Sparkling Wines

Question 1

GYROPALETTE

Answer 1

A cube shaped machine that is used in the riddling process for hundreds of bottles at a time

Question 2

RIDDLING

Answer 2

After 2nd fermentation, bottles are moved very slowly from a horizontal to an inverted vertical position so the lees can slide into the neck

Question 3

What are the 5 steps of the traditional method?

Answer 3

2nd fermentation, riddling, disgorgement, dosage, resealing

Question 4

What is added to the base wine to start the 2nd fermentation?

Answer 4

yeast, sugar

Question 5

What is the process of the yeast breaking down called? And what flavours does this produce?

Answer 5

yeast autolysis; biscuit/bread

Question 6

Is Riddling mostly done by hand or machine?

Answer 6

By machine (gyropalette)

Question 7

DISGORGEMENT

Answer 7

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

Question 8

DOSAGE

Answer 8

Adding wine and sugar to a sparkling wine after disgorgement

Question 9

What is the wine/sugar mixture added during the dosage process called?

Answer 9

liqueur d’expedition

Question 10

What are the characteristics of a typical base wine?

Answer 10

dry, high acidity, low alcohol

Question 11

By approximately how much does the 2nd fermentation increase the abv of the base wine by?

Answer 11

1.5%

Question 12

What 3 wines are typically used for Champagne base wines?

Answer 12

Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Meunier

Question 13

What is the minimum amount of time Champagnes can spend ageing on their lees?

Answer 13

12 months

Question 14

True or False: Cava uses the traditional method.

Answer 14

True

Question 15

Where does most Cava come from?

Answer 15

The Catalunya region of Spain

Question 16

What does the term ‘Methode Cap Classique’ mean?

Answer 16

In South Africa it signifies a traditional-method Sparkling Wine.

Question 17

True or False: The Traditional Method must use Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meunier grapes.

Answer 17

False. For example Meunier is not always used and sometimes Chenin Blanc and other varieties are used in this method around the world.

Question 18

True of False: Per EU rules, champagnes must contain the PDO status on the label.

Answer 18

False. It is exempt from having ‘Appellation Champagne controlee’ on it’s label. So is Cava.

Question 19

Why would a producer prefer the tank method of 2nd fermentation?

Answer 19

If they do not wish to add autolytic flavours to the wine, as is the case with base wines made from aromatic grape varieties.

Question 20

How are the lees removed during tank fermentatin?

Answer 20

Via filtration

Question 21

What is the Asti method?

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

What grape is used to make the base wine for Prosecco DOC wines?

Answer 22

Glera

Question 23

What grape are Asti DOCG wines made from?

Answer 23

Moscato (Muscat)