Sparkling Wines Flashcards
GYROPALETTE
A cube shaped machine that is used in the riddling process for hundreds of bottles at a time
RIDDLING
After 2nd fermentation, bottles are moved very slowly from a horizontal to an inverted vertical position so the lees can slide into the neck
What are the 5 steps of the traditional method?
2nd fermentation, riddling, disgorgement, dosage, resealing
What is added to the base wine to start the 2nd fermentation?
yeast, sugar
What is the process of the yeast breaking down called? And what flavours does this produce?
yeast autolysis; biscuit/bread
Is Riddling mostly done by hand or machine?
By machine (gyropalette)
DISGORGEMENT
Once the neck of the bottle is frozen, the crown cap is removed and the CO2 pressure forces the plug of lees out of the bottle
DOSAGE
Adding wine and sugar to a sparkling wine after disgorgement
What is the wine/sugar mixture added during the dosage process called?
liqueur d’expedition
What are the characteristics of a typical base wine?
dry, high acidity, low alcohol
By approximately how much does the 2nd fermentation increase the abv of the base wine by?
1.5%
What 3 wines are typically used for Champagne base wines?
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Meunier
What is the minimum amount of time Champagnes can spend ageing on their lees?
12 months
True or False: Cava uses the traditional method.
True
Where does most Cava come from?
The Catalunya region of Spain
What does the term ‘Methode Cap Classique’ mean?
In South Africa it signifies a traditional-method Sparkling Wine.
True or False: The Traditional Method must use Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meunier grapes.
False. For example Meunier is not always used and sometimes Chenin Blanc and other varieties are used in this method around the world.
True of False: Per EU rules, champagnes must contain the PDO status on the label.
False. It is exempt from having ‘Appellation Champagne controlee’ on it’s label. So is Cava.
Why would a producer prefer the tank method of 2nd fermentation?
If they do not wish to add autolytic flavours to the wine, as is the case with base wines made from aromatic grape varieties.
How are the lees removed during tank fermentatin?
Via filtration
What is the Asti method?
Juice is put in a tank with yeast and begins to ferment but CO2 is allowed to escape. Part way through the fermentation the tank is sealed to retain CO2. The fermentation is stopped by filtering the yeasts before all the sugar has been converted to alcohol resulting in a sweet, low alcohol, sparkling wine.
What grape is used to make the base wine for Prosecco DOC wines?
Glera
What grape are Asti DOCG wines made from?
Moscato (Muscat)
