Fortified Wines Flashcards
What does it mean when a wine is fortified?
When a wine is fortified, alcohol is added to the wine; traditionally, to protect it from spoiling.
Name 2 renowned styles of fortified wines.
Sherry and Port.
Fill in the blank:
Ports are fortified _____ fermentation, and sherries are fortified _____ fermentation.
during, after
Is Port always sweet or dry?
sweet
Why is Port always sweet?
Because fermentation is interrupted and stopped by the addition of alcohol which kills the yeasts, leaving the wine very sweet and high in alcohol.
Where does Port come from?
Upper Douro region in Portugal.
Is Port wine usually a single varietal or a blend?
Blend
Local black grapes are what traditionally constitute the blend of Port.
Name the most common styles of Port. Of these, which style is going to be the most oxidative?
RUBY STYLE PORTS:
Ruby Port
Reserve Ruby Port
LBV Port (Late Bottled Vintage)
VINTAGE PORT
TAWNY-STYLE PORTS
(most oxidative)
Where do Tawny Ports get their tawny colour?
Oxidation
Tawny Ports spend years, sometimes decades, in small oak barrels, exposing the wine to extensive amounts of oxygen. This oxidation turns the wine colour from red to brown-ish (tawny).
What are the 2 prominent grapes used in different styles of Sherry?
Palomino (for dry styles)
Pedro Ximénez (for sweet Sherries)
What is the grape used in Fino, Oloroso, and Amontillado Sherries?
Palomino
Besides PX, what are 3 other styles of sweet Sherry?
Pale Cream
- a sweetened Fino
Medium
- a sweetened Amontillado
Cream
- a sweetened Oloroso
Describe a solera system in Sherry production.
A system of old-oak casks containing wines of different ages.
What is flor?
A layer of yeast that develops on the surface of the Sherry, protecting it from oxygen.
Dry
Pale lemon
Aromas of apple, almonds, Pronounced flavours of bread dough.
This tasting note describes a typical profile of…
Fino Sherry.
