Intro To Wine

Question 1

Name 3 categories of wine

Answer 1

1. Table wine
2. Sparkling wine
3. Fortified wine

Question 2

What is fortified wine?

Answer 2

Base of table wine with added alcohol (often unaged brandy); usually 17-22% alcohol total

Question 3

Two types of fortified wine?

Answer 3

1. Dry: commonly aperitif wine, served with cheese before a meal
2. Sweet

Question 4

Geography of most wine growing regions?

Answer 4

Between 30-50 degrees North or 30-50 degrees South of the Equator

Question 5

General characteristics of Cool Climate grapes

Answer 5

Ripen slower with less sun exposure; less pigmented, higher in acid, lower in sugar, richer aroma

Question 6

General characteristics of Cool Climate wines

Answer 6

Sight: Paler - green tint to straw yellow for white wines
Smell / taste (aromas / flavors): More aromatic = overtones of tree fruit, vegetables, herbs, minerals
Often lightly oaked or stainless steel aged, with high acidity, lower alcohol content

Question 7

6 Common wine faults

Answer 7

1. Volatile acidity: Acetic acid and ethyl acid produce vinegar taint (nail polish remover)
2. Cork taint: Mold on cork produces 2/4/6 trichloroanisole (TCA) = wet cardboard/wet dog aroma
3. Maderation: Heat damage; cork may be pushed up; caramel aroma; brown/deep brick color
4. Sulfur: Mercaptans = cabbage / onion skin smell / rotten eggs /burnt matches
5. Acetaldehyde = oxidation excess; dark brown
6. Brettanomyces = Brett; yeast; horse-saddle aroma