Winemaking Flashcards
Pros and cons to whole-bunch pressing
?
PRO:
Gentle
Low in solids/phenolics
Stems create network of channels for juice to flow: less pressure
CON:
More time consuming, less bunches per batch
Fermentation temp range for sparkling?
14-20C
How to choose a yeast strain?
Cultured
Ferment to dry
Withstand conditions for both first/second fermentation
Promotion of desired flavors
Ferment in alcoholic conditions (2nd ferm)
Most common yeast strain for sparkling?
EC1118 Prise de Mousse
Key difference in ML in sparkling wines?
Diacetyl is metabolized by the yeast during second fermentation
Reasons to blend?
Balance Consistency Style Rose Wines Complexity Minimalization of Faults Volume Price
What begins secondary fermentation?
Liqueur de Tirage
wine/must, sugar, cultured yeast, yeast nutrients, and a clarifying agent
Types of clarifying agents?
Bentonite
Aglinate (seaweed extract)
How much sugar is added to a dry, fully sparkling wine?
24g/L sucrose
Is alcohol created during the second fermentation?
Yes, approx. 1.5% increase
Name for secondary fermentation?
Prise de Mousse
“Capturing the Sparkle”
Define “sur latte”
“On the strips”
Storing champagne bottles horizontally
How long does Autolysis last?
Generally 4-5 years, but can last up to 10
Importance of “Recently Disgorged”?
The longer the wine is on the lees, the faster its evolution after disgorgement. Drink soon.
Where is wine kept for riddling?
Hand riddling: Pupitres
Mechanical: Gyropalettes (computer-controlled)
What is remuage?
Riddling
How long does riddling take?
8 weeks manually
3-4 days mechanically
What is sur pointe?
Storing the bottles neck-down to collect lees
Describe the process of disgorgement.
Bottles cooled to 7C (increases solubility of CO2)
Immersed in frozen brine bath (freezes yeast)
Invert bottles
Remove crown cap (pressure will extract yeast)
Liqueur d’Expedition added
Sealed
What is Liqueur d’Expedition?
Wine/Sugar mix or RCGM
Determines final sweetness
How does age impact dosage?
The older the wine, the less dosage needed to balance acidity
What causes toasted vanilla notes?
Maillard reaction
Sugar from the dosage reacts with compounds formed during autolysis
Occurs during bottle aging
Benefits of transfer method?
Cost-saving
Reduces bottle variation
Easier final adjustments
Small and large sizes
Describe the transfer method
Traditional method up to riddling Wine chilled to 0C Bottles opened by transfer machine and poured into tanks Dosage and SO2 added Sterile filtering Bottling
Describe the ancestral method
Partly fermented must is bottled
The remaining sugar converts to CO2 and alcohol, creating natural effervescence
Lees filtered (optional)
NO dosage
What is Pet Nat?
Petillant Naturel
Uses ancestral method, no set regulations
Low alcohol, cloudy, dry or off dry, unconventional flavors (cider-like)
No added SO2
Not meant for aging
Three names for tank method?
Charmat
Cuve Close
Martinotti
Describe the tank method
Ferment 16-18C to retain aromatics/flavors
Sugar and yeast added to the pressurized tanks
One-month second fermentation
Cooled to 2-4C to stop fermentation
Aged on lees (optional)
Cold stabilization/filtration/sugar adjustment
Chilled to -2C to stabilize and reduce effervescence
Bottled with a counter-pressure filler
What is counter-pressure filling?
Bottle filled with CO2 under pressure
Filled with chilled wine to replace CO2
Prevents loss of CO2/entrance of O2
Describe the Asti method
Similar to tank method, but single fermentation
Natural sugar only
CO2 initially allowed to escape
CO2 valve closed when desired pressure/sugar are reached
Stopped by rapidly chilling and filtering
Describe carbonation
Least expensive (and prestigious)
Used for petillant (low pressure) only
Retains aroma/flavor of base wine
Sparkling wine RS level chart?
Brut Nature: 0-3 g/L Extra Brut: 0-6 g/L Brut: 0-12 g/L Extra-Sec: 12-17 g/L Sec: 17-32 g/L Demi-Sec: 32-50 g/L Doux: 50+ g/L
Tolerance of +/- 3 g/L for each
How to cork sparkling wine?
31mm cork compressed by machine
Inserted into 18-21mm neck
Immediately tries to expand, creates mushroom
Factors influencing formation/size of bubbles?
More sugar = more CO2
Capacity of CO2 to be dissolved (health of grapes/winemaking/grape variety)
More time on lees = less CO2
Quality disgorgement = More CO2
Describe the style of a typical Champagne?
Medium intensity Apple, lemon, autolytic/biscuit High acidity Medium alchohol Good->Outstanding
Methods of making Rose Champagne?
Rose d’Assemblage - blending red wine
Rose de Saignee - maceration with skins, then wine is bled off
Pressing process in Champagne?
Whole bunches in basket press
Gradual increase of pressure
Juice split into the cuvee (free run/first press) and the taille (remainder)