Chapter 24 - Sparkling Wines Flashcards
What is the first step of nearly all sparkling wines?
Creating the base wine
Describe a base wine
Typically dry, high acid, low alcohol
Often a blend of wines
How much does a second fermentation (to carbonate) raise the ABV?
about 1.5%
What are the most famous sparkling wines produced by Traditional Method?
Champagne and Cava
What is the blend often used in Champagne AOC?
Chardonnay, pinot noir, meunier
Describe the least expensive Champagnes
aged 12 months on lees (legal minimum)
dry, high acid
apple, autolytic
Describe a more interesting Champagne
made from riper grapes
aged on lees for longer
Describe a very good quality Champagne
complex green apple, citrus, and autolytic flavors
What is done in exceptional growing years?
a Vintage Champagne is made.
aged on lees for a long time
extended bottle aging after disgorgement as well
extended aging brings nuts/honey
What is Cava?
Spanish term for traditional method sparkling from certain regions in Spain
What grape varietals are used to make Cava?
Mainly local Spanish varieties, although Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are premitted
Describe Cava production
often harvested early to retain acid (warm climate)
shorter lees aging most often
high quantity of simple non-vintage wine
many smaller producers making v.good quality Cava with extended lees aging.
What countries are notable for sparkling wine?
France, Spain, South africa, New Zealand
california
What is traditional method sparkling wine called in South Africa? What grapes are used?
Methode Cap Classique
often chardonnay, sometimes chenin blanc
What other method of carbonation is used? What is the difference in flavor?
Tank fermentation, when one doesn’t want to impart autolytic flavors. Generally for aromatic grapes to retain aroma and flavor
Describe tank fermentation
base wine is put in sealed tank w/ yeast and sugar.
second ferm in tank carbonates the wine, lees removed by filtration and wine is bottled under pressure and sealed under cork and cage.
What is a variation on the tank method?
The Asti method. Used to make sweet, low-alcohol sparkling in Asti DOCG in Piemonte. Also used around the world to make same style.
Instead of dry base wine, juice and yeast are ptu in a pressurized tank. CO2 is allowed to escape at first but then sealed part way through ferm.
Yeast is filtered out before wine is dry.
What other wines are Tank Fermented?
Prosecco DOC - NE Italy - Made from the Glera grape
Glera-white, light/med body, light apple/melon
Asti DOCG - Piemonte NW Italy - Moscato
pronounced floral aromas, grapes peaches pears