Sparkling Wine Flashcards
what are the 3 main methods of making sparkling wine
- methode chapenoise
- transfer method
- thank method
name 4 examples of sparkling wines made with methode champenoise
- champagne
- cremant
- cava
- Franciacorta
what is transfer method used for
- small format bottles, e.g., 187 ml
- large format bottles (bigger than magnums)
name 3 examples of tank method sparkling wine
1 prosecco
- lambrusco
- moscato d’Asti
what are the similarities and differences between transfer method and methode champenoise wines
similarity:
- both are made the same way up though the step of yeast autolysis
differences: - transfer method wines are emptied into pressurised tanks to be filtered, dosages, and then rebottles into their small or large formats
- methode champenoise wines remain in the same bottle until they’re consumed
in tank method, secondary fermentation takes place in a …
pressurized tank
in methode champenoise, secondary fermentation takes place in …
the same bottle in which it will later be sold
what is the order of steps for methode champenoise AFTER the base wine has been bottled?
- triage added (sugar + yeast to ignite secondary fermentation)
- secondary fermentation
- autolysis
- riddling
- disgorgement
- dosage
what is the order of steps for transfer method AFTER the base wine has been bottled
- triage added (sugar + yeast to ignite secondary fermentation)
- secondary fermentation
- autolysis
- bottles emptied into pressurised thanks
- filtration
- dosage
- rebottled
note there is no riddling in the transfer method
what is the order of steps for tank method AFTER the base wine has been moved sealed in a pressurised tank?
- triage added (sugar + yeast added to ignite secondary fermentation)
- secondary fermentation
- (short lees ageing, if any)
- Filtered under pressure
- Dosage under pressure
what are some benefits to making wines using methode champenoise
- extended lees contact
- more pronounced lees aromas/ flavors (bread, biscuit)
what are some benefits to making wines using transfer method
- autolytic flavors from lees contact (bread, biscuit)
- no riddling
what are some benefits to making wines using Tank method?
- cheaper than transfer and champenoise methods – no riddling, no disgorgement
- quicker, too – fermentation finishes in 4-5 days
- best method for semi-aromatic/ aromatic grapes, e.g. riesling
French sparkling wines made using methode champenoise that come from outside of the champagne region take the term …
cremant
cremants must use the term … … instead of methode champenoise on their labels.
methode classique
name 3 cremates of france
- Crémant de loire
- Crémant d’Alsace
- Crémant de Bourgogne
name 4 sparkling wines from Italy
- Franciacorta DOCG
- Asti DOCG
- prosecco
- lambrusco
name 3 sparkling wines from italy made using tank method
- asti DOCG
- prosecco
- lambrusco
what is Italy’s most famous sparkling wine made using methode champenoise
Franciacorta DOCG
moscato d’asti comes from which region in italy
piedmont
prosecco is from which region in italy
piedmont
prosecco is from which region in italy
veneto
lambrusco is from which region in italy
Emilia- romagna
Franciacorta is from which region in italy
lombardy
Franciacorta DOCG is made using methode champenoise, but the Italians put other terms on their labels indicating that it was made the same way as champagne. what are those terms
- metode classico
- methodo tradizionale
what are the 3 grapes used to make franciacorta docg
- chardonnay
- pinot nero (pinot noir)
- pinot bianco
what are the 3 grapes of cava
- macabeo
- parellada
- xarel-lo
cava is made in which region of Spain
catalonia
fun fact: cava country is only a ~ 40 minute drive from downtown Barcelona
what are the 3 main grape varietals used to make champagne
- chardonnay
- pinot noir
- pinot meunier
where is the region of champagne located in relation to paris
~ 90 miles (144 km) northeast of paris
what is the climate of champagne?
does anything influence this climate?
cool continental
the Atlantic Ocean has been known to influence the region
on what parallel is the champagne region located
49th parallel
what are the soils of champagne
- chalk
- limestone
it is not uncommon to find fossils from ancient sea beds in the soils of champagne.
what 2 benefits do champagne winegrowers have with their limestone and chalk soils
- they’re permeable with good drainage; roots can grow quite deep
- they retain a fairly constant temperature throughout the year
what are the weather threats champagne faces
- rain
- spring frost
- summer hail
are most champagnes bottles a single varietals or as blends?
why?
blends.
- weather in champagne varies greatly from vintage to vintage, and the region’s northerly latitude makes it difficult to ripen grapes consistently. in order to produce a harmonious champagne from year to year, blending in prioritised.
true or false:
champagne can be composed of many different vineyard sites
true
- different vineyard sites add different characteristics to the finished wine, from acidity to ripeness to fruit flavours
true or false
champagne is allowed to be made from a single vintage
true
- in theory, vintage champagnes are only produced in the best vintages – usually ~4-5 times per decade. vintage champagnes are meant to show the favourable characteristics of the vintage and are never blends of different vintages (they’re always 100% from that declared vintage)
what winemaking method is used to make champagne
méthode champenoise
what are the synonyms for methode champenoise
methode classique - term used for wines made outside the champagne region but are made the same way as champagne. classic method traditional method methode traditionelle
what is the 1st step in making in making methode champenoise
make the base wine
- grapes pressed quickly to avoid skin contact and oxidation;
- grape must goes though primary fermentation resulting in a low alcohol, high acid, lightly coloured wine. This is your base wine
what is the 2nd step of making methode chapenoise (after creating the base wine)
blending, aka assemblage
- once tha base wine is made, the winemaker will blend the different base wines (different vintages, villages, etc.)
what step is methode champenoise comes after blending
secondary fermentation
- the blended base wine is bottled with liqueur de triage, a mixture of yeast + sugar; (the triage ignites the secondary fermentation, because the yeast will eat the sugar, creating CO2 and alcohol)
- bottle gets a crown cap (bottle cap), is laid on its side, and secondary fermention begins;
- the CO2 created by the triage is trapped and dissolves in the wine.
what are the 2 things triage creates
- CO2
2. (a little bit of) alcohol
what step is methode champenoise comes after tirage
aging on the lees
- as the yeast cells from the triage expire, they settle onto the bottom of the bottle;
- the wine rest on these expired yeast cells, called lees, for at least 12 months
what is autolysis
- a process when yeast decompose;
- these dead yeast cells release proteins and flavour compounds redolent of bread;
- this sur lie ageing will create flavours of biscuit, brioche, and toast
champagne must spend a minimum of … months ageing sur lie and at least … months of total ageing prior to release
12 mos sur lie
15 mos prior to release
what is the name of the process that moves lees from bottle to neck post ageing
riddling
- it’s the first part of the process of removing the spent lees
what is the French term for riddling
remuage
describe the process of riddling
- each bottle is turned about 45 degree every day to gently cajole the lees into the neck of the bottle;
is ridding done by hand or machien
riddling can be done by hand or machine
what does riddling achieve in a bottle of champagne
riddling results in a clear wine without any sediment or haziness
what is a gyropalette
the machine that riddles sparkling wine bottles
how many bottles does a gyro palette hold
504
how long does it take to riddle the bottles using a gyropalette
~ 8 days
what is the name of a wooden A-frame rack used to hand riddle champagne bottles
pupitre
how many bottles can a pupitre hold
60
how long does it take to riddle bottles by hand
~ 8 weeks
who created the first pupitre
widow clique (aka veuve clicquot)
how are lees removed after riddling
disgorgement, aka degorgement
- second part of removing dead yeast cells
describe the process of disgorgement
- after all sediment has been moved into the neck of the bottle after riddling, the neck is frozen to solidify the yeast plug;
- crown cap is removed, either by hand or machine, and the plug is forced out by the pressure of the CO2 gas that was created
what is the French term for disgorgement
degorgement
after disgorgement, what can be added to a bottle of champagne
dossage
- mixture of wine + sugar, called liqueur d’expedition;
- the amount of sugar in the dosage determines the final sweetness level of champagne
what makes up the liqueur d’expedition
wine + sugar
what are the 7 sweetness levels and styles of champagne, from driest to sweetest
- brut nature ( no dosage / non dosé)
- extra brut
- brut (most common style)
- extra dry
- sec
- demi-sec
- doux
what is the AOP in champagne used for methode champenoise sparkling wine made in champagne
Champagne AOP
what are the 3 sub-regions of champange
from north to south:
- montagne de reims
- vallée de la marne
- cote des blancs
montage de reims is known best for which grape varietal
pinot noir
vallée de la marne is known best for which grape varietal
meunier
cote des blancs is known best for which grape varietal
chardonnay
what are the 2 age designation for champagne
- vintage
2. non vintage (NV)
what are the ageing requirements for NV champagne
minimum 15 months, at least 12 of which must be spent sur lie
what are the ageing requirements for vintage champagne
minimus 36 mos
what are the 3 general styles of champagne
- rose
- blanc de blancs
- blanc de noirs
blanc de blancs champagnes must be made with … % … grapes
100% chardonnay
blanc de noirs must be made with only … and/or … grapes
- pinot noir
- pinot meunier
what are the 2 main types of Champagne producers
- negociants
2. growers
describe/ define what a negotiant producer is
a producer who buys grapes, juice or finished wine which they bottle under their own name or label
describe/define what a grower producer is
someone who makes wine from grapes grown in vineyards that they own
list 3 special bottling often found in champagne
- single vineyard
- clos or mono parcel
- curve prestige / tete de cuvee
what’s a single vineyard bottling in champagne
a wine whose grapes come from one, single vineyard
what is a close or mono percel
a parcel of, or smaller area within, a single vineyard that’s owned by one producer
what is a cuvee prestige or tete de cuvee bottling in champagne
the highest-tier bottling of a champagne house or producer
how often are vintage champagnes made – every year, or maybe a handful of times in a decade?
why?
maybe a handful of times in a decade due to vintage variation
most champagnes are vintage or non-vintage
non-vintage (NV)
what are the top vintages in Champagne from 2005-2015
2005 2008 2012 2013 2015
