Fortified Wines

Question 1

What are the two methods of producing fortified wines?

Answer 1

Port- spirits are added during fermentation

Sherry- spirits are added after fermentation

Question 2

Where is true Port from?

Answer 2

Douro region of Portugal.

Question 3

What soil does port like?

Answer 3

Schist

Question 4

What grapes are usually used to make Port?

Answer 4

Touring Nacional- highly acidic and tannic grape

Question 5

How is fermentation stopped in port?

Answer 5

Adding a portuguese brandy to leave a high level of residual sugar

Question 6

What is port aged in ??

Answer 6

Neutral wood

Question 7

What is the difference between the aging of Ruby and Tawny ports?

Answer 7

Ruby is aged in bottle and tawny is aged in casks

Question 8

What is vintage port?

Answer 8

Bottle aged, HIGHEST QUALITY and most expensive type of port, made from grapes harvested from a single exceptional “declared vintage.”

Question 9

How long does vintage port need to be aged for?

Answer 9

2-3 years in neutral vessels and are bottled without filtration to mature for another 15+ years.

Question 10

What is the acid and tannins of vintage port?

Answer 10

High acid high tannin

Question 11

Should you decant vintage port?

Answer 11

Yes

Question 12

What is the most inexpensive popular and versatile port?

Answer 12

Ruby

Question 13

Is LBV port cask or bottle aged?

Answer 13

Cask

Question 14

Are LBV grapes from a single year?

Answer 14

Yes

Question 15

How long to LBV grapes stay in casks?

Answer 15

4-6 years

Question 16

What is the difference between LBV and Vintage Port?

Answer 16

LBV filtered, Vintage bottle aged, vintage matures 15+ years as opposed to 4-6 years.

Question 17

What is a crusted port?

Answer 17

A bottle aged port that is not filtered before bottling- results in a sediment or crust which must be separated from the wine before serving

Question 18

What is a tawny port?

Answer 18

Port aged in wood for many years then filtered and bottled- has a reddish brown or tawny colour. Blends of different vintages.

Question 19

What amount of tannins and flavor do tawny ports have?

Answer 19

Low tannin, mellow flavors of nuts spices and dried fruit

Question 20

What is a colheita?

Answer 20

A tawny port from a SPECIFIC vintage. They are rare, expensive and high quality.

Question 21

What food pairs with ports?

Answer 21

Blue cheese, chocolate, fruitcake, salted nuts

Question 22

What kind of soil is Sherry produced from?

Answer 22

ALBARIZA

Question 23

Where is sherry produced?

Answer 23

Southwestern Spain

Question 24

What 3 grapes are used to make sherry?

Answer 24

Palomino, Pedro Ximinex and Moscatel

Question 25

What skin and acid does Palomino grape have?

Answer 25

Low acid, thin skin

Question 26

What is Flor?

Answer 26

A natural yeast that forms a scum like layer on top of wine in casks

Question 27

What is Fino?

Answer 27

Sherry with flor (15% alc)- light, bone dry, bitter

Question 28

What is Oloroso

Answer 28

Sherry without flor (oxidized) (18% alc) Stronger, sturdier and darker

Question 29

What is sherry fortified with?

Answer 29

a grape spirit called aguardiente

Question 30

What does the flor do to the fino?

Answer 30

Prevents it from being oxidized

Question 31

What is the solar system?

Answer 31

Fractional blending- oldest sherry on bottom and newest on top. Each year some mature sherry is removed from the bottom barrel and topped off with wine from the next level.

Question 32

What are the three levels of Fino?

Answer 32

Fino, Manzanilla, Amontillado

Question 33

What is mazanilla

Answer 33

Fino style sherry that has an intense flor flavor but not as dry as regular fino

Question 34

What is amontillado?

Answer 34

Fino style sherry that is aged, flor has died away. Nutty flavor, can be dry or sweet.

Question 35

Describe Oloroso

Answer 35

Killed off flor, 18% alcohol, oxidized, brown, nuts raisins spice smells.