? From what grapes?

A
  • distilled in Copper still called alquitaras

- grapes - Airén and Palomino

44
Q

Aging for:
Solera
Solera Reserva
Solera Gran Reserva

A

Solera - avg 1 year
Solera Reserva - avg 3 years
Solera Gran Reserva - avg 10 years

45
Q

Brandy de Jerez Producers

A

Domecq
Emilio Lustau
Osborne

46
Q

Who makes a lighter style brandy in Catalonia?

A

Miguel Torres

47
Q

What is brandy called in Portugal?

A

Aguardente

48
Q

What is the Italian synonym for Ugni Blanc?

A

Trebbiano

49
Q

What is pisco?

A
  • Brandy made in Chile and Peru (undiluted in Peru)

- typically not aged in wood

50
Q

What is pomace?

A

The remnants left after pressing grapes

51
Q

Name three pomace spirits

A
  • Marc (France)
  • Grappa (Italy)
  • Bagaceira (Portugal)
52
Q

Where are a few common places to find Marc in France?

A

Champagne, Alsace, Burgundy

53
Q

Two prominent Grappa producers

A

Jacopo Poli

Giannola Nonino - 1st to distill single varietal (picolit)