Sparkling wines Flashcards
What are the bubbles in sparkling wines made of?
Dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2)
For quality sparkling wines, where does the CO2 come from?
It’s naturally created during fermentation
Describe a typical base wine.
-Sweetness
-Acidity
-Alcohol
Dry, high acidity, low alcohol
True or false: a base wine is often a blend of different vintages, varieties, vineyards.
True
In the traditional method, during which of the below steps do the bubbles appear?
-Yeast autolysis
-Riddling
-Second fermentation
-Dosage
Second fermentation
What is added to the base wine in the bottle to instigate the second fermentation?
Sugar and yeast
In the traditional method, what 2 things are created during the second fermentation in the bottle?
Alcohol and CO2
What does the labelling term “Méthode traditionelle” mean?
The wine was made using the traditional method (second fermentation in bottle)
What flavours are created during yeast autolysis?
Biscuit, bread, brioche…
What is best described as “After the second fermentation, lees break down and impart flavours to the wine”
Yeast autolysis
What is best described as “Moving the deposit of lees into the neck of the bottle, by moving the bottle very slowly from horizontal to an inverted vertical position.”
Riddling
What is a gyropalette?
A cube-shaped machine that can riddle hundreds of bottles at a time.
What step of the traditional method process is best described as “the removal of the lees from the bottle”?
Disgorgement
What is the name of the name of the wine and sugar mixture which is added after disgorgement, during dosage?
Liqueur d’expédition
Which step during the traditional method process determines how sweet or dry the final wine will be?
Dosage
The more sugar is added, the sweeter the wine is
What does the word “brut” mean?
The wine will taste dry. Only a small amount of sugar is added at dosage.
What does the word “demi-sec” indicate on a sparkling wine bottle?
Medium sweet
In the traditional method, what is the bottle sealed with once the base wine, sugar and yeast are added to the bottle?
A crown seal
Put the below steps of the traditional method process in order:
dosage
second fermentation
riddling
yeast autolysis
sealed with cork
disgorgement
second fermentation
yeast autolysis
riddling
disgorgement
dosage
sealed with cork
Name the 3 grape varieties used in Champagne.
Chardonnay
Pinot Noir
Meunier
True or false: blending several vintages together helps achieve consistency in non-vintage Champagne.
True
What is the legal minimum amount of time for lees ageing in Champagne?
12 months
True or false: A Vintage Champagne is made every year and is a blend of multiple vintages.
False.
Made in exceptional years with grapes exclusively from that vintage
Which method is used to produce Cava?
-Tank method
-Traditional method
-Asti method
Traditional method
In which region is most Cava produced?
Catalunya, Spain
True or false: Cava is made exclusively from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
False. It uses mainly local Spanish grape varieties, but Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are also allowed.
Which of the below statements is true?
-The minimum lees ageing for Cava is 12 months
-The minimum lees ageing for Cava is longer than Champagne
-The minimum lees ageing for Cava is less than Champagne
The minimum lees ageing for Cava is less than Champagne
True or false: Traditional Method sparkling wines in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa typically have slightly riper fruit flavours than Champagne due to the extra sunlight and warmth in the vineyard.
True
In which country is term Cap Classique used to signify a traditional method sparkling wine?
South Africa
True or false: In South Africa, traditional method sparkling wines sometimes use Chenin Blanc.
True
Which method is typically used for making Prosecco?
-Tank method
-Traditional method
-Asti method
Tank method
With the tank method, does the wine typically undergo yeast autolysis?
No
With the tank method, how are the lees removed from the wine?
By filtration, and the wine is bottles under pressure
True or false: the tank method sees the wine undergo a second fermentation in a sealed tank.
True
True or false: the tank method is more time consuming and labour intensive than the traditional method.
False
True or false: the Asti method sees the wine undergo a second fermentation in a sealed tank.
False. there is only one fermentation. Grape juice is placed in the tank (not a base wine)
Which sparkling winemaking method results in a low alcohol and sweet wine?
Asti method
Which grape variety is used in Asti DOCG wines?
Moscato
Describe the typical flavours of Asti DOCG wines.
Pronounced floral (blossom), grapes, peaches, pears
