DWS Sparkles Flashcards
Unit 5 Sparkling Wines
Regarding sparkling wine
what are the various bottle sizes from smallest to largest?
Piccolo 1/4 Demi (split or half also) 1/2 Standard 1 Magnum 2 Jeroboam 4 Rehoboam 6 Methuselah 8 Salmenazar 12 Bathazar 16 Nebuchadnezzar 20 and other sizes Melchior 24 Solomon 26.66 Sovereign 34 Primat 36 Melchizedek 40
Where is Limoux?
Limoux is a small town and appellation
on the Aude river in the eastern Pyrenean foothills
of Langudoc-Rousillon, Southern France.
Explain the climate and soils of Limoux.
Limoux’s vineyards are higher (peaking at 400 meters),
cooler and further from the Mediterranean influence
of any other Languedoc appellation.
Soils are regionally varied but mostly clay and limestone.
What are the grapes permitted for the sparling wines of Limoux?
The traditional grape Mauzac (known locally as Blanquette), Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc & Pinot Noir are permitted in the sparkling wines
What are the allowed yields for the sparkling wines of Limoux?
50 hl/ha which are amoung the lowest for French sparkling wines.
What is the oldest sparkling wine style of Limoux?
Blanquette Method Ancestrale,
formerly known as Vin de blanquette.
Historically speaking what is special
about Blanquette method Ancestrale?
Its history pre-dates that of Champagnes sparkling wines, first recorded in 1680.
What is the method of production for Blanquette Method Ancestrale?
it is bottled partially fermented
and does not undergo a second ferment,
but achieves its sparkle through the
continuation of the first ferment.
What are the grape varieties allowed for the method rurale sparkling wine of Limoux?
100% Mauzac (aka Blanquette)
What are the grape varieties allowed for
the Blanquette de Limoux sparkling wine?
Minimum 90% Mauzac (aka Blanquette)
with Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay also
What are the grape varieties allowed for the Cremant de Limoux sparkling wine?
40-70% Chardonnay, 20-40% Chenin Blanc,
10-20% Mauzac and 0-10% Pinot Noir
What is the minimum time on lees required
for the Cremant de Limoux sparkling wine?
12 months
What is the minimum time on lees
required for the Blanquette de Limoux sparkling wine?
9 months
Describe Blanquette Method Ancestrale in style
Sweet, sometimes cloudy (due to the lack of disgorgement)
low in alcohol. A soft texture with hints of apple,
sweet cider and apple peel.
Where else in France uses the production method ‘Ancestrale’ or ‘Rurale’
Savoie and Gaillac where it may be called ‘méthode gaillacois’
What is Prosecco?
A grape variety also known as Glera native to the Veneto region of Italy
used to make the popular sparkling wine
of the same name using the charmat method.
How is Prosecco rated in Italy? IGT, DOC, DOCG?
Prosecco di Conegliano-Valdabiodene & Montello Colli Asolani were elevated in 2009 to DOCG status, The Prosecco DOC zone, covering a wider area, continues to exist while producers outside of the designated DOCG and DOC zones are no longer permitted to use the Prosecco name on product labels instead, they use the name ‘Glera’.
Regarding Prosecco - what is the name of the river near Conegliano Valdabiodene?
Piave
What varietals are allowed to be used for Prosecco DOCG?
85% Prosecco (Glera) and up to 15% Verdiso, Perera, Glera Lunga and Bianchetta. Spumante may also use Chardonnay and Pinot.
What is considered to be the most superior vineyard for Prosecco production?
The hill of Cartizze, a steep 1,000-foot-high vineyard of 107 hectares of vines, owned by 140 growers.
Roughly what is the annual production of Prosecco?
Approximately 150 million bottles of Italian Prosecco are produced annually (2008).
What are the sugar levels for Prosecco - brut, extra dry and dry?
Proseccos are labeled
“brut” for up to 12 g of residual sugar;
“extra dry” for 12–17 g
or “dry” for 17-32g.
Can I keep my Prosecco for ay length in the cellar?
Prosecco should be consumed
while it is young and fresh,
preferably before it is two years old.
Describe the characteristics of a dry prosecco
Prosecco is medium to low in alcohol, generally dry with flavors of yellow apple, pear, white peach and apricot. With intense amylic, primary aromas and taste fresh, light and comparatively simple.
Regarding Prosecco, what does the term Rive refer to.
For spumante DOGC wine the term “Rive” indicates those greater vineyards situated on steep slopes. Maximum yields are 13 tonnes/ha, the grapes must be picked by hand and the vintage must be shown on the label.
What are the maximum yields for Prosecco?
DOC - 18 tonnes/ha
DOCG - 13.5 tonnes/ha
Cartizze - 12 tonnes/ha
Rive - 13 tonnes/ha
Prosecco must be a minimum of 85% Glera. What are the other allowed grapes?
Verdiso Bianchetta Perera Glera Lunga And for Spumante Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
When was Alsace granted AOC for Cremant?
August 24, 1976
How long must Crémant d’Alsace spend on lees?
9 Months
What grapes are used for Crémant d’Alsace?
Mostly Pinot Blanc, with Pinot Gris, Riesling, Auxerrois, Pinot Noir & Chardonnay (only AOC Cremant) also allowed.
What is the maximum yield Crémant d’Alsace?
There is a maximum yield of 80 hl/ha.
What is the style of Crémant d’Alsace?
The wines tend to be of high quality & well made with a particularly fine mousse, high acidity, and to be relatively light in body with delicate hints of citrus, lemon-grass and florals. Only if substantial proportions of Riesling are used do they acquire strong flavour.
What is the climate of Alsace?
The climate is continental with particularly low rainfall, a result of the rain shadow cast by the Vosges, these mountains also protect from prevailing westerly winds, making the summer here among the driest and warmest in the northern half of France. At the other end of the temperature scale, the winters here are cold and snow is not uncommon.
Explain the soils of Alsace.
The soils vary (due to the glacial formation of the Voges) from sandstone, granite and volcanic rock types in the foothills, to clay-rich limestone and marlstone on the alluvial plains.
Crémant d’Alsace may not be bottled before when?
The wine cannot be bottled before 1st January following the harvest.
Regarding grape growing and harvest for Crémant d’Alsace, what are some of the major regulations?
By law, there is no minimum vine density for planting. Before the harvest, winegrowers are obliged to declare to their town hall which vineyards are intended for the production of Crémant d’Alsace.
Grapes for the production of Crémant d’Alsace are generally picked first, at the very start of
the harvest.
The must should have a minimum natural sugar content of 145 grams of sugar per litre, the equivalent of 8.5° potential alcohol.
Grapes must be harvested manually and transported in containers holding less than 100
kgs, and whole bunch pressed. Archimedes screws and chains are not permitted.
What is the market like for Crémant d’Alsace?
Crémant d’Alsace is a significant part of the wine production in Alsace, with 18% of the region’s vineyards used for this purpose. Sales have multiplied by 14 in 26 years, up from 2.2 million bottles in 1982 to 30 million bottles today (2008). Crémant d’Alsace is the market leader in at-home sales of AOC sparkling wines in France.
Who are the important and interesting names of Cremant d’Alsace?
The firms that dominate the market, especially the export market, are Dopff au Moulin, Lauger and Wolfberger. Barmès Buecher is a smaller producer making a high quality sparkling.
Regarding sparkling wine, what is blanc de blancs?
French for ‘white of whites’, may justifiably be used to describe white wines made from pale-skinned grapes, as the great majority of them are. The term has real significance, however, only when used for white sparkling wines, in the production of which dark-skinned grapes often predominate. A blanc de blancs Champagne for example, is, unusually, made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes. It is a speciality Cote de Blancs in Champagne. Salon is one of the most famous and well respected.
Regarding sparkling wine, what is blanc de noirs?
French for ‘white of blacks’, describes a white wine made from dark-skinned grapes by pressing them very gently and running the pale juice off the skins as early as possible. Many such still wines have a slightly pink tinge (white Zinfandel and Dole Blanche). The term has a specific meaning in the Champagne region, where it is used to describe a Champagne made exclusively from Pinot Noir and Meunier grapes. It is a speciality of the Aube in Champagne. Bollinger’s VVF is one of the most rare and famous produced exclusively from un-grafted Pinot Noir vines that grow in The Clos St-Jacques vineyard and the Chaudes Terres vineyard (literally the back garden of the Bollinger Estate). The Vieilles Vignes Françaises blend in the past included Pinot Noir from the Bouzy vineyard called Croix Rouge which unfortunately, unaffected by phylloxera for around 100 years, succumbed to the louse in 2004.
When was Bollinger founded?
An independent Champagne house, Bollinger & Cie was founded in 1829.
What is the unique Champagne produced by Bollinger?
Vieilles Vignes Françaises, a blanc de noirs produced exclusively from ungrafted Pinot Noir vines that grow in The Clos St-Jacques vineyard and the Chaudes Terres vineyard (literally the back garden of the Bollinger Estate). The Vieilles Vignes Françaises blend in the past included Pinot Noir from the Bouzy vineyard called Croix Rouge which unfortunately, unaffected by phylloxera for around 100 years, succumbed to the louse in 2004.
What is the difference
between Sekt and
Deutscher Sekt?
Sekt is a word used in German-speaking countries to describe quality sparkling wine as defined by the EU. In Germany the fruit can come from any country. Deutscher Sekt is made exclusively from German grapes
Aside from Sekt and Deutscher Sekt what other level of sparkling wine may be found in Germany?
Sekt b.A. (bestimmter Anbaugebiete, in parallel to Qualitätswein b.A.) only from grapes from one of the 13 quality wine regions in Germany.
What are the four main sparkling wines from the Rhone?
Saint Peray Mousseaux AOC since 1926,
Clairette de Die AOC since 1993,
Clairette de Die Tradition &
Cremant de Die since 1993
Where are the vineyards of Die?
East of the town of Valence, in the French Drome department on the drome river, on the border area of Northern and Southern Rhone.
What is the climate like in Die?
In the foothills of the Vercors Mountains this is considered a mediterranean climate with altitudes of up to 700 metres.
What are the soils like in Die?
The soils of Die are chalky agiliferous which aids in retaining water through the long dry summers.
Who has been responsible for enhancing the reputation of the Die wines?
The local co-op Jaillance, who produce 3 in every 4 bottles.
What is interesting about the top cuvee from Jaillance?
It contains no Clairette.
Which grapes produce Clairette de Die AOC?
75% minimum Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains and a maximum of Clairette.
What are the characteristics of Clairette de Die?
Pale gold in colour, Floral honeysuckle and rose aromas with peach and apricot notes. Off dry and fruity with a soft delicate mousse. It is best consumed young - within 2 years.
Which grapes produce Cremant de Die?
Formerly 100% Clairette; Aligote and muscat are now permitted (up to 45%).
What are the characteristics of Cremant de Die
the wines generally have a particularly ‘grapey’ taste underlying the other characteristic aromas of peach, apricot and honeysuckle the aligote can add a green fruit note.
