Chapter 4 Flashcards
What types of stills are used in the production of fruit spirits?
Both pot and column
True or false?
Italian grappa are typically unaged.
True
All fruit contain ————
sugar
juice
seeds
What are the two ways of processing fruit for spirits?
Crushed and pressed to create a sugary liquid that is fermented and distilled
Some fruits are macerated in a neutral spirit, which is then re-distilled
What are the best grapes for producing spirits?
Highly acidic
White grapes
Not possess a great deal of aromas
What does distillation do to wines that are highly acidic with faint aromas?
Concentrates their delicate floral and fruity aromas
What spirit uses a highly aromatic grape variety?
Pisco
What does a distiller do to the wine before distillation?
Store the wine, it will remain fresh because of the acidity and alcohol
What do distillers do with the mass of grape skins discarded by winemakers?
Make pomace brandy
How is pomace brandy made?
The discarded grape skin retain some juice, so it will be mixed with water and the resulting liquid can be fermented
What are the most common fruits that are used for fruit spirits?
Cherries
Raspberries
Plums
Strawberries
Apples
Pears
Why a producer may choose to macerate fruits?
Some fruit don’t have enough juice for fermentation
To avoid some aromas created during fermentation
How are high quality vodkas produced?
Maceration
What type of still is used for distillation of fruit spirits?
Pot stills
What is the grape variety used for producing cognac?
Ugni Blanc
True or false
Most grape and apple brandies are matured in oak barrels.
True
What is the most important phase of producing an oak matured brandy?
Blending
Is pomace brandy oak matured?
No, similar to fruit brandies (except Calvados)
How are the best fruit brandies matured?
For a number of years in inert vessels
What is the purpose of maturing unoaked fruit brandies?
To help the flavors round out and become more complex
What is the heat source for the production of cognac?
Direct heat by means of gas burners
What is Chapiteau?
Still head is the upper part of the olive shaped still
What is col de cygne?
Swan neck or the curving tube that links the still head to the condenser
What kind of condenser is used in the production of cognac?
Worm tube
What are the three most important fruit brandies of France?
Cognac
Armagnac
Calvados
What is the most widely recognized grape brandy?
Cognac
Where is the cognac region?
North of Bordeaux
What are the main aromas of cognac made from ugni blanc?
Raisins and Violets