C3 - Storage And Service Of Wine - Micky - completed Flashcards
What is the ideal long-term storage temperature for wines?
10 - 15C
Where is one of the worst places in a house to store wine? Why?
Kitchen; wide fluctuations in temperature
What are the two biggest risks with long term refrigeration of wines?
- The cork may harden and lose its elasticity, the seal fails and air can attack the wine causing it to become stale.
- Sparkling wine may lose its fizz
What are the four general points to observe when storing wine?
- Store between 10-15C
- Store cork-sealed wine on its side
- Keep wines away from strong light
- Keep wine away from vibrations
Why should cork-sealed wine be stored on its side?
To keep the cork in contact with the wine; this stops the cork drying out and the wine consequently oxidising
What effect can strong light have on a wine?
It can heat the wine, causing it to become stale and old before its time
Artificial light can cause unpleasant flavours to develop in some wines
How may reds taste if they are too cold? How can this be remedied?
Thin and harsh
By warming them (bottle or the glass) up slowly
Why must reds not be warmed up by using radiator?
because sudden expose to extreme heat may irretrievably damage the wine
What may happen to a red wine at above 18C?
It will appear to lose its freshness and flavours will become muddled
How should an ice-bucket be filled?
3 quarters full with equal quantities of water and ice
Why is cooling more effective with the presence of water?
Air acts as an insulator - heat is more easily transferred via water to melt the ice
What can over-chilling do to a white, rosé and sparkling wines?
Mask the flavours
What is the ideal serving temperature for a medium/full bodied, oaked white wine?
Lightly chilled: 10-13C
What is the ideal serving temperature for light/medium bodied white wines?
Chilled: 7-10C
What is the ideal serving temperature for sweet wines?
Well chilled: 6-8C
What is the ideal serving temperature for sparkling wines?
Well chilled: 6-10C
What is the ideal serving temperature for light-bodied reds?
Lightly chilled: 13C
What is the ideal serving temperature for medium/full-bodied red wines?
Room temperature: 15-18C
What kind of glass should a red wine be served in? Why?
Larger sized
It allows air to come into contact with a large wine surface and develop the aromas and flavours
What kind of glass should a white or rosé wine be served in? Why?
A medium sized glass
Fresh fruit aromas can be gathered and directed towards the top of the glass
What kind of glass should sparkling wines be served in? Why?
Flute glasses
The shape enhances the effect of the wine’s bubbles and therefore the wine’s aroma, by allowing them to travel through a larger volume of wine before reaching the surface
What kind of glass should fortified wines be served in? Why?
Small glasses
The high alcohol content isn’t concentrated as much in a smaller glass
Why should a fortified wine glass not be too small?
It should allow room for swirling and nosing
Why is clean glassware so important?
The slightest flavour taint can ruin the flavour of a wine
Why should you check for residue/crystals after dishwasher cleaning?
Sparkling wine may lose its sparkle more quickly
What is the best way to prepare glasses before use? What will this do?
- Polish them before each use with a linen cloth
It will ensure they are clean and free of finger marks and dust, it will also remove any residue without leaving small pieces of fluff in the glass
Describe the order of opening a bottle of still wine
- Remove the top of the capsule by cutting below the lip of the bottle
- Wipe the neck of the bottle with a clean cloth
- Draw the cork as gently and cleanly as possible
- Give the neck of the bottle a final clean inside and out
Pour a sample to check condition
Which wines need to be decanted?
Wines with a heavy deposit
Some young wines
Describe the process of decanting a wine
- Remove the bottle horizontally from the rack and place in a decanting basket/hold carefully, making sure not to agitate the deposit
- Gently remove the top of the capsule and clean the shoulder and neck, then very gently remove the cork
- Carefully remove the bottle from the basket (where applicable) and holding the bottle in front of a light, pour the wine carefully into a decanter until the deposit can be seen near the neck. Stop pouring at this point
How is the pressure in a bottle of sparkling wine reduced?
By chilling it to the correct temperature
List the process of correctly opening a bottle of sparkling wine
- Remove the foil and loosen the wire cage
- Hold the cork securely in place
- Tilt the bottle at an angle of about 30 degrees, gripping the cork with one hand and gripping the base with the other
- Turn the bottle
- Hold the cork steady and ease it out
- Gas pressure should be released with a quiet ‘phut’
How many glasses can you get out of a 75cl bottle in the following glass sizes;
125ml
175ml
250ml
6
4
3
What is the simplest way to extend a wine’s life for a few days after opening it?
Replace the closure and store in a fridge
What are the ‘other’ methods of preserving a wine’s life?
Vacuum systems
Blanket systems
Describe how a vacuum preservation system works
What is this system unsuitable for?
The oxygen is removed from the bottle and the bottle is sealed
Sparkling wines (they will lose their bubbles)
Describe how a blanket preservation system works
It blankets the wine with a gas heavier than oxygen (e.g. argon), to form a protective layer between the wine and air
In order to get the best out of any wine, it’s important that it is…..
stored correctly and served at the correct temperature.
If a wine is incorrectly stored, what will be affected?
flavour and, in severe cases, the wine will become faulty.
What happens to the wine if it’s not consumed as soon as it is opened?
- it’ll lose it’s aroma intensity in a matter of days
- oxidise and develop vinegar aromas.
