Fortified Wines

Question 1

What are the grape varieties permitted in the production of Sherry?

Answer 1

• Palomino
• Pedro Ximinez
• Muscat of Alexandria

Question 2

What is Sobretabla?

Answer 2

A fortified young wine before it is incorporated into the solera system.

Question 3

What is the difference between oxidatively and biologically aged Sherries?

Answer 3

• Biologically aged Sherries are fortified to 15% abv and aged under flor
• Oxidatively aged Sherries are fortified to 17% abv and allowed contact.

Question 4

Describe Fino and Manzanilla Sherry.

Answer 4

• Pale lemon in colour with aromas of citrus fruit, almonds and herbs and bready notes derived from flor. Sometimes they have a salty or tangy character.
• Aged biologically under flor
• They do not develop in the bottle and be consumed as fresh as possible.

Question 5

Describe Amontillado.

Answer 5

• Wines that have undergone a period of biological ageing before being refortified and aged for a period of oxidative ageing.
• Amber or brown in colour and combine yeast-derived aromas with oxidative aromas.

Question 6

Which of the following techniques can be used to make sweet styles of sherry

1. Using sun-dried grapes
2. Blending PX wine with a dry wine
3. Adding RCGM to a dry wine

a. 1 only
b. 1 and 3 only
c. 2 and 3 only
d. 1, 2 and 3

Answer 6

d. 1, 2 and 3

They are all techniques used to make a sweet sherry.

Question 7

What is RCGM?

Answer 7

Rectified Concentrated Grape Must.

It is used to chaptalize wines by adding sugar to achieve a greater abv.

Question 8

With regard to Port which of the following statements is true?

a. Sugar is added after the fermentation
b. Rapid extraction of colour and tannin prior to fortification is essential
c. Fortification can happen either during or after fermentation
d. All Ports undergo extensive oxidative aging

Answer 8

b. Rapid extraction of colour and tannin prior to fortification is essential

Question 9

Vin Doux Natural - sweet or dry?

Answer 9

Sweet

Question 10

What is the key soil type found in Jerez?

Answer 10

Albariza

Question 11

Muscadelle is used to to make which style of VDN in Australia?

Answer 11

Rutherglen liqueur Topaque

Question 12

What is a criadera?`

Answer 12

A level in a sherry solera

Question 13

Flor is vital to which type of sherry?

Answer 13

Those aged biologically - Fino, Manzanilla & Amontillado

Question 14

Which mountain range protects the Douro vineyards from rain and wind?

Answer 14

Serra do Marao

Question 15

What are socalco & patamares?`

Answer 15

Two different types of terraces in the Douro Valley

Question 16

What does grape spirit contribute to VDN’s?

Answer 16

• It stops the fermentation by killing the yeast and therefore, retains residual sugar in the wine
• Adds alcohol and body

Question 17

What is a quinta?

Answer 17

A Portuguese term for an estate or farm

Question 18

What is the name of the traditional granite trough used for treading grapes that are now being replaced by a more automated process?

Answer 18

Lagares

Question 19

A pipe has how many litres in capacity?

Answer 19

550 litres

Question 20

How is a colheita port different to a taweny port?

Answer 20

• Colheita is a wine from a single vintage that is aged in cask until just before bottling
• Tawny is a blend of a number of vintages aged in cask

Question 21

Which style of port comes from a single vintage and is usually released between 4-6 years of age?

Answer 21

LBV - Late Bottled Vintage

Question 22

Autovinifers are used in the production of which style of fortified wine?

Answer 22

Port wines