Standard Options in Sparkling Winemaking Flashcards
Why are cool climates important for the production of sparkling wine?
Sugar
- Accumulates slower in cooler climates. Grapes can achieve phenolic ripeness while maintaining a low ABV (9-11%) in base wine.
Acid
- Grapes retain their acidity better in cooler climates
What are some cooling influences that exist in different growing regions?
Higher Latitude
- Champagne, England/Wales, Tasmania
Ocean/large bodies of water
- Sonoma Coast
Altitude
- Trentodoc
What are the pros/cons for making sparkling wine in warmer regions?
Pro:
- Grapes ripen more reliably
- Fruitier profile might be preferable in wines not intended for long term aging
Con:
- Lower acidity, less balanced, won’t age as gracefully
- Fruity profile might be too dominant for wines that see longer lees aging
What kind of land are grapes intended for sparkling wine production usually planted on?
Cheaper wines:
- Cheap land, easy to cultivate, fertile plains
Land less suitable for still wine:
- Grapes can’t achieve full ripeness or concentration
What are the most common grapes for premium sparkling wine?
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
What are the pros/cons of growing Chardonnay for sparkling wine?
Pro:
- Early ripening, develops fruit character early
- Retains acidity and low levels of alcohol
- It’s fruit character (apple and citrus) compliments autolytic flavors
- High yielding without loss of quality in good years
- More disease resistant than Pinot Noir
Cons:
- Early budding, susceptible to frost
- Prone to millerandage and coulure
- Susceptible to powdery mildew, grape vine yellows, and botrytis in wet stages before harvest
What are the pros/cons of growing Pinot Noir for sparkling wine?
Pro:
- Early budding and ripening
- Adds more body than Chardonnay
Con:
- Lower yields than Chardonnay
- Quality decreases if yields are too high
- Early budding, prone to frost damage and coulure
- Thin-skinned: prone to downy mildew (!), powdery mildew, bunch rot, botrytis, fan leaf, and leaf roll
What factors within a grape influence its style of wine?
- Intensity of aromas
- Ability to retain acidity
- Wine’s response to autolysis
Why are high yields typical for vines making sparkling wines?
It leads to desirable characteristics for sparkling wine
- High acid
- Less concentrated fruit flavors
- Lower ABV
Provides some insurance for removal of damaged crop in cooler, wet climates
Why are grapes for sparkling wine picked earlier?
- They have higher acidity, lower sugar
- Generally picking before wet autumn weather starts, lowering disease pressure
Picking early runs the risk of unripe flavors
Pros/cons of hand harvesting
Pro:
- More quality control, two rounds of selection (picking and post-harvest selection)
- Gentler on the grapes, less risk of damage, oxidation, and phenolic extraction
Con:
- Slow and expensive
- Need access to short-term labor
- Time of harvest won’t be as uniform
Pros/cons of machine harvesting
Pro:
- Cheaper for higher volumes
- Quicker, more reliable to fully harvest at optimal ripeness
- Diseased/damaged grapes can be removed after harvesting, but more expensive
Con:
- Less quality control
- Expensive machinery might not be financially possible for smaller producers
- Better for night harvesting -> cooler temperatures -> less risk of oxidation
Pros/Cons of whole bunch pressing
Pro:
- Less extraction of phenolics and anthocyanins
- Stems provide more channels for juice to flow through, meaning gentler pressing is possible
Con:
- Stems take up space, lower volumes pressed at a time
Why does pressing need to occur quickly in sparkling wine?
To minimize extraction, especially for the black varieties
Why are pneumatic and basket presses more common for sparkling wine?
They both have the ability to press very gently
Why would winemakers split the juice into press fractions?
- Amount of pressed juice allowed is controlled in some regions
- More control when blending
What style of wine is pressed juice useful for?
It’s higher in phenolics, solids, and pH, which is better for short maturation wines ready for consumption.
When is the juice clarified for sparkling wine? What are some clarifying agents that can be used?
Before fermentation, using any available clarifying agents.
If there has been too much extraction of tannin or color before fermentation, what are some fining agents commonly used?
Casein, Gelatine, or PVPP (polyvinylpolypyrrolidone)
What’s a typical fermentation temperature for sparkling wine?
57-68°F (14-20°C)
What can make fermentation for vin clair difficult?
The low pH can make be stressful for yeast
What kind of yeast is normally used for primary fermentation and why?
Cultured yeast, because a reliably healthy fermentation is a top priority in low sugar, low pH environments.
Why is stainless steel the most common choice for primary fermentation?
- Easier temperature control
- Higher volumes
- Easier to clean
What flavors will a typical yeast used for sparkling wine producer?
Depends on method of production.
Tank Method: Promotes thiols and esters, creating a fruitier profile
Traditional Method: a more neutral profile that won’t compete with autolytic flavors
What are the properties contained by most commercially available yeast intended for secondary fermentation?
It’s common to use the same yeast as primary, BUT:
- Must be able to start fermenting in alcoholic conditions (between 9.5-11% ABV)
- Lives in low pH (below 3)
- Can survive low temperatures, usually commences around 61°F (16°C)
- High pressure
- Low availability of nutrients
- Rapid autolysis
- Easy flocculation (clumping of particles)
- Especially in traditional method
What is a common cultured yeast used in sparkling wine?
Prise de Mousse (EC1118)
What is the function of malolactic fermentation in sparkling wine?
- Reduces acidity in excessively acidic wine
- Produces a creamier texture
Why are the “buttery” flavors normally associated with MLF not as prominent in sparkling wine?
Yeast will metabolize diacetyl during secondary fermentation
What can happen if MLF doesn’t occur during secondary fermentation? What are the options to mitigate the risk?
It can happen later in the bottle, creating a hazy finished wine.
The winemaker can either allow MLF during secondary fermentation or sterile filter before.