Sparkling Wines of the World Flashcards
What is the most popular sparkling wine in the world?
Champagne
What is the one appellation in the CHampagne region?
Champagne AC
How many villages in Champagne AC are labled premier cru
44
how many villages in CHampagne AC are labelled grand cru
17
How are the villages rated unlike Alsace or Burgandy?
growers are not required to meet stricter qualifications and the whole village is not rated or not specific sites. Not every plot rated in grand cru will have the same potential
how many sub regions are located within CHampagne AC? and what are they?
5 - cote des blancs, cote des Bar, Cote de Sezanne, Montagne de reims, vallee de la Marne
which three of the sub regions in Champagne are the most famous?
Montagne de Reims, Vallee de la Marne, and tghe Cote des Blancs.
where do the three most popular subregions in Champagne lie?
close to the major production centers of Reims and Epernay
WHich sub region in Champagne lies about 30 KM SW of Epernay
Cote de Sezanne
which sub region in Champagne lies over 100 km to the SE of Epernay
Cote de Bar
What type of climate does Champagne have?
cool continental. producers have to deal with winter freeze, spring frosts, and rainy cloudy weather.
what are sugar levels for grapes in CHampagne even in the warmest years?
very low sugar levels with high acid levels which makes it perfect for sparkling wine production
what is one of the biggest problems in the vineyards in CHampagne?
frost
How do vineyards minimize the challenge of frosts?
they are planted on slopes
describe soils in CHampagne
dominated by chalk which provided good drainage for rainfall but retains sufficient quantity of water in dry periods.
what type of agriculture are producers committed to in Champagne?
sustainable - try to use less of man made fertilizers and pesticides
what are the three main grape varietals used in making Champagne?
Pinot noir, Chardonnay and Meunier
Where is chardonnay most widely planted in Champagne?
Cote de Blancs and Cote de Sezanne
What type of CHardonnay is produced from Cote de Blancs and Cote de Sezanne
much lighter body than Burgandy and has high acidity with floral and citrus fruit characteristics.
Where does Pinot Noir dominate in Champagne?
Montagne de Reims and Cote de Bar
Describe Pinot noir from Montagne de Reims and Cote de Bar
greater body and provides structural backbone to most blends also giving them a red fruit character.
Where does Meunier dominate in CHampagne?
Vallee de la Marne due to the fact that it buds late protecting it from from the spring frosts that occur in this area.
Describe Meunier from Vallee de la Marne
adds fruity flavors to a blend and is especially important to wines that are made to be enjoyed young.
what method is Champagne made using?
the traditional method. grapes are handpicked to allow selection in the vineyard and retain whole healthy bunches
Describe the pressing process for Champagne
also highly controlled. most CHampagnes are made soley from the cuvee
what is cuvee?
the first liquid to come off the press which contains the purest juice
what is taille?
the remainder of the juice after the Cuvee
How is primary fermentation carried out for Champagne
stainless steel vats, oak barrels, or a mixture of the two
IS MLF used in CHampagne
is can be either encouraged or prevented
How is CHampagne base wines stored?
briefly in oak or in inert vessels only.
why is blending important in Champagne?
the weather can vary widely from year to year, wines may even be fermented in small parcels to allow a greater number of blending options
What do large Champagne producers do to achieve their house style from year to year?
they will use dozens of wines in their blends
How long does non vintage CHampagne wines need to be minimally aged for>
15 months including at least 12 months on lees.
How long does vintage CHampagne wines need to be minimally aged for>
36 months - no extra requirements for lees in general they are typically aged for longer
what does all Champagne wines have?
high acidity and at least some autolytic flavors.
describe a non vintage wine from CHampagne
generally lighter in body, with more fresh fruit flavors then vintage wines.
when are vintage wines made in CHampagne
in the best years
describe a vintage wine from CHampagne?
often more concentrated and display more toasty and biscuity notes from longer aging on lees.
what style rose Champagne is wine made in
can be made in both vintage and non vintage styles
describe the best wines from CHampagne
they balance aromas from autolysis with subtle fruity red berry flavors
descrive a blanc de Blanc wine
light to med body with citrus primary fruit
describe a blanc de noir wine
tend to be fuller body and have more red fruit flavors.
What is Prestige Cuvee
many CHampagne houses now make this - represents their finest wine in their range. often (but not always) vintage and made from best parcels of grapes. can cellar for years and demand premium prices
Many sweetness levels, but what one is most popular for Champagne?
Brut
what does the term Cremant apply to?
a number of French sparkling wine ACs
what are the most important cremant in France?
Cremant d’Alsace, Cremant de Bourgogne, and Cremant de Loire.
what are the regulations around a cremant wine?
they must be made by the traditional method and spend a minimum of 9 months on lees
What varietals are used to make Cremant wines?
the same varietals used to make still white wines in that region with the exception that ALsace cannot use Gewurztraminer or Muscat in cremant wines.
Besides CHampagne, what is the next biggest center of sparkling wine in France?
Loire Valley.
what are the other two regions in Loire Valley besides Cremant de Loire that also make sparkling wines?
Saumur and Vouvray
Describe a Saumur sparkling white wine?
can be made from a range of local varieties as well as CHardonnay which with Cab Franc and Chenin Blanc is an important ingredient in the best wines.
What grape is a Saumur sparkling red wine?
made from Cab Franc
What is made in greater volume Vourvray still or sparkling?
sparkling
what grape is the vast majority of Vouvray sparkling wine made from? and why?
Chenin Blanc - has high acidity that is well suited for sparkling wine production
How is Chenin Blanc different from Chardonnay or Pinot Noir when made into a sparkling wine?
Chenin Blanc does not take on as much of a bready, biscuity character and when the autolyic character is present it is more of a smokey toasty note.
what method is used to make both Vouvray and Saumur sparkling? and what is aging requirement
Traditional method and it must spend at least 9 months on lees.
Why is Cava unusual?
it is a DO that covers a number of different non-contiguous, geographic areas across Spain.
Where does the vast majority of Cava come from?
Catalan vineyards centered in the town of Sant Sadurni d’Anoia.
what are other notable regions where Cava can be found in Spain?
Navarra, Rioja, and Valencia.
what method is used to make Cava sparkling? and what is aging requirement
Traditional method and it must spend at least 9 months on lees
What white varieties are typical for Cavas?
Macabeo (Viura), Xarel-lo and Parrellada
What varieties are typical for rose Cavas?
Garnacha and Monastrell
describe most Cavas
dry with med acidity and some character of yeast autolysis although these flavor scan differ in nature from the bread and toast character found in CHampagne.
What two varietals have recently been added to Cavas that has caused controversy
PInot Noir and CHardonnay - producers believe it detracts from Cava’s point of difference, but it can add extra level of fruit and acidity to wine.
When is most Cava ready to drink
on release from the winery and it is non vintage
How are most Cavas different from Champagne
lower in acidity giving them an approachable drinking style - some have undergone extensive lees aging.
Where is Asti DOCG located?
in Piemonte - the north west of italy
What is Asti made from? and which method
Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains using the Asti method.
what is the distinct characteristic of the varietal used in Asti? describe varietal
distinct grapey characteristic, best examples have pronounced fruity aromas of peach and grapes overlaid with floral notes.
when should Asti be drunk
as young as possible - does not benefit from aging.
what do all ASti’s have as characteristics?
sweet, low in alcohol, (about 7%) and made without any autolytic characters which would take away from the Muscat fruity flavors.
Where is Prosecco made?
northeast Italy
What two regions are delimited for Prosecco?
Prosecco DOC (Friuli and Vento) and Conegliano-Valdobbiadene DOCG (higher quality)
Where must the fruit for Conegliano-Valdobbiadene DOCG be grown?
between the two towns of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene on steep limestone hills northwest of Venice.
what do the terms Cartizze and Rive mean?
they both indicate a wine from an exceptional site
What has the name of the varietal Prosecco been changed to and why?
Glera to protect the integrity of the Prosecco DOC and Conegliano-Valdobbiadene DOCG appellations
What method is typically used to produce Prosecco?
tank method
what are the characteristics of Prosecco
med acidity, fresh aromas of green apples, and melon
what type of styles is Prosecco made in?
Brut, Extra Dry, and Dry
What does Prosecco have more of than most Champagne’s and Cava’s?
levels of residual sugars
what is the method of producing residual sugars in Prosecco wines?
its typically the result of interrupting the fermentation by chilling and filtering
When should Prosecco be consumed?
when they are young and fresh - no benefit from bottle aging
Which country has the highest per capita consumption of sparkling wine in the world?
Germany
What type of sparkling wine makes up most of the sparkling wines made in Germany?
Sekt
How is Sekt typically made?
tank method
Where do the base wines for Sekt come from?
France or Italy but are turned into sparkling within Germany
What does a wine labelled Deutscher Sekt
The grapes were grown in Germany as well as the sparkling wine also made in Germany
What varietal are the best Sekts made from?
Riesling
What does a wine labelled Deutscher Sekt bA represent?
a wine that has all the grapes from a one of the quality wine regions (ie Mosel)
Some of the top estates in Germany will produce what kinds of Sekts
Deutscher Sekt bA from individual vineyards using traditional method to create premium Sekts - although rare.
What style is Australian sparkling wines made in?
a variety of styles based on climate.
In cool moderate regions in Australia (Yarra Valley, Adelaide Hills, and Tasmania) how are sparkling made?
they produce complex elegant traditional method wines, usually using Chardonnay or Pinot Noir.
what styles are cool to moderate climate region sparkling wines in Australia made?
non-vintage, vintage, rose, Blanc de Blancs and Blanc de noirs
Where are inexpensive sparkling wines from Australia produced?
warm regions such as Riverina.
How are inexpensive sparkling wines from Australia produced?
typically by using the tank method or carbonation method.
Describe an inexpensive sparkling wine from Australia
fruity in style and come in a range of sweetness levels. many different grape varieties may be used.
Where have most sparkling red wines had most success?
Australia
What varietal are the best sparkling reds typically made from
Shiraz - however some wineries have made some excellent ones from Cab Sauvignon and Merlot
How are inexpensive red sparkling wines from Australia made
by carbonation or tank method whereas better examples are made using traditional or transfer methods.
Describe red sparkling wines from Australia
full bodied with red berry fruit, smooth tannins and some residual sugar
Describe New Zealand’s reputation for sparkling wines
high quality traditional method sparkling wine made from the classic Champagne varieties
Why is New Zealand a good place to ripen Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
its southernly position in the southern hemisphere and maritime climate with cool sea breezes means these grapes can ripen slowly enough to produce elegant sparkling wines.
What are the styles of sparkling wine made in New Zealand?
non vintage, vintage, rose, Blanc de Blancs and Blanc de Noirs
What is the only wine region in New Zealand that does not produce sparkling wine
Auckland
Which wine region in New Zealand produces the highest volumes of sparkling wines
Marlborough
What type of sparkling wine does the North Island of New Zealand produce
due to it being warmer the wines are richer in style than South Island
How do producers take advantage of the fact that North Island, NZ sparkling wine is richer than South Island?
they make cross regional blends.
How is Sauvignon Blanc used to make sparkling wine in NZ?
by carbonation or tank method in order to retain the intense flavors and aromas.
What are sparkling wines in South Africa made by the traditional method labelled as?
Method Cap Classique
What varietals are used in S. Africa sparkling wines and where are they sourced from?
best ones from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from throughout the Western Cape
Where are the best sites found in S. Africa for sparkling wine grapes?
due to warm climate, on hillside slopes with southeastern aspect or near the coast.
What is the Cap Classique Producers Association in S. Africa
a group that recommends that its members age their wines on lees for a minimum of 12 months
What are the requirements to use the term Cap Classique on the wine label
don’t need to be part of the association, just need to age their wines a minimum of 9 months
Where is the vast majority of sparkling wine produced in the USA?
California
Where do the best sparkling wines in CA come from?
the cooler locations such as Los Carneros AVA and Anderson Valley AVA.
What method is used in USA for premium sparkling wines? and what varietals
traditional method - Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
How much time do sparkling wines in CA spend aging on Lees?
typically a long time - 5 years is not uncommon.
What type of flavors do the best sparkling wines in CA display?
concentrated complex flavors balanced by high acidity
How are large volumes of inexpensive sparkling wines made in USA?
tank method or carbonation
What varietals are large volumes of inexpensive sparkling wines made from in USA? and where?
range of grape varieties grown in warmer higher yielding regions such as Central Valley
What are characteristics of large volumes of inexpensive sparkling wines made in USA?
typically fruity and often med sweet to sweet style
