Fortified Wine Production Flashcards
How did the practice of fortifying wine come about?
It was discovered adding branding to wine protected it from spoilage, especially on long journeys across the ocean. Ex: Port, Sherry, Madeira
What are the two general categories of fortified wine?
Those that are fortified before fermentation completes on its on, and those fortified after.
What is mutage?
Adding brandy or grape spirit before fermentation is complete, resulting in a sweet wine.
Name a famous fortified wine from the following places, along with the grapes used in its production:
France (5) Cyprus Portugal (3) Spain Italy Greece Australia
France:
Banyuals, Rasteau, Maury - Grenache
Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise, de Rivesaltes - Muscat
Cyprus :
Commandaria - Mavros, Xinisteri
Portugal:
Port - Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Cao
Madeira - Malvasia, Sercial, Boal, Verdelho, Tinta Negro
Moscatel de Setubal - Muscat
Spain:
Malaga - PX, Muscat
Italy:
Marsala - Grillo, Inzolia, Cararratto
Greece:
Mavrodaphne de Patras - Mavrodaphne
Australia:
Rutherglen - Muscat, Muscadelle
What’s the most well-known sweet fortified wine?
Port from the Douro Vally of Portugal
Why would grapes be late-harvested for the production of sweet fortified wines?
To insure high sugar levels
What is the key difference between the initial stage of fortified wine and still wine production?
Because fermentation is only allowed for a short period of time, special practices may be used to extract color and phenolics from the skins.
At what sugar level does fortification typically take place?
Can vary, but usually between 8%-12%
What alcohol level must the fortified wine be raised to and why?
Between 18% and 20%, high enough to kill the yeast quickly and stop fermentation.
What are two noteworthy aspects of aging a fortified wine?
Most fortified wines are aged for a significant amount of time to allow the elements to become thoroughly integrated; some fortified wines are intentionally allowed to bake, such as Madeira and Rutherglen Muscat.
What is the most well-known dry fortified wine?
Sherry from the area surrounding the city of Jerez.
What characteristic do the grapes used for dry fortified wine production share, along with the way in which they are handled?
Usually, neutral grapes are used and handled carefully, much like grapes used for sparkling wine production; neutral vessels such as stainless steel tanks are used.
What are the two main types of Sherry?
Finos, which undergo biological aging under a layer of flor; and Olorosos, which are aged oxidatively.
What do flor feed on, and how do they produce the fino sherry’s signature aromas?
Initially sugars and glycerol in the wine, along with acetic acid.
Then they switch to oxygen from the atmosphere and produce acetaldehyde, which creates a nutty, bruised apple aroma.
The acetaldehyde is not converted to acetic acid and the flor prevents browning.
What happens to the wine during oxidative aging?
Alcohol increases, acid increases, color deepens
How high can alcohol levels rise during in an Oloroso sherry during aging?
24%
How long can flor be maintained with the period addition of new wine?
6-7 years, although many finos are only aged for 2 years, the minimum time required by law
What is a butt, solera, criadera and a bodega?
Butt is a 600 L American oak barrel used for aging sherry
A solera is the oldest row or level of sherries, and also refers to the entire system of fractional blending itself.
Criaderas are the rows or levels of sherry, grouped by age.
Bodega is the winery.
What is meant by running of the scales?
When wine from the oldest level (the solera) is topped off by wine from the next oldest criadera, and so on.
What is the maximum amount of volume that can removed from a single butt?
40%
Name other wines besides Sherry that utilize some form of a solera?
Malaga, Montilla-Moriles, Marsala, Madera, Mavrodaphne of Patras, Rutherglen Muscat
What happens to sherry after aging prior to bottling?
It can be sweetened, colored and/or blended, depending on the style.
What is Vin Doux Naturel?
Lightly fortified wines made throughout the South of France with both red and white grapes. Examples included Maury (Roussillon), Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise, Banyuls and Muscat de Rivesaltes.
What is a mistelle?
A wine that is made by fortifying the grape must before or slightly after it begins to ferment.
What are mistelles called in Spain?
Mistela if fermented before fermentation and Vino Licor if fermented after.
What are mistelles called in Italy and what are they used for?
Sifone, which is used to sweeten some styles of Marsala
What are some examples of mistelles?
Pineau de Charentes - from Cognac, made with Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche and Colombard.
Floc de Gascogne - from Armagnac, with Ugni Blanc, Colombard and Gros Manseng
What is a Vins de Liqueurs?
Traditionally, a mistelle, however the EU has changed the definition to include ALL fortified wines.
