Sparkling Wine Production - WSET L3 in Wines Flashcards
What are the key characteristics of sparkling wines?
Sparkling wines can be white, red, or rosé, with varying sweetness levels and flavor profiles ranging from fresh and fruity to toasty and nutty.
Why are high-acid, low-sugar grapes ideal for sparkling wine?
The second fermentation increases alcohol by 1.2-1.3%, so base wines must be dry and low in sugar, with high acidity for freshness.
Why are cooler regions preferred for premium sparkling wine?
They allow slow ripening, preserving acidity while developing ripe flavors without herbaceous notes.
Why is hand harvesting preferred for sparkling wine production?
It preserves whole bunches, minimizing juice oxidation and tannin extraction.
How is pressing managed for sparkling wine?
Gentle pressing minimizes tannin and color extraction, especially important for white sparkling wines from black grapes.
What is the EU regulation on pressing for sparkling wine?
Limits the maximum pressure and juice yield to maintain quality.
What is the traditional method of sparkling wine production?
A second fermentation occurs in the bottle, creating high-quality wines with complex flavors.
What is “liqueur de tirage”?
A mixture of wine, sugar, yeast, and nutrients added before the second fermentation.
How does yeast autolysis influence wine?
It releases compounds that add flavors like bread, biscuit, and toast.
What is riddling, and why is it important?
Gradual turning of bottles to collect yeast sediment in the neck for removal.
How is disgorgement performed?
Freezes the neck of the bottle, and pressure ejects the sediment when the crown cap is removed.
What is “liqueur d’expédition”?
A mixture of wine and sugar added after disgorgement to determine sweetness.
What is the transfer method?
Similar to the traditional method but skips riddling, transferring wine to a pressurized tank for filtration and rebottling.
How does the tank method differ from traditional method?
Second fermentation occurs in a sealed tank, emphasizing fresh fruit flavors, used for wines like Prosecco.
What is the Asti method?
Single fermentation in pressurized tanks for sweet sparkling wines, stopping fermentation early to retain sugar.
What is carbonation in sparkling wine?
CO₂ is injected into still wine, the least expensive production method.
What is “Brut Nature”?
A sparkling wine with zero dosage and less than 3 g/L residual sugar.
What is “Brut”?
A dry sparkling wine with up to 12 g/L residual sugar.
What is “Demi-Sec”?
A medium-sweet sparkling wine with 32–50 g/L residual sugar.
What does “Vintage” mean in sparkling wines?
Wine made from grapes of a single year, often reserved for the best vintages.
What is “Non-Vintage” sparkling wine?
A blend of wines from multiple years, representing a producer’s house style.
What is a “Prestige Cuvée”?
The highest-quality wine in a producer’s range, often made from the best grapes and vintages.
What are the main grapes for traditional method sparkling wines?
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier.
What grapes are used for Prosecco?
Glera.
What are the primary regions for Champagne?
Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne, and Côte des Blancs.
What are the characteristics of Cava?
Made primarily from Macabeo, Xarel-lo, and Parellada, with fresh citrus and apple flavors.
What sparkling wine is made in Asti?
Sweet, aromatic sparkling wines made from Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains.
How does extended lees aging influence sparkling wine?
Increases autolytic complexity, with flavors of bread, biscuit, and toast.
Why is bottle aging important for premium sparkling wines?
Integrates flavors and enhances complexity, especially for Prestige Cuvées.
What are the typical flavors of Prosecco?
Fresh apple, pear, and floral notes, with minimal autolytic character.
What defines a rosé sparkling wine?
Made by blending red and white wines or through limited skin contact during maceration.
What is Blanc de Blancs?
Sparkling wine made exclusively from white grapes, typically Chardonnay.
What is Blanc de Noirs?
Sparkling wine made exclusively from black grapes, typically Pinot Noir or Pinot Meunier.
What is the minimum aging requirement for non-vintage Champagne?
15 months, with at least 12 months on lees.
How long must vintage Champagne age?
A minimum of 36 months.
What is the minimum pressure for sparkling wines under EU law?
At least 3 atmospheres of pressure.
What distinguishes Crémant from Champagne?
Crémant is made outside of Champagne using the traditional method, often with local grape varieties.
What are the characteristics of Sekt?
German sparkling wine, often made from Riesling or other local varieties, using either the tank or traditional method.
What is the Charmat method?
Another name for the tank method, used for sparkling wines like Prosecco.
How does sparkling wine production differ in the New World?
Greater focus on tank and transfer methods for affordability, with traditional methods for premium wines.
What is the role of dosage in sparkling wine?
Balances acidity and adjusts sweetness, determining the final style (e.g., Brut, Demi-Sec).
What are the key challenges of making sparkling wine?
Managing acidity, achieving balance in sugar levels, and controlling fermentation pressures.
What is the base wine for sparkling wine called?
Vin clair, a still, dry, high-acid wine.
How does the second fermentation affect the wine?
Adds CO₂, increasing pressure and creating bubbles.
What is remuage in sparkling wine production?
The process of riddling, turning bottles to collect sediment in the neck.
How are wines aged sur lie?
Wines remain in contact with yeast lees after fermentation, developing autolytic flavors.
What defines the Prosecco DOCG?
Higher quality Prosecco from the Conegliano-Valdobbiadene region, often with greater complexity.
What is the role of sugar in liqueur de tirage?
Provides food for yeast during the second fermentation, generating CO₂.
What are the characteristics of Méthode Cap Classique (MCC) from South Africa?
Traditional method sparkling wines with fresh fruit flavors and some autolytic complexity.
What are the key characteristics of grapes used for sparkling wine?
High acidity, low sugar, and neutral flavor to maintain freshness and balance after secondary fermentation.
Why is a cool climate important for sparkling wine grapes?
It ensures slow ripening, retaining acidity and delicate flavors essential for quality sparkling wines.
Why is hand harvesting preferred for sparkling wine grapes?
It prevents grape damage, minimizes oxidation, and ensures whole bunches are intact for gentle pressing.
Name the five main methods of sparkling wine production.
Traditional Method, Transfer Method, Tank Method, Asti Method, and Carbonation.
What is the key characteristic of the traditional method?
The second fermentation occurs in the bottle, developing complex autolytic flavors.
What are the key steps in the traditional method?
Base wine production, blending, liqueur de tirage addition, second fermentation, aging on lees, riddling, disgorgement, dosage, and corking.
Why are traditional method wines more expensive?
Labor-intensive processes, long aging times, and the complexity of bottle handling increase costs.
Why is blending important in sparkling wine production?
Maintains consistency, balances flavors, and can combine grapes, vintages, or regions for complexity.
What is the role of the crown cap in sparkling wine production?
Seals the bottle during the second fermentation, maintaining pressure and preventing oxidation and collecting dead yeast.
What is the pressure inside a sparkling wine bottle?
Typically between 5-6 atmospheres, depending on the method and style.
What happens during yeast autolysis in sparkling wine?
Yeast cells break down, releasing compounds that add flavors of bread, biscuit, and toast.
How long does riddling on an A-frame rack take?
Around 6 weeks, gradually moving sediment to the neck of the bottle.
How does a gyropalette improve riddling efficiency?
Automates the process, completing riddling in a few days rather than weeks.
What is disgorgement in sparkling wine production?
The process of removing yeast sediment from the bottle after riddling.
What does the disgorgement date on a sparkling wine bottle indicate?
The date when sediment was removed, useful for understanding freshness and aging potential.
What is the transfer method for sparkling wine?
Similar to the traditional method but skips riddling, transferring wine to a pressurized tank for filtration and rebottling.
What are the steps in the tank method?
First fermentation, blending, second fermentation in a sealed tank, filtration, and bottling under pressure.
What is the residual sugar level for “Extra Brut”?
0–6 g/L.
What is the residual sugar level for “Extra Dry”?
12–17 g/L.
How does autolysis impact sparkling wine flavor?
Adds complexity with notes of bread, biscuit, and nut.
Why is gentle pressing important for sparkling wine grapes?
Minimizes tannin and color extraction, especially for white sparkling wines from black grapes.
