Sparkling Wines of the World Flashcards
What are the terms permitted in Champagne labelling ?
- Champagne consist of a single appelation
- Villages with Cru status
- 44 are premier cru
- 17 are Grand cru
- But these are not appellation
Are every vineyards sites outstanding in Champagne?
Explain
The whole village is rated and not specific vineyards
Villages are not required to meet stricter production requirements such as lower yields
The sites vary in quality and potential
What are the sub-region sof Champagne where there are major concentrations of vineyards?
There are five sub-regions
Near épernay
- Montagne de Reims
- Vallée de la Marne
- Côte des Blancs
South west and south east
- Côte de Sézanne
- Côte des Bar
What is the climate of Champagne ?
Cool continental climate
What are the climatic hazards in champagne.
How they minimise the impact ?
Winter freeze, spring Frost: Vineyards are planted on slopes
Rainy cloudy weather: Chalk soils provide good drainage and water in dry periods
Is champagne suited for sustainable agriculture ?
Producers are fully committed to sustainable agriculture and have ambitious targets
What are the main grape varieties used in making Champagne ?
Chardonnay
Pinot Noir
Meunier
Is Champagne or Alsace the northernmost winemaking region in France?
Champagne is the most northern winemaking region in France.
What is the main type of sub-soil in Champagne?
The main sub-soil in Champagne is chalk, which retains water well.
Where is most planted Chardonnay in Champagne ?
What is the wine profile ?
Côte des Blancs and Côte de Sézanne
Lighter-bodied than Burgudy and high acidity with floral and citrus
Where is most planted Pinot Noir in Champagne ?
What is the wine profile ?
Montagne de Reims and Côte des Bar
Greater Body, structural backbone to blends
Where is most planted Meunier in Champagne ?
What is the wine profile ?
Vallée de la Marne
Because it buds late protecting from spring frost
Fruity flavours to blend
important for wine that are made to be enjoyed young
What is the method used for in Champagne ?
Traditional method
What is called the first liquid to come out of the press in méthode traditionnelle ?
Cuvée
Can grapes can be machine harvested in champagne ?
No, it must be handpicked to retain whol healhty bunches
What is called the remainder of the press juice, after the cuvée ?
Taille
From which juice is made premium champagne ?
Solely from the Cuvée
Is champagne allowed to blend wines ?
Yes, large champagne producers often blend dozens of wines to achieve house style
What is the lenght of time champagne must be aged inclueing times on lees ?
Non-vintage : min. 15 months- 12 months on lees
Vintage : 36 months - 12 months on leeds
But often longer
Describe general styles of champagne
non-vintage : light body, fresh fruits
vintage : on best years, concentrated ,ad more toasty-bicuity
Rosé : dlicate autolysis, berry notes
Blanc de blancs : more austre but can age
Blanc de noirs : fuller body but age quickly
Prestige cuvée : can age several years, from best parcels
What sweetness level is more popular for champagne ?
brut
Brut nature is on the rise
What are the 3 most important Crémant AC ?
Crémant d’Alsace
Crémant de Bourgogne
Crémant de Loire
What is the winemaking methos used for Crémant ?
Traditional Method
How many months must Crémant spend on lees ?
Minimum of nine months
What are the grape varieties used in Crémant ?
from the grapes used for making the still white wines of the region
Aromatic grape varieties sucha s Musccat and Gewurztraminer are not peritted for Crémant in Alsace, while Chardonnay is allowed
What is the second biggest center for sparkling wine after Champagne ?
Loire Valley
Besides Crémant de Loire, name 2 other sparkling wine appellations in the Loire Valley and their permissible varietals.
Vouvray
Chenin Blanc
Saumur
Chenin Blanc
Chardonnay (important in the best wines)
Cabernet Franc (sparkling Rosé)
What is the winemaking methos used in Saumur and Vouvray Sparkling wine ?
How many months should they spendn on lees ?
Traditional method
most spend 9 months on the lees
Why is Cava an unusual DO ?
Is non-contiugous and cover many geographic areas across Spain
How is Cava made?
Cava is made using méthode traditionelle, just like Champagne.
How many months should Cava spend on lees ?
9 months
What are the 3 traditional grapes that can go into Cava?
What about rosé Cava?
The traditional grapes allowed into Cava include:
Xarel-lo
Parellada
Macabeo (viura)
Rosé Cava is made with Garnacha + Monastrell.
What are the 2 recently added grape varieties permitted for Cava?
Chardonnay;
Pinot Noir.
Both add additional levels of fruit and acidity to Cava.
What is the birthplace of Cava?
Catalunya
What is the difference between Cava and Champagne ?
Cava is mostly non vintage
Lower in acidity
Easy-drinking style
different autolysis flavours, less bread and toast
What grape is used to make Asti?
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
Explain the sparkling wine style of Asti DOCG
Asti Method
Fruity aroma of peach and grape with floral notes
low alcohol (7%)
Sweet
No autolyctic characters
does not benefit from ageing
What are the two principal regions for Prosecco?
Prosecco DOC;
Conegliano-Valdobbiadene DOCG.
Prosecco DOC and Conegliano-Valdobbiadene DOCG are made with this grape.
Glera
Prosecco is made using which method?
Tank, method
In what styles is Prosecco made?
Brut
Extra Dry
Dry
What do the terms ‘Cartizze’ and ‘Rive’ mean on a bottle of Prosecco?
That the grapes came from an exceptional vineyard site.
Cartizze is a large vineyard itself in Valdobbiadene
You can now make sparkling Rosé Prosecco. Which grape can be used ?
Glera with Pinot noir
Why does Prosecco display somewhat higher levels of residual sugar than Cava or Champagne?
Prosecco fermentation is interrupted by chilling and filtering, leaving some natural sugar remaining in the wine.
Most German Sekt is made using which method?:
Tank method
German Sekt is made mostly from which grapes?
Riesling
What is the difference between Sekt and Deutscher Sekt?
Sekt is made of base wines blended from France and Italy with some German grapes using the Charmat, or Tank, method.
Deutscher Sekt is sparkling wine made in Germany from 100% German grapes. Most are produced using Charmat method but there are a few producers who use traditional method.
What are the Sparkling wine regions of Australia ?
Cool and moderate climate such as
Yarra Valley
Adelaide Hills
Tasmania
What are the grape varieties used in Australia Sparkling wine ?
Chardonnay / Pinot noir
What are the method used for sparkling wine of Australia ?
Tank method, Carbonation, traditiona method
What are the sparkling wine styles of Australia ?
different quality and all all styles
red sparkling is a commercial success
What is sparkling wine method of New Zealand ?
Traditional method
What are the grape varieties used in New Zeland Sparkling wine ?
Chardonnay, Pinot noir, Meunier
What is the region for high volume new zealdn sparkling wine ?
Marlborough
Sparkling wine production grapes are grown in all regions
What is sparkling wine method used in South Africa ?
Traditional method
What is the name of South Africa Sparkling wine ?
Which grape varieties are used ?
How many months on the lees ?
Cap Classique
Chardonnay / Pinot noir
12 months on the lees
The best sparkling wines of USA are from
What is the method and grape varieties ?
Cooler locations of
Los Carneros AVA
Anderson Valley AVA
Traditional method - age on lees
Pinot noir an Chardonnay
What other sparkling wine styles are produced in USA ?
Tnak method or Carbonation inexpensice wines
