Sparkling Wine Production

Question 1

Describe Methode Rurale/Methode Ancestral

Answer 1

Not fully fermented wine would stored in the chill of winter and would begin to re-ferment when temps rose in the spring.

Question 2

What is the most famous/highly regarded process for creating sparkling wine? Where is it used?

Answer 2

Traditional, or classic method. In Champagne, France. Also sometimes referred to as Methode Champenoise.

Question 3

Explain high level what the traditional/classic method entails

Answer 3

Involves producing a base wine, adding measured amount of sugar & yeast, and initiating a second fermentation in a sealed bottle

Question 4

Before the year ____, wines in the ______ could be labeled Champagne if they appended the place name.

Answer 4

March 2006; United States

Question 5

What grapes can be used for sparkling wine?

Answer 5

Any but best varieties are those with high acidity and moderate alcohol.

Question 6

What are the grapes used in Champagne

Answer 6

Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Meunier (pinot meunier)

Question 7

What are the grapes used to make sparkling wine in the Loire Valley?

Answer 7

Chennin Blanc

Question 8

What are the grapes used to make sparkling wines in Germany?

Answer 8

Riesling

Question 9

What are the primary grapes used in Spain for Sparkling Wine?

Answer 9

Xarel-lo, Macabeo, and Parellada

Question 10

Muscat, Brachetto, and Glera are the grapes used in ____ for sparkling wines

Answer 10

Italy; Glera is used for Prosecco and Muscat for Mascato

Question 11

Australia has made unique sparklers using _____

Answer 11

Shiraz

Question 12

Name other regions that use the traditional method for their sparkling wines

Answer 12

France - Cremant (outside of Champagne); Spain - Cava & Italy - Franciacorta

Question 13

About how many days does it take for the second fermentation to complete?

Answer 13

About 30 days

Question 14

After the second fermentation, the wine is ____ on the ____ to be dissolved and absorbed by the wine.

Answer 14

Aged; lees

Question 15

Primary difference of grapes used to make the base wine vs other light styled wines is that they are….

Answer 15

harvested early to retain the acidity and lower sugar levels. Also typically hand-harvested to avoid grapes breaking & mixes with skin/stems etc. (less bitterness no color transfer)

Question 16

What is the common form of pressing for sparkling wines?

Answer 16

Whole berry/cluster pressing

Question 17

Describe a Traditional Champagne press

Answer 17

Wide flat basket press (sometimes still used today)

Question 18

The first pressing releases most of the juices with minimal force and is considered the ____ quality.

Answer 18

Finest/Best; The winery’s best wine is often made from that juice

Question 19

Leftover juice (typically more bitter from stems and seeds) can be used to create

Answer 19

Still wine, fortified wines, spirits, vinegar or other products.

Question 20

Debourage or the _____ ______ phase, allows sediment to settle.

Answer 20

Juice Settling

Question 21

The second alcoholic fermentation is known as

Answer 21

Prise de mousse or “seizing the foam”

Question 22

What is a pupitre and what is it used for?

Answer 22

A wine rack designed for riddling bottles to slowly move sediment/ dead yeast to the cap of the bottle

Question 23

Riddling is know as

Answer 23

Remuage

Question 24

The transfer between two bottles is known as

Answer 24

Transversage

Question 25

Still wine from earlier vintages, used in blending is known as

Answer 25

Reserve

Question 26

Assemblage is the stage where

Answer 26

wines are blended together to create one or more blends (also called cuvees)

Question 27

Top quality sparkling wines are often known as

Answer 27

Tete de cuvee or prestige; often turned into vintage wines

Question 28

Wines produced from a blend or cuvee harvested in the same year are often known as

Answer 28

Vintage; Typically made in exceptional years

Question 29

Contains cuvees that are produced from more than one year to create consistency

Answer 29

Nonvintage

Question 30

Blanc de blanc refers to a

Answer 30

white wine made only from white grapes (typically 100% chardonnay)

Question 31

Blanc de Noirs

Answer 31

white wine made from black grapes. Grapes are crushed and pressed leaving little to no color behind. Mainly made from Pinot Noir but could also be made from Pinot Meunier

Question 32

Pinkish base wine or cuvee made from white and red grapes known as

Answer 32

Rose; Pinot Noir is commonly used

Question 33

Assemblage is typically followed by ____, ____ & _____.

Answer 33

fining, racking and cold stabilization

Question 34

A mixture of yeast and sugar to start second fermentation

Answer 34

Liqueur de tirage