Production, Quality and the Consumer Flashcards
What is the main reason for looking at the clarity of a wine?
It can warn of a fault
What is indicated by a purple color in a red wine?
Youthfullness
How is acidity most prominently perceived on the palate?
Salivation reflex
Will a cool climate generally produce wines with lower or higher acidity?
Higher
Will a hot or cool climate produce wines with higher alcohol?
Hot
What is the difference between climate and weather?
Weather varies from year to year affecting grape quality while climate describes the weather conditions (temperature, rainfall, sunshine) expected in a typical year
Which 5 elements are necessary for successful vine propagation?
Carbon Dioxide, Sunlight, Water, Warmth and Nutrients
Which degrees of latitude contain most of the world’s vineyards?
30-50
True or False–Rich, fertile soils result in better quality grapes?
False. Some “stress” is good for grapevines. An abundance of nutrients will not force the vines to dig deep and produce complex fruit.
True of False–Most red wines get their color from the grape’s skins.
True. Most red varieties have clear flesh. Color is extracted from time spent macerating on the skins.
What is an advantage of using commercial yeast for fermentation?
Consistent results.
What methods are used for introducing oak flavors to wine?
Oak barrels (highest quality), staves, chips or oak essence (lowest quality)
What are characteristics of American Oak?
Coconut, vanilla, more tannin
What is the main difference between aging a wine in mature (neutral) oak barrels and stainless steel vats?
Barrels will allow a small amount of oxygen to dissolve into the wine, causing the wine to mature more quickly, whereas stainless steel does not allow oxygen transfer.
True or false–all wines improve with age.
False. The vast majority of wines are intended for youthful consumption. Only fine wines designed to improve will develop desirable characteristics with age.
What is the purpose of “pumping over” in red wine production?
To extract color, tannin and flavor from the grape skin
When does the harvest occur in the Southern Hemisphere
February-April. Therefore, vintage wines from the Southern Hemisphere are 6 months older than their Northern Hemisphere counterpart
When does the harvest occur in the Southern Hemisphere?
February-April. Therefore, vintage wines from the Southern Hemisphere are 6 months older than their Northern Hemisphere counterparts.
What is a GI?
Geographical Indication. A designated vineyard area within a country.
What are the 2 quality subcategories of GI within the European Union?
protected Designation of Origin (PDO)-smaller areas with tightly defined regulations & Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)-larger with fewer regulations.
What is the highest quality category for traditionally labeled Italian wines?
DOCG - Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita
What are the 6 subcategories of German Pradikatswein from lowest to highest must weight?
Kabinett, Spatlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese (BA), Eiswein, Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
What is botrytis cinereal?
Noble rot - a fungus that attacks grape berries and dehydrates them. When intended, this produces some of the most highly prized dessert wines in the world.
What does the term vieilles vignes mean?
Old vines (French). While this typically refers to lower yielding, higher quality grapes, the term is not legally defined.
