Sparkling Wine

Question 1

Champagne Method

Answer 1

1. Making still wine
2. Assemblage of Cuvée
3. Creating bubbles using Liqueur de Tirage
4. Sur Lie Aging
5. Riddling (Rémuage) using pupitre or gyropalette
6. Disgorging (Dégorgement)
7. Dosage using Liqueur d’Expédition
8. Autolysis - when yeast cells break down and release their contents into wine during aging
9. Aging in lees

Question 2

5 Examples of Classic Method

Answer 2

(-) Champagne
(-) Crémant
(-) Cava
(-) Franciacorta
(-) Cap Classique

Question 3

Where is Cap Classique from

Answer 3

South Africa

Question 4

Winemaking Transfer Method

Answer 4

Identical to the classic method up to completion of second fermentation.

Secondary fermentation occurs in bottle

The bottles are disgorged under pressure into large tanks

The wine is then filtered and then
rebottled

Question 5

Why is the transfer method used

Answer 5

(-) Lees contact for flavor is obtained and riddling is eliminated.

(-) Process is used for extra large and extra small format bottles

Question 6

Charmat Method - Cuve Close

Answer 6

Secondary fermentation occurs in pressurized tanks.

Fermentation is complete in 4-5 days.

The wine is filtered and then bottled.

Question 7

Advantages of the Charmat Method

Answer 7

(-) Saves an immense amount of time and cost with no riddling or disgorging

(-) Can be as little as 90 days from harvest to final bottling

(-) Best process for making sparkling wine from aromatic grape varieties

Question 8

Examples of wines with the Charmat Method

Answer 8

Prosecco

Moscato d’Asti

Lambrusco

Question 9

Méthod Ancestrale

Answer 9

Primary fermentation is paused mid-way

The wines are bottled and the fermentation finishes inside
the bottle

The CO2 produced is trapped in the bottle.

There is no requirement to remove the sediment by disgorging

Bottled at much lower pressure.

Question 10

Other names for Method Ancestrale

Answer 10

Ancestral Method

Méthode Rurale

Pétillant Naturel (a.k.a. “Pet-nat”)

Question 11

Crémant

Answer 11

French sparkling wine produced by méthode traditionnelle made outside the Champagne Region

Question 12

Examples of Cremant

Answer 12

(-) Crémant de Bourgogne

(-) Crémant d’Alsace

(-) Crémant de Loire

Question 13

Gyropallette

Answer 13

Time Efficiency: The Gyropalette significantly reduces the riddling process in sparkling wine production from weeks to just days, speeding up the time-to-market.

Cost-Effectiveness: By automating riddling, it lowers labor costs and minimizes the need for skilled manual workers, leading to overall production savings.

Operational Efficacy: Ensures consistent and precise sediment removal across large batches, improving the quality and uniformity of sparkling wines.

Scalability: Allows producers to handle high volumes efficiently, making it indispensable for large-scale sparkling wine production.