Fortified & Sweet Wines Flashcards
What are fortified wines?
Base wines to which high-proof, neutral grape brandy is added to increase alcoholic strength to 15%- 22%
What is the purpose of fortifying a wine?
To add body and increase the wine’s ability to age
What happens when a wine is fortified BEFORE fermentation?
No alcohol is created from fermentation of the base wine.
What happens when a wine is fortified DURING fermentation?
This stops the action of yeast retaining residual sugar in the wine.
What happens when a wine is fortified AFTER fermentation?
Boosts alcohol levels; a dry wine is most often produced.
What are some examples of fortified wines?
Sherry
Madeira
Marsala
Port
What style of fortified wine is found in Spain?
Sherry (also known as Jerez/Xérès)
When did sherry become a protected Spanish appellation?
1933
Where is Jerez located?
Andalusía on the Atlantic Coast of Spain near the tip of
North Africa
What type of soil is ‘albariza’ (sherry)?
Most prized soil composed of white chalky clay.
It reflects sunlight onto the vines and retains water during summer heat.
What type of soil is barros (sherry)?
Brown clay
What type of soil is arenas (sherry)?
Sand
What is the major grape varietal used to make Sherry?
Palomino - 95% of plantings
What are two other types of grapes other than Palomino used to make sherry?
Pedro Ximénez (PX) and Moscatel
What is flor?
A film of yeast (Saccharomyces) that grows on the surface of maturing sherry wine and acts like a protective blanket, preventing oxidation and spoilage.
What is the main purpose for Pedro Ximénez (PX) and Moscatel when making sherry?
They’re mainly used for blending.
They add sweetness and colors.
What are the three basic steps to making sherry?
Base Wine Production
Fortification
Aging in Solera
If you’re making a dry style of sherry, when would fortification happen?
After fermentation.
What are sherry wines fortified with?
A mixture of grape spirit and mature Sherry wine.
What are some examples of Fino style sherries?
Manzanilla
Fino
Amontillado
Palo Cortada
What type of sherry is made from sweetened Olorso?
Cream sherry
What is the name of the maturation system used to make sherry?
The Solera System
Why is the blending of new wine important for making dry fino-style sherry?
Flor needs new wine to maintain nutrient levels and stay alive.
What is the ‘Solera’ level of barrels in the Solera system?
Barrels with the oldest wines usually closest to the floor or the bottom row.
What are the ‘Criada’ barrels in the Solera system?
The “nurseries”.
First criadera holds the wines that are the next oldest after the solera.
Second criadera holds wines younger than the first criadera.
What are the ‘Añada’ barrels in the Solera system?
The youngest and freshest wines.
A maximum of how much wine is removed from a barrel in the Solera system per year?
One third.
What are the three different levels of the Solera System?
Añada
Criadera
Solera
Which country produces Madeira?
Portugal.
When was Madeira claimed by Portugal?
1419 - during the Age of Discovery
What was important about Madeira in terms of located?
It became a refueling station for long ocean voyages to the Americas.
How did Madeira traditionally develop their unique style/characteristics?
On long ocean voyages subjected to repeated heating and cooling over months/years.
How do modern day wine makers mimic the wine-making process of Madeira?
By heating the wine during vinification and extensive aging.
Where is Madeira located?
It is an island in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Morocco.
It is 624 miles from the mainland of Portugal.