Sparkling Wines

Question 1

The bubbles in sparkling wine are created by…?

Answer 1

Dissolved CO2

Question 2

Sparkling wine’s base wine is typically what kind of wine

Answer 2

Dry, high in acidity and low in alcohol

Question 3

How is second fermentation instigated?

Answer 3

Adding yeast and sugar to the dry base wine

Question 4

In sparkling wine, how is CO2 prevented from escaping in second fermentation?

Answer 4

Vessel is sealed

Question 5

The traditional method of sparkling wine sees second fermentation take place where?

Answer 5

Inside the bottle

Question 6

What is the process by which the lees (yeast) break down?

Answer 6

Yeast autolysis

Question 7

If yeast is not removed from a sparkling wine, what appearance would the sparkling wine have?

Answer 7

Hazy appearance

Question 8

What step of the traditional method of sparkling wine removes the lees from the wine?

Answer 8

Riddling

Question 9

Riddling does what to a bottle of sparkling wine?

Answer 9

Moves yeast deposit to the neck of the bottle

Question 10

What equipment is used today for riddling?

Answer 10

Gyropalettte

Question 11

When is the frozen wine and yeast removed from a sparkling wine in the traditional method?

Answer 11

When the crown cap is removed from the top

Question 12

What is the liquer d’expedition?

Answer 12

Topping up the sparkling wine with mixture of wine and sugar after disgorgement

Question 13

Process of adding wine and sugar to sparkling wine after disgorgement is also known as what?

Answer 13

Dosage

Question 14

Demi-Sec indicates?

Answer 14

Medium-sweetness

Question 15

Champagne is typically a blend of which three varieties?

Answer 15

Chardonnay
Pinot Noir
Meunier

Question 16

Cool climate of Champagne provides ideal conditions for producing what kind of base wine?

Answer 16

Low alcohol and high acidity

Question 17

Legal minimum amount of time of lees contact for Champagne?

Answer 17

12 months

Question 18

Least expensive Champagne (minimum lees contact) gives what flavours?

Answer 18

Notes of apple and light autolytic flavours

Question 19

Slightly riper grapes in NV Champagne give what flavours?

Answer 19

Green fruit and citrus and autolytic notes

Question 20

What are the bottle-aged-flavours imparted in vintage Champagne?

Answer 20

Nuts and honey

Question 21

Vast majority of Cava comes from which region?

Answer 21

Catalunya

Question 22

Typically, Cava’s production is different to Champagne how?

Answer 22

Harvested earlier
Shorter lees contact
Subtler autolytic characters

Question 23

Generally, in any wine-producing country, where is sparkling wine usually produced?

Answer 23

In the coolest regions

Question 24

New World traditional method sparkling wines differ from Champagne how?

Answer 24

Slightly riper fruit flavours due to the extra sunlight and warmth

Question 25

What term is given to traditional-method sparkling wine in South Africa?

Answer 25

Cap classique

Question 26

A wine labelled Cap Classique is what?

Answer 26

Traditional-method sparkling wine from South Africa

Question 27

If a winemaker does not want to have autolytic flavours in their sparkling wine, what method might they choose?

Answer 27

Tank method

Question 28

What grape varieties make the tank method more desirable for sparkling wine?

Answer 28

Aromatic grape varieties

Question 29

The asti method produces what kind of wines?

Answer 29

Sweet, low alcohol sparkling wine

Question 30

How des the asti method differ from most sparkling wine methods?

Answer 30

It does not begin with a base wine, but a juice instead

Question 31

How are bubbles created in asti method sparkling wine?

Answer 31

During tank fermentation, the vessel is sealed so that CO2 is retained and bubbles are created

Question 32

How is sweetness ensured in asti method sparkling wine?

Answer 32

Yeast is filtered out before all the sugar has been converted to alcohol

Question 33

Prosecco uses what grape variety?

Answer 33

Glera

Question 34

What other grape is used with Glera for prosecco rose?

Answer 34

Pinot Noir

Question 35

Asti DOCG sparkling wine uses what grape variety?

Answer 35

Moscato

Question 36

Asti DOCG sparkling wine characteristics (dryness)

Answer 36

Sweet

Question 37

Asti DOCG sparkling wine characteristics (body)

Answer 37

Light-bodied

Question 38

Asti DOCG sparkling wine characteristics (aromas)

Answer 38

Floral (blossom)

Question 39

Asti DOCG sparkling wine characteristics (flavours)

Answer 39

Grapes, peaches and pears

Question 40

Prosecco DOC body

Answer 40

Light to medium body

Question 41

Prosecco DOC flavours

Answer 41

Pear, melon and blossom