Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Intro Sommelier 2020 > Fortified & Sweet Wines > Flashcards

Fortified & Sweet Wines Flashcards

1
Q

What are fortified wines?

A

Base wines to which high-proof, neutral grape brandy is added to increase alcoholic strength to 15%- 22%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the purpose of fortifying a wine?

A

To add body and increase the wine’s ability to age

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What happens when a wine is fortified BEFORE fermentation?

A

No alcohol is created from fermentation of the base wine.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What happens when a wine is fortified DURING fermentation?

A

This stops the action of yeast retaining residual sugar in the wine.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What happens when a wine is fortified AFTER fermentation?

A

Boosts alcohol levels; a dry wine is most often produced.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are some examples of fortified wines?

A

Sherry
Madeira
Marsala
Port

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What style of fortified wine is found in Spain?

A

Sherry (also known as Jerez/Xérès)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

When did sherry become a protected Spanish appellation?

A

1933

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Where is Jerez located?

A

Andalusía on the Atlantic Coast of Spain near the tip of

North Africa

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What type of soil is ‘albariza’ (sherry)?

A

Most prized soil composed of white chalky clay.

It reflects sunlight onto the vines and retains water during summer heat.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What type of soil is barros (sherry)?

A

Brown clay

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What type of soil is arenas (sherry)?

A

Sand

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the major grape varietal used to make Sherry?

A

Palomino - 95% of plantings

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are two other types of grapes other than Palomino used to make sherry?

A

Pedro Ximénez (PX) and Moscatel

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is flor?

A

A film of yeast (Saccharomyces) that grows on the surface of maturing sherry wine and acts like a protective blanket, preventing oxidation and spoilage.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the main purpose for Pedro Ximénez (PX) and Moscatel when making sherry?

A

They’re mainly used for blending.

They add sweetness and colors.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are the three basic steps to making sherry?

A

Base Wine Production
Fortification
Aging in Solera

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

If you’re making a dry style of sherry, when would fortification happen?

A

After fermentation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What are sherry wines fortified with?

A

A mixture of grape spirit and mature Sherry wine.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What are some examples of Fino style sherries?

A

Manzanilla
Fino
Amontillado
Palo Cortada

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What type of sherry is made from sweetened Olorso?

A

Cream sherry

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is the name of the maturation system used to make sherry?

A

The Solera System

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Why is the blending of new wine important for making dry fino-style sherry?

A

Flor needs new wine to maintain nutrient levels and stay alive.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is the ‘Solera’ level of barrels in the Solera system?

A

Barrels with the oldest wines usually closest to the floor or the bottom row.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
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.
26
What are the 'Añada' barrels in the Solera system?
The youngest and freshest wines.
27
A maximum of how much wine is removed from a barrel in the Solera system per year?
One third.
28
What are the three different levels of the Solera System?
Añada Criadera Solera
29
Which country produces Madeira?
Portugal.
30
When was Madeira claimed by Portugal?
1419 - during the Age of Discovery
31
What was important about Madeira in terms of located?
It became a refueling station for long ocean voyages to the Americas.
32
How did Madeira traditionally develop their unique style/characteristics?
On long ocean voyages subjected to repeated heating and cooling over months/years.
33
How do modern day wine makers mimic the wine-making process of Madeira?
By heating the wine during vinification and extensive aging.
34
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.
35
What are the main grape varietals for Madeira?
``` (white) Sercial Verdelho Boal Malvasia - Malmsey ``` (red) Tinta Negra
36
What grape varietal makes up 85% of Madeira's plantings?
Tinta Negra
37
Where are vineyards in Madeira planted?
On steep hillside terraces tended by small family growers.
38
What style of harvesting is necessary for Madeira grapes?
Hand harvesting. Difficult terrain.
39
For sweet style wines, fermentation is _______ by the addition of _______?
stopped - grape spirit.
40
How is Madeira made?
Base spirit is fortified. Wine goes through one of two heating processes. Wine is then aged.
41
What are the two different heating processes used to make Madeira?
Estufagem. | Canteiro.
42
What is the 'Estufagem' heating process for Madeira?
Wines are warmed by circulating hot water through the coils of a stainless steel tank. The wine is heated and held in the tank for three months so that the sugars will gradually caramelize and thoroughly oxidize.
43
What is the 'Canteiro' heating process for Madeira?
Wines are aged in an oak cask for at least 2 years in an attic exposed to the sun's natural warmth. Slower, gentler maturation used for a producer's best wines.
44
The grape name on a bottle of Madeira is an indication of what?
A sweet or dry style of Madeira.
45
If a bottle of Madeira has 'Sercial' or 'Verdelho' on the label, what style of wine is it?
Dry and semi-dry. Wine is fortified closer to the end of fermentation.
46
If a bottle of Madeira has 'Tinta Negra' on the label, what style of wine is it?
This grape isn't found on labels, but represents 85% of production. It can be sweet or dry.
47
If a bottle of Madeira has 'Boal' or 'Malvasia/Malmsey' on the label, what style of wine is it?
Semi-sweet and sweet. Wine is fortified closer to beginning of fermentation.
48
What ages are Madeira wines typically seen as?
5, 10, 15, and 20 years old.
49
Where is Port located?
Northern Portugal along the Douro River.
50
What is the main grape varietal for making Port?
Touriga Nacional
51
Port is often what?
A blend of many grape varieties.
52
What are lagares in terms of Port?
Shallow troughs used for foot treading/crushing and maceration of grapes.
53
How long is the fermentation for Port?
Short to maximize extraction of color and flavor.
54
When are Port wines fortified?
During fermentation when about 1/3 of the sugar is already alcohol.
55
What is 'aguardente' in terms of Port?
Neautral grape spirit.
56
What % are Port wines typically fortified to?
19% - 22% ABV
57
What are two styles of Port?
Tawny and Ruby.
58
What are Ruby Ports?
Bottle-aged Ports. House wine of each lodge made from multiple vintages and vineyards. Created to be an inexpensive, consistent house style or brand.
59
What are Tawny Ports?
Cask-aged Ports.
60
What styles of Ruby Port are there?
Ruby Late-Bottled (LBV) Vintage Single Quinta
61
What styles of Tawny Port are there?
Tawny 10 year 20 year 30 year, 40 year +
62
What is an LBV Port?
Late bottled vintage with fruit sourced from top quintas and aged 4-6 years in cask.
63
What defines Vintage Port?
The most expensive and age-worthy style Produced from top quintas only in exceptional vintages Two years aging in oak with the remainder in bottle
64
What defines a Single Quinta Port?
Fruit sourced from the best quintas in non-declared vintage years
65
What defines Aged-Tawny Port?
Wine matured entirely in cask. Nutty, oxidized character over time. Age declarations on the bottle are approximations.
66
What are the top recent vintages for Port?
(white) 2005, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 (red) 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015
67
What are Les Vins Doux Naturels?
French fortified wines.
68
What % ABV are Les Vins Doux Naturels fortified to?
15%-16% ABV | remain sweet
69
French fortified wines are fortified when?
During fermentation.
70
Where is Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise?
Southern Rhone Valley, France.
71
What grape is used for fortified wines from Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise?
Muscat Blanc
72
Where is Banyuls?
Roussilon, France
73
What grape varietal is used to make fortified wines from Banyuls?
Grenache.
74
What is also known as Noble Rot?
Botrytis cinerea
75
How are Eiswein's made?
The water in the grapes freezes naturally concentrating the sugars. Grapes are hand-harvested frozen and immediately put into the press. Intensely sweet, syrupy juice is released leaving behind the frozen water.
76
What is the sweet wine appellation for Bordeaux?
Sauternes.
77
What are the sweet wine appellations for Alsace?
``` Vendange Tardive (VT) Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN) ```
78
What are the sweet wine appellations for Loire Valley?
Quarts de Chaume Bonnezeaux Vouvray Moelleux
79
What is Tokaji Aszú and where is it from?
An incredibly old wine region making sweet wines dating back to the 5th century. It's in northeastern Hungary.
80
What is the main white grape of Hungary/Tokaji?
Furmint
81
What is Aszú in terms of sweet (Hunagrian) wines?
Name for botrytis affected grapes picked at high sugar levels.
82
How are Tokaji wines made?
Botrytis grapes are pressed into a paste. The paste is added back to a dry still wine. The amount of paste determines sweetness.
83
What is Eszencia in terms of sweet (Hungarian) wine?
Wine made from the sugar-laden, syrupy, free-run juice from 100 % botrytis affected grapes.
84
What are the classic examples of Italian sweet wines?
``` Vin Santo (Tuscany) Recioto di Soave (Veneto) Recioto della Valpolicella (Veneto) ```
85
What are the classic examples of wines made from frozen grapes?
Germany (eiswein) | Canada (icewine)
86
What is the goal when making sweet wine?
To stop the action of yeast/fermentation so that residual sugar is left in the wine.
87
What are some ways to stop fermentation when making a sweet wine?
Fortification (adding high-alcohol grape spirit) Chilling the wine/filtering out or removing yeast. Chill the wine and adding SO2 to kill yeast. Adding sweetness back into the wine with sweetening agent.

Intro Sommelier 2020 (27 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions