Wine Basics Flashcards
What is wine
A fermented beverage produced from the juice of any fruit, usually grapes
Formula for Alcoholic Fermentation
Sugar + Yeast = Ethanol + Carbon Dioxide + Heat
What are the fermentable sugars in grapes
Fructose and glucose
What is a varietal
A particular subspecies or type of grape
What is the type of yeast used for alcoholic fermentation in wine
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
What is saccharomyces cerevisiae also known as
budding yeast
brewer’s yeast
baker’s yeast
Why do wine makers ferment wine in temperature controlled rooms or tanks?
To control how fast the yeast metabolizes sugar
What is the species of grape used for wine?
Vitis vinifera
Where did vitis vinifera originate?
Mesopotamia (modern-day Iran/Iraq)
What are the components of a grape
Out to in
Skin
Juice
Pulp
Seed
What is the origin for the pinot blanc grape
Pinot Noir grape that mutated to have no pigment in the skin
What is the origin for the Cabernet Sauvignon grape
Cross-pollination of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc
What is the origin for the Pinotage grape
Crossed pinot noir and Cinsaut
How many different subspecies of Vitis vinifera are there?
Estimates range from 3,500 - 10,000
How many grapes are in a bottle of wine
Approximately 2.5 lbs (600-800 wine grapes)
What are characteristics of the wine grape
High sugar content
High levels of acidity
large concentrations of tannins
yeast on skin for easy fermentation
biochemically complex
Why is high sugar content important for wine grapes
Allows for more ethanol production during fermentation and produces higher alcohol content
Why is acidity important for wine grapes
A high level of acid is necessary to balance out the sugar (sweetness)
What is the pH level of most wines
2.9 to 3.8
What are the primary acids found in wine grapes
tartaric
citric
malic
Why are tannins important for wine grapes
They provide astringency (a feeling)
Give structure and add complexity to the wine
Where are tannins found in wine grapes
skin
seed
stems
What are tannins
long-chain phenols
What is yeast on wine grape skin called
Bloom
What influences the flavors in wine
Grapes used
Viticulture and terroir
Viniculture
What is viticulture
Art and science of growing grapes
What is terroir
the impact of the environment (earth, weather)
What is viniculture
Art and science of making wine
What insect almost caused the wine grape extinction?
Phylloxera
Who developed rootstock that could withstand phylloxera?
Thomas Munson
What is the judgement of Paris
A blind tasting of American vs French wines
What was the winning Chardonnay from the Judgement of Paris
1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay
What was the winning Cabernet Sauvignon from the Judgement of Paris
1973 Stags Leap Cellars SLV Cabernet Sauvignon
