Glossary Flashcards
What is Silex?
In Centre Loire, flinty clay soils
Describe Mutage
The process of stopping a partially complete alcoholic fermentation through the addition of spirits in order to keep some residual sugar in the finished (fortified) wine;
This process is used for VDN winemaking
Ugni Blanc Synonym (in Italy)
- Trebbiano Toscano
Syrah - a natural cross of?
- Mondeuse Blanche X Dureza
Define Rancio
Label nomenclature for VDNs and some dry wines
Refers to full oxidized reds and whites, brown in color and boasting characteristic aromas of walnut and orange peel
Savagnin Blanc Cross
- Petit Melier
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Chenin Blanc
- Petit Manseng
- Sylvaner
- Savagnin Rose (variant)
- Gewurztraminer (variant)
Meunier meaning ?
Synonyms
- Miller
- Gris Meunier, Meunier Noir (Loire)
Grenache Noir Synonyms
- Garnacha Tinta (Spain)
- Cannonau (Italy - Sardinia)
Describe Special Club
Peer-reviewed, prestige cuvees from members of the Club Tresors de Champagne.
These champagnes must be made entirely on a member’s own premises, with their own grapes and only in outstanding vintages
Define “Prise de Mousse”
Translates literally as “seizing of foam”
The second alcoholic fermentation which converts the dry base wine into a sparkling wine
What is “Pierres Dorees” and where are they primarilly found?
- “Golden Stones”
- Broken yellow limestone soils found in southern Beaujolais
Chardonnay Synonyms
- Beaunois (Bougogne)
- Melon d’Arbois, Auvernat (Loire)
Marssanne Synonym
- Bergeron (Savoie)
Vermentino Synonyms
- Malvoisie de Corse (Corsica)
- Rolle (Provence)
What is “Marl”?
A soil type consisting of clay and limestone in various proportion
Describe Sur Lattes
The method of resting sparkling wine bottles stacked on their sides with think wood strips (lattes) between them
Define Tete de Cuvee
Also known as Prestige Cuvee
In Champagne, a prestige bottling; the best product a champagne house produces
Define ULLAGE
With oxygen exposure
The head space in a container
Describe “Disgorgement”
The process of removing the dead yeast cells from the bottle of sparkling wine in order to deliver a clear and non-gritty sparkling product
Describe Sandstone
A type of soil composed of quartz sand particles that become cemented together over time
Describe “Grenat”
Label nomenclature for Vin Doux Naturel in Rivesaltes and Maury’
Refers to Red wines that have aged reductively
What is Igneous Rock?
Rock that is formed through the cooling and solidifcation of magma or lava
What is “Cuvee” in Champagne?
Blended base wine, blend and/or special lot of wine
Describe Rose de Presse
A method of making Rose;
Maceration occurs only as the grapes are pressed. This extremely short amount of skin contact results in a lighter style Rose with less color, tannin, and structre than those made through Saiignee
Define Vin de Goutte
Free run juice
Melon de Bourgogne Synonym
- Muscadet (Loire)
Cabernet Franc Synonyms
- Breton (Loire)
- Bouchy (South West)
- Acheria (Ironleguy - SW)
What are “Liquoreux”?
Sweet wines made from late harvest grapes that are affected by noble rot. They are noticibly sweeter than Moelleux or semi sweet category
Describe Tirage
The act of bottling a sparkling wine
Describe Micro-oxygenation
A technique developed to tame aggressive tannins whereby minute amounts of oxygen are slowly bubbled through the vat of wine.
The technique was developed by Patrick Ducounau while working with Tannat in Madiran
Describe Saignee
A french term that rranslates as “bleeding”
Used to describe the process of pulling pink juick from the skins with which it is macerating in order to make Rose
What are “lattes”?
Thin strips of wood used to separate sparkling wine bottles that are resting on their sides
Describe “Bourbenes”
Sandy clay congolerate in South West France
What is “Chalk”?
A type of porous limestone
Describe Traditionnel
Label nomemclature for VDNs in Maury
Refers to red wines made in an oxidative manner
What is another used for “Dosage” in French?
Liquer de Dosage
Liquer d’Expedition
Define Passerillage
the process of twisting the stalk of grape bunches in order to stop the flow of sap.
This is done to desiccate grapes on the vine and concentrate sugars through water loss
What is “Echalas”?
Stakes or poles used to support vines
What is “Echelle des Crus”?
A vineyard ranking in Champagne based on a scale of 80-100%.
Grenache Synonym
- Garnacha (Spain)
Sciaccarello Synonym in Italy
Mamamole (Italy)
What is “Lutte Raisonee”?
Environmentally and financially responsible farming practices
Cot - Cross of?
Synonyms
- Prunelard X Magdalelein Noire des Charentes
- Malbec, Noir de Pressac (Bordeaux)
- Auxerrois (South West)
Mouvedre Synonyms in Spain
- Mataro
- Monastrell
What is “Maceration Pelliculaire”?
On the Skin
A technique for white wine production whereby grapes are crushed and allowed to macerate on the skin for a few hours in order to boost aromatics
Describe Rougiers
Iron Rich Clay Limestone soils in Marcillac
Fer Servadou Synonyms
- Similar in taste and structure to Cabernet Franc
- Braucol, Mansoi/Mansois, Penenc (South West)
Folle Blanches Synonyms
- Picpoul (Armanac)
- Gros Plant (Loire)
What is “Remembrement”?
A planned adjustment and consolidation of land, as in vineyards
Describe Powdery Mildew
A fungal disease indigenous to the USA
It blankets the vine with thick white fllaments. If an outbreak occurs before flowering, yields are reduced.
If the grape clusters become infected, they will not achieve full pigment development or grow to maximum size.
The fruit will be marked by off-flavors.
Also known as Oidium
Pinot Blanc Synonym
- Klevner (Alsace)
- Pinot Vrai (Alsace)
Describe ResDur
Grapevines being developed in France that are resistant to fungal disease
Describe Schist
A type of soil formed from clay that has been compressed within the earth’s crust
Cesar - a natural cross of?
- Pinot X Gansfusser
Define Vin Gris
French term for “gray wine”
Traditionally a wine made with red grapes using white winemaking techniques
What does Septentrinaux refer to?
The Northern Rhone
Trousseau Synonym (Spain, Portugal)
- Bastardo
What is Morgonner?
The tendency for Morgon wines to taste more like Pinot Noir as they age
Describe Tuile
Label nomenclature for VDNs
Refers to slightly oxidized red wines that take a tuile (clay-tile) color
Describe “Roches Pourries”
Rotted Rocks
Decompsed schist in MORGON
Petit Verdot Synonym
- Lambrusquet (Bordeaux) - meaning wild vines
Chenin Blanc Synonyms
- Gros Pineau, Pineau de la Loire (Loire)
- Rouchelein (South West)
What is “Caillottes”?
Small limestone pebbles in Centre-Loire
Define Pigeage
In Red winemaking, the act of punching down the cap of grape skins to re-integrate them into the juice
Describe Massif
A landform that most commonly manifests as a cluster of mountains and high elevation pleateaus;
Geologically the term refers to a portion of the earth’s crust bound together by faults into a mass. that is most commonly raised in respect to its surroundings.
What is another name for “Delestage”?
Rack and Return
Describe “Moelleux”
Translates as “Mellow”
Moelleux wines are semi-sweet wines made from late harverst grapes which may nor may not be affected by Noble Rot
Describe TRIS
Passes through the vineyard choosing ripe berries or clusters
Descrive “Hors d’Age”
Label nomenclature for VDNs;
Refers to wines that have aged for a long time under controlled oxidation prior to bottling - at least Five years for Riversaltes wines
Define Vin Jaune
A wine of Jura that matures under the influence of film yeasts and controlled oxidation
What does “Merodopmaux” refer to?
The Southern Rhone
What is Vin Clair?
Base wine used in Champagne to make the cuvee
What is “Poundingues” and where are they found?
Galets in Jurancon
Carignan Synonym
and winemaking fact
- Carinena, Mazuelo (Spain)
- Carbonic Maceration is used to tame the tannins
Describe “Petillant Originel”
A sparkling wine from Montlouis-sur-Loire that has no addition of sugar or yeast.
It has one fermentation ages on less for 9 months and has no doasage after disgorgement.
What are the differences between “Edelzwicker” and “Gentil”?
- Edelzwicker: Blend of several grapes fermented separate or together. Optional Vintaging
- Gentil: Blend of at least 50% Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Gris and/or Gewurztraminer and the other 50% can be comprised of other grapes. Must be fermented Together. Vintage dating is mandatory.
Tibouren Synonym in Italy
Rossese di Dolceaqua (Liguria Italy)
Negrette Synonym
Petit Noir (South West)
Describe Mousse
The forthy bubbles in a glass of sparkling wine
Savagnin Rose is known in Alsace as:
Klevener de Hiligenstein
What is the role of Negociant?
Purchase grapes or wine from the growers who are too small or do not have the inclination to bottle and market their own wine
Describe Transversage
In sparkling wine production, a process in which 750 ml bottles are used to fill larger or smaller bottles
Fromenteau was one of the two principal grapes grown in Champange from the 9th - 16th centuries.
The grape has gray-pink skin.
What is believed to be the variety now?
Pinot Gris
What is the difference between Methode Champeonoise and Methode Traditionelle
Methode Traditionnell is a term used to descrbie the Methode Champenoise when utilzed outside the Champagne region
Describe “Debourbage”
Juice settling before fermentation
What does Merlot derive its name from?
Merle - French for “blackbird”
Merlot is named after the blackbird that feast upon it at harvest
What is Pinoter or Pinotent?
The tendency for certain Beaujolais Cru wines to taste more like PInot Noir as they age
When was the Napoleon Code of Inheritance mandate issued?
1804
What is
“Demi-muid”?
600 litre cask
Describe “Aubuis”
Clay/Limestone soils in Touraine
Describe “Methode Ancestrale”
Procss of sparkling winemaking comprising one single alcholic fermentation that is bottled mid-ferment in order to trap the carbon dioxide gas in solution
Also known as Methode Rurale
Describe Tuffeau
A type of porous limestone found in the Middle Loire
Define Rift Valley
Bedrock that has dropped down between parallel geological faults.
A localized rift valley is known as GRABEN
Describe Vin de Paille
Translates as “Straw Wine”
A sweet wine made from air dried grapes traditionally dehydrated on straw matts
- Hermitage - Marsanne white grape
- Jura (Arobois, L’Etoile) - Chardonnay, Savagnin and Poulsaard (red grape)
- Alsace - Riesling
What is “Mutage sur Marc”?
In VDN winemaking the addition of a neutral grape spirit to a must that is macerating with solids.
Also known as Mutage sur Grains
Describe “Carmague”
Salt mash located west of Provence and east of Languedoc where the Rhone River finishes its run to the Mediterranean
What is
“Manno-proteins”?
Molecules consisting of protein and sugar which are released as yeasts decompose during Sur Lie aging.
Manno-proteins add a creamy round mouthfeel to the finished wine
What are “Galets”?
Large round stones found in the South-West, Languedoc and Rhone regions.
What is “Marcottage”?
A vine propagation method
The act of burying cane (layering) to sprout new vines.
Also known as Provignage
Carmenere - a natural cross of?
- Cabernet. Franc and Gros Cabernet
Define Remuage
Riddling
The process of collecting dead yeast cells into the neck of the champagne or other traditional-emthod sparking wine bottle in preparation for discgorging
Describe “Arene”
Sandy soils composed of weathered fledsparts, micas, quartz, and other minerals found in northern Beaujolais.
Also known as “Gorrhe”
Descrbie Terre Blanches
In Centre Loire, marl rich in oyster fossils
Describe “Coulure”
Poor fruit set caused by cloudy cold and/or wet weather at flowering
Pinot Gris Synonyms
- Tokay d’Alsace (no longer used in Alsace)
- Pinot Beurot (Bougogne)
- Malvoisie (Loire)
What is the significance of Abymes?
The vineyard is where the catastrophic landslide of Mont Granier occurred in the night of 1248 that decimated villages and 4000 people.
Define Rimage
Label nomenclatuire of VDNs;
Refers to red wines that have aged reductively
Define “Sous Voile”
Under Veil, under flor or with ULLAGE
Describe “Bioherm”
Reel like mound of earth composed of dead sea creatures such as corals, starfish, and mollusks
What is Perruches?
Flinty clays in Touraine and Centre-Loire
What is “Jupone”?
Young mushroom shaped sparkling wine cork
What is Inox?
Stainless Steel aging vessels
Define “Ouille”
Without ULLAGE, topped up or without oxygen
Marselan Cross of ?
- Cabernet Sauvginon X Grenache
Nielluccio Synonym in Italy, Corsica
- Sangiovese (Italy)
- Niellucciu (Corsica)
Mondeuse Blanche X Dureza Cross grape
Syrah
Describe “Crayeres”
Underground chalk quarries now used as wine cellars in Champagne
Define Remontage
Pumpiing juice over the red grape skin cap to maiximize extraction
Define Vin de Garde
Wine for Cellaring (age worthy wine)
Gounais Blanc Cross
- Aligote (x Pinot)
- Auxerrois (x Pinot)
- Chardonnay (x Pinot)
- Gamay Noir a Jus Blanc
- Melon de Bougogne (x Pinot)
- Remorantin (x Pinot Teinturier)
- Sacy (x Pinot)
- Coloumbard (x Chenin Blanc)
- Folle Blanceh
- Grolleau Noir
- Arbois
- Riesling
What is “Cheville”?
Old peg shaped sparkling wine cork
Describe “Fines Bulles”
French term for “fine or small bubbles”
Colloquial reference to the sparkling wines of the Loire
Describe “Garrigue”
An arid stony earth that can only support lavender, herbs, dwarf oak tress and the vine.
It can refer to the limestone itself, the resinous herbs and scrub vegetation that grow upon it and the aroma of those herbs when crushed underfott or echoed in the aromatic profile of the wines themselves.
Describe Solera
Champagnes that are made from a single stainless steel tank or oak foudre that is kept perpetually, based on specific parameters
Also known as Perptual Reserve