Sparkling wine

Question 1

What country contains the Nyetimber and Ridgeview estates?

Answer 1

United Kingdom sparkling wine estates.

Question 2

4 methods of sparkling wine other than the traditional method?

Answer 2

—Méthode Ancestrale/Méthode gaillacoise/Méthode Rurale
—Charmat Process/Cuve Close/Tank Method
—Continuous Method/Russian Continuous Method
—Carbonation

Question 3

Describe Méthode Ancestrale.
Synonyms?
Examples?

Answer 3

Méthode Ancestrale/Méthode gaillacoise/Méthode Rurale: The oldest and most rudimentary of sparkling winemaking procedures.

• single fermentation begins in tank, but the wine is transferred to bottles before the process is complete—liqueur de tirage is unnecessary. Yeasts continue to ferment the remaining sugars in the bottle, giving the wine its sparkle.
• Residual sweetness of the finished wines varies by appellation, but dosage is not allowed.
• Typically, the wine is disgorged, filtered and rebottled in clean glass prior to sale.
• *Bugey Cerdon, Clairette de Die Méthode Dioise Ancestrale, and Gaillac Mousseux Méthode Gaillaçoise are examples of the style.

Question 4

Describe the Charmat method.
Synonyms?
Developed by?
Examples?

Answer 4

The Charmat Process/Cuve Close/Tank Method: Developed by Eugene Charmat in the early 20th century, the Tank Method is quicker, cheaper, and less labor-intensive than the traditional method.

• After the wine undergoes primary fermentation, liqueur de tirage is added to the wine, provoking a second fermentation, which occurs in a pressurized enamel-lined tank, or autoclave, over a matter of days. Once the appropriate pressure is reached (usually 5 atmospheres), the wine is chilled to arrest fermentation. Some appellations require the wine to remain in tank for a minimum period of time, such as one month for Asti DOCG. The wine is then filtered and bottled, usually with a dosage.
• The bubbles, or bead, in tank method wines will be larger and coarser, and the wine will have a less uniform texture than wines made by the traditional method. However, this method is appropriate and even preferred for sparkling wines emphasizing fruit and varietal aromatics rather than the flavors derived from autolysis. Most Asti DOCG and Prosecco bottlings are produced in this method.

Question 5

Describe the Continous Method.
Synonyms?
Examples?

Answer 5

Continuous Method/Russian Continuous Method: Developed in the USSR, this method is similar to the tank method, but the base wine is pumped through a series of interconnected (continuous) tanks while undergoing the second fermentation. Liqueur de tirage is constantly added to the wine, and lees accumulate in the first several tanks, offering a higher degree of autolyzed flavors than the standard tank method. The majority of German Sekt is produced by either the tank method or the continuous method.

Question 6

Describe the Carbonation method for making sparkling wine.

Answer 6

Carbonation: The cheapest method of sparkling winemaking involves a simple injection of carbon dioxide into still wine. The bubbles do not integrate into the texture of the wine at all, and fade quickly upon opening. This method is not used for quality wines.