Sparkling Wine Production

Question 1

Name the 5 methods for making sparkling wine

Answer 1

Traditional, transfer, tank, Asti and Carbonation

Question 2

What is dosage and another name for it? When is it added?

Answer 2

liqueur d’expedition (mixture of wine and sugar - dosage - and this determines the final level of sweetness in the wine)
This is added after disgorgement.

Question 3

What is tirage?

Answer 3

This is when yeast and sugar are added to the base wine to begin secondary fermentation. The amount of sugar added determines the sweetness level of the sparkling wine.

Question 4

What label might be on a sparkling wine to show that the transfer method was used?

Answer 4

Bottle fermented.

Question 5

Which methods show flavours of autolysis?

Answer 5

Transfer method and Traditional method.

Question 6

Which method is the cheapest?

Answer 6

Carbonation

Question 7

Which methods are used to retain base wine flavours/aromas?

Answer 7

Asti, Tank and Carbonation

Question 8

What are the sweetness labels and levels?

Answer 8

Brut Nature/Bruto Natural/ Naturherb/ Zero Dosage - 0-3g/L (dosage cannot be added)
Extra Brut/Extra Bruto/Extra Herb - 0-6g/L
Brut/Bruto/Herb - 0-12g/L
Extra-Sec/Extra-dry/Extra Trocken - 12/17g/L
Sec/Secco/Seco/ Dry/Trocken - 17-32g/L
Demi-Sec/Semi-Seco/Medium Dry/ Abboccato/ Halbtrocken - 32-50g/L
Doux/Dulce/Sweet/Mild - 50+g/L

Question 9

What style of sparkling wine is created using the Asti method?

Answer 9

Sweet, fruity sparkling wines

Question 10

Which method is ideal for making sparkling wines that retain strong varietal flavours?

Answer 10

Tank method for varieties such as Muscat and Riesling as well as Prosecco.
Carbonation is also good to retain strong varietal flavours.

Question 11

Which method only allows for one fermentation?

Answer 11

Asti