Wine Basics Flashcards
List the major components of wine:
Water
Alcohol
Acid
Sugar
Phenolic compounds
What percentage of wine is made up of water?
80-90%
Alcohol usually makes up between ____ & ___% of the wines volume?
10-15%
What type of alcohol is the main component of wine?
Ethyl alcohol - ethanol
Wines with higher levels of alcohol tend to be ________ in weight than wines with lower levels of alcohol.
Heavier
Acids usually make up between ____ & ____ % of a wine’s volume.
0.5 - 0.75%
What are the principle acids in wine?
- Tartaric Acid
- Malic Acid
- Citric Acid
- Lactic Acid
- Acetic Acid
- Succinic Acid
What is the most prevalent of the acids found in both grapes and wine?
Tartaric acid
What is the outcome of a wine that has formed tartrates?
once tartacic acid takes this form, it will not redissolve into the liquid, and the wine will become noticeably less acidic.
A sharp-tasting acid frequently associated with green apples:
Malic Acid
When will malic acid be prominent in the wine or grape?
Underripe grapes and cool-climate grapes
What acid is sometimes added to increase the total acidity in a wine?
Citric acid
What type of acid is found in most types of vinegar?
Acetic Acid
what acid has a sharp, slightly bitter, slightly salty flavor?
Succininc
List the acids that are a byproduct of fermentation
- Lactic Acid
- Acetic Acid
- Succinic Acid
List the acids that are byproducts of grapes itself.
- Tartaric Acid
- Malic Acid
*Citric acid - in small amounts - Succinic acid - in small amounts
What does the pH level of a wine represent?
the combined chemical strength of the acids present.
Wine usually measures between ____ and ___ on the logarithmic pH scale.
2.9 & 3.9
What does total acidity measure?
The volume of all the acids in a wine.
Grapes typically contain ____% to ___% sugar at harvest
15% - 28%
List the 2 sugars found in grapes
- Glucose
- Fructose
Describe phenolic compounds.
a large category of various molecules that are present in many wines, they occur in wine in minute quantities, yet they can have a major impact on the sensory profile of a wine.
List the phenolic compounds.
- Anthocyanins
- Flavonols
- Tannins
- Vanillin
- Resveratrol
What are anthocyanins?
compounds that give red wine its color - ranging from blue to purple to red.
*The color is influenced by both the amount of anthocyanins and the acidity level - the more acidic wines appear redder, while less acidic wines appear bluer.
What are flavonols?
yellow pigments found in white wines.
Flavonols increase in grapes with increased exposure to sunlight.
What are tannins
tannins are astringent, bitter compounds found in the skins, seeds, and stems of grapes.
Tannins are a natural preservative and help to protect red wines from oxidation during the aging process.
a compound in wine believed to have several beneficial health effects in humans.
Resveratrol
