Chapter 8: Sweet Wines and Fortified Wines:

Question 1

What are the three main methods of producing sweet wines?

Answer 1

Interrupting fermentation, adding a sweet component, and concentrating sugars in the grapes.

Question 2

How is fermentation interrupted to produce sweet wines?

Answer 2

By adding alcohol to kill the yeast or by chilling and filtering the wine to remove yeast.

Question 3

What are the key characteristics of Sauternes?

Answer 3

Sweet wine from Bordeaux, made from botrytized Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, with high acidity and flavors of apricot, honey, and vanilla.

Question 4

What is noble rot, and how does it contribute to sweet wines?

Answer 4

A fungus (Botrytis cinerea) that concentrates sugars and acids in the grapes, enhancing flavor complexity.

Question 5

What are the characteristics of Tokaji Aszú?

Answer 5

Hungarian sweet wine made from botrytized Furmint grapes, with flavors of dried fruit, citrus, honey, and nuts.

Question 6

How are ice wines (Eiswein) made?

Answer 6

By harvesting grapes frozen on the vine, concentrating sugars and acidity.

Question 7

What is a sweet component that can be added to wine to increase sweetness?

Answer 7

Unfermented grape juice or a sweet wine such as Pedro Ximénez.

Question 8

What regions are famous for producing sweet wines using noble rot?

Answer 8

Sauternes (France), Tokaji (Hungary), and Beerenauslese/Trockenbeerenauslese (Germany).

Question 9

What does ‘fortified wine’ mean?

Answer 9

A wine to which distilled alcohol is added, increasing the alcohol content.

Question 10

What are the key types of Sherry?

Answer 10

Fino, Amontillado, Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez (PX).

Question 11

What are the three main methods of producing sweet wines?

Answer 11

Interrupting fermentation, adding a sweet component, and concentrating sugars in the grapes.

Question 12

How is fermentation interrupted to produce sweet wines?

Answer 12

By adding alcohol to kill the yeast or by chilling and filtering the wine to remove yeast.

Question 13

What are the key characteristics of Sauternes?

Answer 13

Sweet wine from Bordeaux, made from botrytized Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, with high acidity and flavors of apricot, honey, and vanilla.

Question 14

What is noble rot, and how does it contribute to sweet wines?

Answer 14

A fungus (Botrytis cinerea) that concentrates sugars and acids in the grapes, enhancing flavor complexity.

Question 15

What are the characteristics of Tokaji Aszú?

Answer 15

Hungarian sweet wine made from botrytized Furmint grapes, with flavors of dried fruit, citrus, honey, and nuts.

Question 16

How are ice wines (Eiswein) made?

Answer 16

By harvesting grapes frozen on the vine, concentrating sugars and acidity.

Question 17

What is a sweet component that can be added to wine to increase sweetness?

Answer 17

Unfermented grape juice or a sweet wine such as Pedro Ximénez.

Question 18

What regions are famous for producing sweet wines using noble rot?

Answer 18

Sauternes (France), Tokaji (Hungary), and Beerenauslese/Trockenbeerenauslese (Germany).

Question 19

What does ‘fortified wine’ mean?

Answer 19

A wine to which distilled alcohol is added, increasing the alcohol content.

Question 20

What are the key types of Sherry?

Answer 20

Fino, Amontillado, Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez (PX).

Question 21

What are the characteristics of Fino Sherry?

Answer 21

Pale in color, dry, with flavors of almonds and bread, and aged under a layer of yeast called flor.

Question 22

How is Oloroso Sherry different from Fino?

Answer 22

Oloroso is aged without flor, exposed to oxygen, resulting in a darker color and flavors of walnuts and caramel.

Question 23

What is Pedro Ximénez (PX) Sherry?

Answer 23

A very sweet Sherry made from dried Pedro Ximénez grapes, with flavors of dried fruit and molasses.

Question 24

What are the main styles of Port?

Answer 24

Ruby Port, Reserve Ruby, Late Bottled Vintage (LBV), Vintage Port, Tawny Port.

Question 25

What are the characteristics of Ruby Port?

Answer 25

A youthful, fruity Port with flavors of red and black fruit (cherry, blackberry).

Question 26

How is Tawny Port aged, and what are its key flavors?

Answer 26

Aged in oak barrels, leading to oxidative flavors like dried fruit, nuts, and caramel.

Question 27

What is the difference between Vintage Port and Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) Port?

Answer 27

Vintage Port: Produced from the best grapes of a single year and aged in the bottle for many years.
LBV Port: Made from a single vintage but aged in large barrels and ready to drink when bottled.

Question 28

What grape varieties are commonly used in Port production?

Answer 28

Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, and Tinta Cão.

Question 29

What are the key characteristics of Madeira?

Answer 29

Fortified wine from Madeira, Portugal, with flavors of dried fruit, caramel, and nuts, and a high acidity.

Question 30

What are the main styles of Madeira?

Answer 30

Sercial (dry), Verdelho (medium-dry), Bual (medium-sweet), and Malmsey (sweet).

Question 31

How is Rutherglen Muscat made?

Answer 31

From late-harvest Muscat grapes in Australia, fortified and aged oxidatively for rich, sweet wines with flavors of caramel, nuts, and dried fruit.