Sparkling Wines Flashcards
The bubbles in sparkling wine are created by…?
Dissolved CO2
Sparkling wine’s base wine is typically what kind of wine
Dry, high in acidity and low in alcohol
How is second fermentation instigated?
Adding yeast and sugar to the dry base wine
In sparkling wine, how is CO2 prevented from escaping in second fermentation?
Vessel is sealed
The traditional method of sparkling wine sees second fermentation take place where?
Inside the bottle
What is the process by which the lees (yeast) break down?
Yeast autolysis
If yeast is not removed from a sparkling wine, what appearance would the sparkling wine have?
Hazy appearance
What step of the traditional method of sparkling wine removes the lees from the wine?
Riddling
Riddling does what to a bottle of sparkling wine?
Moves yeast deposit to the neck of the bottle
What equipment is used today for riddling?
Gyropalettte
When is the frozen wine and yeast removed from a sparkling wine in the traditional method?
When the crown cap is removed from the top
What is the liquer d’expedition?
Topping up the sparkling wine with mixture of wine and sugar after disgorgement
Process of adding wine and sugar to sparkling wine after disgorgement is also known as what?
Dosage
Demi-Sec indicates?
Medium-sweetness
Champagne is typically a blend of which three varieties?
Chardonnay
Pinot Noir
Meunier
Cool climate of Champagne provides ideal conditions for producing what kind of base wine?
Low alcohol and high acidity
Legal minimum amount of time of lees contact for Champagne?
12 months
Least expensive Champagne (minimum lees contact) gives what flavours?
Notes of apple and light autolytic flavours
Slightly riper grapes in NV Champagne give what flavours?
Green fruit and citrus and autolytic notes
What are the bottle-aged-flavours imparted in vintage Champagne?
Nuts and honey
Vast majority of Cava comes from which region?
Catalunya
Typically, Cava’s production is different to Champagne how?
Harvested earlier
Shorter lees contact
Subtler autolytic characters
Generally, in any wine-producing country, where is sparkling wine usually produced?
In the coolest regions
New World traditional method sparkling wines differ from Champagne how?
Slightly riper fruit flavours due to the extra sunlight and warmth
What term is given to traditional-method sparkling wine in South Africa?
Cap classique
A wine labelled Cap Classique is what?
Traditional-method sparkling wine from South Africa
If a winemaker does not want to have autolytic flavours in their sparkling wine, what method might they choose?
Tank method
What grape varieties make the tank method more desirable for sparkling wine?
Aromatic grape varieties
The asti method produces what kind of wines?
Sweet, low alcohol sparkling wine
How des the asti method differ from most sparkling wine methods?
It does not begin with a base wine, but a juice instead
How are bubbles created in asti method sparkling wine?
During tank fermentation, the vessel is sealed so that CO2 is retained and bubbles are created
How is sweetness ensured in asti method sparkling wine?
Yeast is filtered out before all the sugar has been converted to alcohol
Prosecco uses what grape variety?
Glera
What other grape is used with Glera for prosecco rose?
Pinot Noir
Asti DOCG sparkling wine uses what grape variety?
Moscato
Asti DOCG sparkling wine characteristics (dryness)
Sweet
Asti DOCG sparkling wine characteristics (body)
Light-bodied
Asti DOCG sparkling wine characteristics (aromas)
Floral (blossom)
Asti DOCG sparkling wine characteristics (flavours)
Grapes, peaches and pears
Prosecco DOC body
Light to medium body
Prosecco DOC flavours
Pear, melon and blossom
