World Sparkling Wines

Question 1

How is Champagne made? Classic / Traditional Method?

Answer 1

Also called Champagne Method, Méthode Traditionnelle, Metodo Classico

Making still wine, assemblage of Cuvée, creating bubbles using Liqueur de Tirage, Sur Lie Aging, Riddling (Rémuage) using pupitre or gyropalette, Disgorging (Dégorgement), Dosage using Liqueur d’Expédition. Autolysis. Aging in lees.

Examples: Champagne, Crémant, Cava, Franciacorta

Question 2

What’s Cap Classique?

Question 3

What is liqueur de tirage and liqueur d’expédition are made of?

Question 4

What’s the Transfer Method?

Answer 4

Identical to the classic method up to completion of second fermentation. Secondary fermentation occurs in bottle. The bottles are disgorged under pressure into large tanks. The wine is then filtered and then rebottled. Advantages: Lees contact for flavor is obtained and riddling is eliminated.

Examples: This process is used for extra large and extra small format bottles.

Question 5

What’s Méthod Ancestrale?

Answer 5

Primary fermentation is paused mid-way. The wines are bottled and the fermentation finishes inside the bottle. The CO2 produced is trapped in the bottle. There is no requirement to remove the sediment by disgorging.

Also called Ancestral Method / Méthode Rurale / Pétillant Naturel (a.k.a. “Pet-nat”). Bottled at much lower pressure.

Question 5

What’s Charmat Method - Cuve Close?

Answer 5

Secondary fermentation occurs in pressurized tanks. Fermentation is complete in 4-5 days. The wine is filtered and then bottled. Advantages: Saves an immense amount of time and cost with no riddling or disgorging. Can be as little as 90 days from harvest to final bottling. This is the best process for making sparkling wine from aromatic grape varieties.

Examples: Prosecco, Moscato d’Asti
Examples: Lambrusco

Question 6

Food and champagne pairings?

Answer 6

Differences between possible pairings depending on the method. How does the method impact the final style?

Question 7

Business of the Sommelier regarding Champagne?

Answer 7

Impact of cost of these various styles and how they fit into a well rounded wine program both by the bottle and by the glass to offer guests many price points.

Question 8

What does Crémant mean?

Answer 8

Crémant: French sparkling wine produced by méthode traditionnelle made outside the Champagne Region.

Examples: Crémant de Bourgogne, Crémant d’Alsace, Crémant de Loire

Question 8

What’s Gyropalette?

Question 8

What’s the importance of the Gyropalette time, cost, and efficacy?