Dessert Wines

Question 1

Sauternes

Answer 1

Clos du Roy 375ml 2011 $65/btl
Chateau Doisy Daene 375ml 2005 $115
Chateau d’Yquem, 375ml 1997 $450

Question 2

List 3 Dessert wines not made from Sauvignon Blanc/Semillion

Answer 2

Chenin Blanc
Domaine de Baumard, Quarts de Chaume, Anjou, Loire

Verdicchio
Sartarelli, Castelli di Jesi, “Passito,” Marche, Italy

Trebbiano
Isole e Olena, Vin Santo del Chianti Classico

Riesling (Eiswein)
Weingut Leitz, “Rudesheimer Klosterberg” Rheingau,

Chardonnay
Alois Kracher, Neusiedlersee, Austria

Furmint
Disznoko, 5 Puttonyos

Question 3

Ruby Ports

Answer 3

Since Port is a fortified wine like no other, it will continue to age in the bottle as it sits idle in the cellar. Known as reductive aging, bottle aged ports are matured in air tight glass bottles where they begin to lose color at a snails pace producing a wine which is far smoother with less tannins.

Cockburn, Croft, Dow’s, Sandeman, Graham’s,
Quinta do Crasto, Gould Campbell

Good Vintages
1994, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2007, 2011

Port wine pairs wonderfully with richly flavored cheeses (including blue cheese and washed-rind cheeses), chocolate and caramel desserts, salted and smoked nuts, and even sweet-smoky meats (barbecue anyone?).

Question 4

Tawny Ports

Answer 4

Typically made from red grapes and aged in oak casks which expose them to oxidative aging. Because of this, they are typically a golden brown color with a very nutty flavor profile due to the oxygen exposure.

Dow’s, Fladgate, Cockburn, Graham’s

Question 5

Sparkling Dessert Wine

Answer 5

Demi-sec Champagne (Laurent Perrier)
Moscato d’Asti (Michele Chairlo)
Asti Spumante (Martini & Rossi)

Question 6

Lightly Sweet Dessert Wine

Answer 6

Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Chenin Blanc Demi-Sec

Question 7

Richly Sweet Dessert Wines

Answer 7

Sautuernes
VT/SGN Riesling
Muscat based dessert wines
Tokaji
Constantia
Passito Wines
Icewein

Question 8

Sweet Red Wine

Answer 8

Late Harvest reds (Mouvedre/Zin) Cline
Recioto della Valpolicella - Quintarelli Guiseppe
Brachetto d’Aqui (Still and bubbly red/rose) - Braida

Question 9

Fortified Wine

Answer 9

From Sweetest to Driest
Pedro Ximenez Sherry - Colosia
Rutherglen Muscat, Australia - RL Buller & Son
Tawny Port, Portugal - Ramos Pinto 10 year
Fortified Red Wines - Schweiger Fortified Cab, CA
Vintage/LBV Port - 1947 Cockburn
Bual Madeira - Blandy’s
Fino Sherry - Lustau
Sercial Madeira - Broadbent

Question 10

Port

Answer 10

Created in Northern Portugal along the Douro River, the grapes are collected and fermented together in open tanks where the grapes are stomped daily as the wine begins to ferment. At a point in the fermentation, the wine is strained and blended with a neutral grape spirit (with nearly 70% ABV) that stops fermentation and creates the fortified wine.

Question 11

Sherry

Answer 11

Sherry is Fermented in mostly stainless steel from September to November. Distilled spirt is mixed with mature sherry to not spoil the young sherry. Spends min 3 years +1 day in solera system, better stay in 5-8yrs

Dry
Fino, Manzanilla, Palo Cortado, Amontillado and Oloroso

Sweet
Cream, Moscatel, Pedro Ximenez (PX)

Question 12

Madeira

Answer 12

Madeira is a wine produced using up to 4 different grapes. Madeira wines undergo a heating and oxidation process – techniques that would traditionally ‘ruin’ a wine. The result is a rich fortified wine with walnut-like flavors, salinity and an oiliness on the palate.

Sercial = driest
Bual = sweetest

Question 13

Vin Doux Naturel (VDN)

Answer 13

Vin Doux Naturel are made in a similar style to Port where a base wine is created and finished with neutral grape brandy. The term vin doux naturel comes from France, but this classification could be used to describe a wine from anywhere.