Fortified Wines Flashcards
What are the terraces in Madeira known as? What rock are they carved out of?
Poios carved out of basalt
Is Frasqueira the product of a single varietal or blend? What percentage of the vintage wine on the label must comprise the blend? Why is it common for these wines to contain younger wines in addition to the vintage labeled wine?
May be single varietal or a blend. Minimum of 85% of fruit from the stated harvest must comprise the blend. These wines are topped up with younger wines during the aging process.
For how long is Madeira wine heated generally during the estufagem process? At what temperatures?
45-50 Celsius (113-122F) and held at these temperatures for at lest 3 months
What is Vermouth exactly?
Vermouth is a fortified wine flavored by maceration with additional herbs and spices and is properly called an “aromatized wine”
Colheita Tawny is aged for a minimum of how many years? Why may there be bottle variation among Colheita Tawny bottlings?Is it the product of a single vintage or a blend?
Minimum of 7 years in cask, though many stay for decades. There may be bottle variation because some producers do not bottle until they receive an order. Product of a single vintage.
Which style of Ruby Port replaced “Vintage Character”? Describe how it compares to basic Ruby Port.
Ruby Reserve or Premium Ruby
offers more complexity and character than basic ruby port.
Which town marks the southeastern corner of Jerez?
Chiclana de la Frontera
Is a Colheita Madeira produced from a single vintage or blend of vintages? Single grape or blend?
Single Vintage though 15% of other vintages can be added as the wine from the stated vintage must be present at a minimum of 85%. It may be a blend or a single varietal.
What three labeling terms can be used to indicate wines produced by the traditional torna viagem process? Who is a champion of this style?
Vinho da Roda
Vinho da Torna
Vinho da Volta
What are the three hybrid grapes allowed in Madeira production? Which can not be listed on a Madeira label?
Cunningham
Jacquet
Bastardo
Isabella cannot be listed on labels
What grapes are most commonly used in the production of Rubino Marsala? White grapes may make up a maximum of what %?
Perricone
Calabrese (Nero d’Avola)
Nerello Mascalese
white grapes make up a maximum of 30%
Describe the variation of the estufagem process chiefly used by the Madeira Wine Company? How is it different from the common estufagem practice?
Wines are placed in armazens de calor (rooms warmed by nearby tanks or steam pipes rather than direct heat) This process lasts much longer than three months, sometimes up to a year.
What are the names of the two modern practices that simulate the torna viagem in Madeira production today? Which is used for the production of higher quality wines?
Estufagem
Canteiro (used for higher quality wines)
Following initial fermentation, what is the alcoholic strength of Sherry base wines?
11-12.5%
List the five varietal styles of Madeira in order from sweetest to driest. Which style can require decades to soften?
Malvasia
Boal
Verdelho
Terrantez (close to Verdelho in sweetness)
Sercial (often require decades to soften up)
Summer temperatures on average are how many degrees higher in Jerez de la Frontera than in Sanlúcar de Barrameda?
20F
What happens to the flor in the heat and cold of the summer and winter? Spring and Autumn?
it thins and turns gray in the winter and summer. Grows vigorously during the spring and autumn forming a frothy white veil over the wine’s surface.
Who is responsible for making the first Marsala? When was this? Where?
John Woodhouse
1773
Sicily
Sherry fermentation goes through two stages? What are these stages called and how long does each last? How does the temperature differ between them?
Tumultuous Fermentation: hot vigorous fermentation phase lasting up to a week
Lenta: Slow fermentation, in which high temperatures subside and any remaining sugar in the wine is converted to alcohol over a period of weeks.
Name the Single Quinta bottling for the following producers. Warre’sTaylor’sDow’s
Warre’s (Quinta da Cavadinha)
Taylor’s (Quinta de Vargellas)
Dow’s (Quinta do Bomfim)
What is the movement of wine through a solera following drawing known as?
Trasiegos
How strong is the spirit used for fortification of Madeira?
95% abv
What determines when a fermenting wine destined to become Marsala is fortified?
The desired level of sweetness in the finished product.
Wines added to the top of a solera are called what?
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