Slide Pack 5a Flashcards
Brix is the system for measuring sugar content in finished wines. T or F
True, including ripening grapes and fermenting grape juices
How is alcohol level in wine calculated?
By multiplying Brix readings by 0.55. Can be as high as 0.64 for some wines.
What is pH?
A measure of concentration of dissociated protons (H+ ions) in solution. More H+ ions, the lower the pH and higher the acidity
What is pH used for in wine
To measure the acidity in wine
As acidity in wine goes down, it becomes more stable. T or F
False
White wine normal pH range?
3.1 to 3.5
Red wine normal pH range?
3.5 to 3.8
Titratable Acidity (TA) is?
Measure of the sum of dissociated protons (H+ ions) AND un-dissociated acids in solution
Most feel that TA measures?
The way your palate perceives acidity
pH is similar but different from TA but easier to measure. T or F
True
Soluble sugars increase or decrease with increasing ripeness?
Increase
Two major grape acids?
1) Tartaric acid
2) Malic acid
Malic acid decreases with ripening? T or F
True
Tartaric acid increases with ripening. T or F
False, declines but not markedly
Major decision for grape growers and winemakers is when to harvest grapes for what reasons?
1) Optimal (phenolic) ripeness
2) Sugar content (Brix)
3) Retention of acidity
In warmer regions like Texas, acid levels can?
Fall too much too fast leading to high pH wines
Is Texas a warm or cold weather region for winemaking?
Both
Texas High Plains and Beaune France have similar temperatures. T or F
True
In cool climates when grapes do not ripen quickly or not completely, what happens?
results in:
1) lower natural sugar
2) higher natural acidity
3) lower alcohol
Cool climate wines are commonly described as being?
Less fruit dominated and more subtle
Cool climate wines have tart flavors of?
1) Raspberry
2) Cranberry
3) Lemon citrus
4) Green apple
Cool climate winemaker challenges?
1) Low yields
2) Difficult ripening
3) High acid and low sugar
Cool climate varieties/styles?
1) Chardonnay
2) Pinot Noir
3) Riesling
4) Sauvignon Blanc
5) Sparkling wines
Warm climate grape characteristics?
1) Ripe flavors and richness
2) Higher natural sugars leading to higher alcohol
Warm climate wines described as being?
1) Fruit forward
2) More intense and muscular
Warm climate red wines have?
Dark fruit characteristics of blackberry, black cherry and plum
Warm climate white wines have?
Tropical fruit characteristics
Warm climate winemaker challenges?
1) Controlling higher yields
2) Balancing wines
3) Protecting grapes
4) Rapid ripening
Warm climate varieties?
1) Tempranillo
2) Mourvedre
3) Syrah
4) Grenache
5) Aglianico
6) Viognier
7) Roussanne
8) Marsanne
9) Rose`s
Why does high altitude matter?
1) Greater diurnal temperature shifts
2) Lower humidity and precipitation
Why are greater diurnal temperature shifts important?
1) Delays ripening of grapes
2) Allows more time to harvest
3) Slows loss of acidity
4) Slows formation of sugars
Why is lower humidity and precipitation important?
Yields decreased disease pressure and fewer trees that reduce bird damage
High altitude wines are described as having more?
1) Complex and distinctive varietal flavors
2) Fruit
3) Tannin and acid balance
4) Sometimes ageability
Flavors of high altitude wines are?
1) Ripe flavors of red or black fruits such as cherry, blackberry, black cherry and plum
2) Tropical fruits such as orange citrus, mango and passion fruit
High altitude winemaker challenges?
1) More intense sun
2) Sunburnt grapes
3) Late spring frosts
4) Need to finish ripening
High altitude wines in Texas are?
1) Vermentino
2) Trebbiano
3) Roussanne
4) Marsanne
5) Moscato Giallo
6) Albarino
7) Mourvedre’
8) Tempranillo
9) Cabernet Sauvignon
Potential problem with warm weather wines?
High pH
Harvesting warm weather grapes early is a way to avoid high pH and to have higher acid but risks what?
Lower sugar and lack of phenolic ripeness
To retain acidity and protect grapes until received at winery, you must?
1) Harvest grapes at night
2) Add dry ice to harvest bins
3) Load into pre-cooled reefer trucks
4) Transport grapes quickly
When grapes are harvested and fermentation starts, what happens to pH?
pH starts to increase
Three ways to reduce pH at winery?
1) Add tartaric acid before fermentation
2) Blend with grapes with naturally lower harvest pH
3) Add verjus from green harvest
High pH wine problems?
1) Lack of color stability
2) Microbial spoilage
3) Lack of tannic structure
4) Yeast selection
How to maintain color stability?
Add sacrificial tannin in bins during harvest or at winery
How to reduce microbial spoilage?
Add antimicrobial fining agent ASAP post harvest
How to reduce lack of tannic structure?
Add enzyme for increased skin extraction in winery (also Flash Detente)
Why does yeast selection matter?
Special yeast in fermentation can reduce increase in pH and can add aromatics and flavor
Why would winemakers harvest grapes early other than to control pH?
1) Approaching rain or freeze
2) Advancing disease pressure
Potential problems with warm weather wines?
1) Low Brix
2) Low pH
Ameliorating juice/must with water and sugar before fermentation does what?
1) Drops TA
2) Stabilizes pH
3) Increases Brix
Why do winemakers use secondary Malolactic fermentation?
To decrease TA and increase pH
What is Flash Detente?
Rapid heating and vacuum cooling to concentrate must
Flash Detente results in what?
1) Higher alcohol
2) Higher anthocyanins (tannin and flavor compounds) from skins
Why make blended wines?
To get the best characteristics from each wine due to inconsistent growing conditions year to year (variable vintage conditions)
Why did California invent varietal labeling?
Because of its very consistent annual growing conditions and marketability
What seasonal conditions lead to variability in wines?
1) Late spring freezes
2) Hail loss
3) Rain and disease loss
4) Heat and ripening
5) Drought
What characteristics do different grapes offer to a blend?
1) Ripeness
2) Acidity
3) Quantity
4) Aromatics
5) Flavors
Examples of well known blends?
1) GSM from Southern Rhone
2) Marsanne/Roussanne/Viognier - white Rhone Valley and Australia
3) Cab Sauv/Merlot/Cab Franc - Bordeaux red wines
4) Chardonnay/Pinot Noir/Pinot Meunier - Champagne
5) Quinta do Crasto - field blends in Portugal
Marsanne is the what in white blend?
The workhorse of Southern Rhone and much of southern France
Marsanne is a?
Sturdy hardy grape that produces a full bodied wine
Viognier is the what in a white blend?
The exotic one
Viognier is an ancient variety dating back to?
AD 281
Viognier is famous for?
Producing rich and exotic white wines in the northern Rhone regions of Condrieu
Viognier must reach a peak of maturity in order to?
Display its extraordinary aroma and flavor character
In warmer regions, Viognier tends to?
Easily over ripen getting heady, oily and over perfumed
Viognier can be either?
1) Light and aromatic, or
2) Rich, full bodied and lush
Viognier distinctive aromas are?
1) Peaches
2) Apricots
3) Orange blossoms
4) Honeysuckle
Roussanne is the what in blends?
Star Performer
Roussanne’s name comes from?
Its russet-colored skin when ripe
Roussanne grapes grow in small tight bunches which can be?
Prone to rot
Roussanne’s top qualities are?
1) Later budding
2) Good acidity
3) Elegant aromatics
4) Potential to age
Roussanne is the premium blending component in high quality white Rhone wines. T or F
True
Picpoul Blanc is native to?
Languedoc area in southern France
Picpoul means lip stinger, why?
because of its high natural acidity
Prior to the Phylloxera invasion, Picpoul was?
Popular and blended with many other white and red grapes
Picpoul is still used in wines of Chateauneuf-du-Pape and has?
Peachy aromatics but is startlingly crisp with acidity
Other white grapes from the Rhone region that can be found in Texas?
1) Grenache Blanc
2) Vermentino (called Rolle)
3) Clairette Blanche
4) Trebbiano (Ugni Blanche)
5) Muscat Blanc
Rhone Valley, unlike Texas, has challenging weather so blends can change from year to year. T or F
False, weather is a lot like Texas
For blends, it is common to ferment White Rhone grapes how?
Separately and then blend before aging
White Rhone blends can be fermented in?
1) Stainless steel, or
2) Neutral oak, and
3) Then undergo Malolactic fermentation prior to aging
White Rhone blends can be what depending on quality and price point of wine?
Blended in new or neutral French oak
Many of the best, most expensive and most age worthy White Rhone blends are?
1) Roussanne dominant (60%+)
2) See the most time in new French oak
Most of the mid-upper range White Rhone blends are?
Marsanne/Grenache Blanc/Roussanne dominant
Other well regarded White Rhone blends include?
1) Viognier
2) Clairette Blanc
3) Picpoul
Many Rhone style new world white wines feature?
1) Single varietal wines
2) Alternative blends with Viognier, Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay
