Chapters 41,42 Sparkling Wine Production & Sparkling Wines of the World Flashcards
For sparkling wine production, what abv does the still base wine have?
10-11% abv
In sparkling wine production, the second fermentation increases alcohol levels by how much?
1.2-1.3%
What are the 5 methods of making sparkling wine?
Traditional Method Transfer Method Tank Method Asti Method Carbonation
In the traditional method of making champagne, what are the 7 steps following harvesting and pressing?
Making the base wine Blending Second alcoholic fermentation Yeast autolysis Riddling Disgorgement and corking Bottle ageing
What are 3 characteristics of the base wine used to make champagne?
Completely dry
Neutral Flavours
High acidity
What are 3 functions of blending wines to make champagne?
Maintain consistency from year to year
Improve balance
Enhance the complexity
What is added to the blended base wine to start a second alcoholic fermentation?
Liqueur de tirage
Liqueur de tirage is a mixture of what 5 components?
Wine Sugar Yeast Yeast nutrients Clarifying Agent
What is yeast autolysis?
A process whereby dead yeast cells break down releasing chemical compounds into the wine
What 3 flavours does yeast autolysis contribute to sparkling wine?
Bread
Biscuit
Toasty notes
How long does autolysis last?
Between 4 and 5 years
What is riddling?
The process of slowly turning and tilting the bottles to an inverted vertical position so that the lees sediment moves to the neck of the bottle
What is the name of the machine used for riddling?
Gyropalette
What is disgorgement?
The removal of the lees sediment
What are the 6 steps of disgorgment and corking?
Neck of bottle submerged in cold brine solution, which freezes wine in the neck
Bottle inverted to normal upright position (frozen sediment stays in place, keeping wine clear)
Seal is removed
Frozen wine and sediment ejected due to pressure (dissolved CO2) inside bottle
Wine is topped up with liqueur d’expédition
Bottle sealed with a cork and wire cage
What is liqueur d’expédition?
Mixture of wine and sugar
What is the ‘dosage’?
The sugar in the liqueur d’expédition
What 2 purposes does the liqueur d’expédition perform?
Determines the final level of sweetness
Adds further wine characteristics (2nd blending in effect)
What is the purpose of bottle ageing before release?
To allow the liqueur d’expédition to integrate with the wine.
What term on the label will indicate that a champagne has been made using the traditional method?
méthode traditionelle
or
traditional method
What is the difference between the traditional and transfer methods?
Transfer method is the same up to riddling
The entire contents of the bottles are then disgorged into a sealed tank under pressure
The wine is filtered to remove the lees
Liqueur d’expédition is added
Bottled into fresh bottles
What is 1 advantage of transfer method?
Cheaper
What term on the label will indicate that a champagne has been made using the transfer method?
Bottle-fermented
True or false?
High quality sparkling wine can be produced using the tank method
True
With high quality grapes and care during production
In sparkling wine production, what grape varieties are best suited to the tank method?
Varieties with strong flavours such as muscat and riesling
What are 3 advantages of using the tank method in sparkling wine production?
Cheaper
Faster
Less labour intensive
What flavour characteristics are present in tank fermented sparkling wine?
Primary fruit flavours
No yeast autolysis flavours
In sparkling wine production, what are the 5 steps followed for tank method production?
First fermentation in stainless steel vats
Yeast, sugar, yeast nutrients, clarifying agents added.
Second fermentation in tanks able to withstand CO2 pressure
Wine filtered to remove lees
Bottled under pressure
What are the characteristics of sparkling wine produced using the Asti method?
Sweet
Fruity
approximately 7% abv
In sparkling wine production, how many fermentations occur during the Asti method?
1
In sparkling wine production, what are the 7 steps followed for Asti method production?
Grape juice chilled and stored until needed
Placed in pressurised tanks and warmed so fermentation takes place
Initial CO2 allowed to escape
Part way through, tank sealed to trap CO2
Fermentation stopped by chilling the tank when abv is 7% and pressure is 5-6 atmosph
Filtered under pressure
Bottled
In sparkling wine production, what is the Carbonation method?
CO2 is injected into a still wine and then bottled under pressure
Which grape variety is used to make sparkling wines using the carbonation method?
Sauvignon Blanc
What is the climate of champagne?
Cool continental climate
What is the type of soil in Champagne?
Chalky
Good drainage after rain but retains sufficient quantity of water in dry periods
In champagne making what name is given to the first liquid to come off the press?
Cuvée
In champagne making what name is given to the rest of the juice (not cuvée) that comes off the press?
Taille
The best champagnes are made from what pressing of the grapes?
The first liquid to come off the press which is the purest juice, called cuvée
What is a ‘Prestige Cuvée’ champagne?
The finest wine in the range from a Champagne house
Made from the best parcel of grapes
Often, not always vintage
What method is Crémant made in?
Traditional method
What 2 appellations in the Loire produce sparkling wine?
Saumur
Vouvray
What method is used in Vouvray to produce sparkling wine?
Traditional method
What grape variety is used in Vouvray to produce sparkling wine?
Chenin Blanc
Does Vouvray produce more still or sparkling wine?
Sparkling wine
Where is Cava produced?
Majority comes from Catalan vineyards centred on the town Sant Sadurni d’Anoia
Other areas are: Navarra
Rioja
Valencia
What method is used to produce Cava?
Traditional method
Where is Asti DOCG produced?
Piemonte
North-West Italy
What grape variety is used to produce Asti?
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
Describe a high quality Asti DOCG
Sweet Low alcohol Fruity aroma of peach and grape Floral overtones No autolytic characters
Where is Prosecco produced?
Veneto
North-East Italy - Prosecco DOC &
Conegliano-Valdobbiadene DOCG
What grape variety is used to produce Prosecco?
Glera
What method is used to produce Prosecco?
Tank method
Where is Sekt produced?
Germany
Although base wines come from France or Italy
What does ‘Deutscher Sekt’ mean?
Grapes used to make the base wine are grown in Germany
Sparkling wine is made in Germany
What Italian 2 terms indicate that a Prosecco has come from an exceptional vineyard?
Cartizze
Rive
What area in New Zealand produces the highest volume of sparkling wine?
Marlborough
In South Africa what are wines made in the traditional method labelled?
Méthode Cap Classique
In America, where is sparkling wine produced?
California - Los Carneros & Anderson Valley