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