Sparkling Wines Flashcards
What is the French name for the dosage used in making Champagne?
Liqueur d’expedition
Actually the amount of Sugar is the ‘dosage’
When pressing grapes the first juice is the best, what is it called?
What is the rest of the juice called
First juice is the Cuvée
Then the remainder is called Taille
What are the 6 ‘simple’ steps to making a Traditional Method sparkling wine?
Alcoholic fermentation, bottling, second fermentation, ageing, disgorgement, dosage
With which 2 sparkling wine production methods can you have yeasty, autolysis, flavours?
Traditional Method
Transfer Method
What are the 4 Cs of Traditional Method sparkling wine production?
Champagne
Cremant
Cava
Method Cap Classique
In what state are ideal grapes for sparkling wine and why?
Hi acidity and low sugar but ripe
First ferment target is just 10~11% abv as 2nd will add 1.2~1.3%
Sparkling wines are meant to be made in a zingy refreshing style
Why are the best grapes for sparkling wine picked in whole bunches?
When crushed, it protects the juice better from unwanted colour and tannins
What is the style of the base wine after its first fermentation?
10~11% abv High acidity Neutral taste MLF may be allowed or prevented The base wine might be lightly oaked
Give three reasons why blending is so important with sparkling wines
- To make a consistent ‘House’ style considering grapes from different vineyards, different vintages
- To improve balance e.g. Chardonnay adds Citrus whilst Pinot Noir adds body and subtle red fruit flavours
- To add complexity e.g. Old reserve wines might bring dried fruit. Some matured in oak would bring toast and spice
What are the 5 ingredients of Liqueur de Tirage?
When is it used?
Wine, sugar, yeast, yeast nutrients, clarifying agent
Mixed with base wine to start the 2nd fermentation
What is the pressure in the bottle after the 2nd fermentation?
5~6 atmospheres
What is ‘Riddling’ and what is the machine that does the job nowadays?
Slowly inverting the bottle after second fermentation to make the yeast sink to the neck of the bottle.
Gyroplattes - can hold 500 bottles
At what stages might blending be done in making Sparkling wine?
After the base wine is made various parcels are blended before starting 2nd fermentation
At the stage of adding Liqueur d’expedition the wine used can adjust the flavours of the final wine
What is Liqueur d’expedition made from?
Wine and sugar
How is ‘Traditional Method’ shown on bottles?
Method Champenoise
Methods Traditionelle
Traditional Method
How are some producers helping retailers and drinkers know the age of Champagne?
Some are showing ‘Disgorgement’ dates on the bottle
What are the 5 ways to make sparkling wine?
Traditional Method Transfer Method Tank Method Asti Method Carbonation
Why is the ‘Asti’ Method unusual?
There is only one fermentation
With which sparkling wine production methods can you get autolysis flavours?
Traditional Method
Transfer Method
What is the main difference between Traditional and Transfer methods of sparkling wine production?
With Transfer method, after 2nd fermentation and lees ageing the bottles are disgorged into a sealed tank under pressure.
The wine is then filtered, Liqueur d’expedition is added then the wine is finally bottled
Why might producers choose the Tank Method to make sparkling wine?
It’s cheaper but primarily, because it doesn’t add autolytic flavours, the process retains primary fruit flavours
With the Tank Method of Sparkling wine production, where does 2nd fermentation take place?
In a pressurised tank
What grape is used to make Asti?
Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains
Which grape variety would be ideally suited to Carbonation?
An aromatic such as Sauvignon Blanc
