40 Questions
What is the purpose of malolactic fermentation in winemaking?
To convert malic acid into lactic acid
What is the name of the process where the bottle is moved and tilted downwards to collect dead yeast sediment in the bottle's neck?
Riddling
What is the term for a Champagne with 0-3 grams of sugar per liter?
Brut Nature
What is the name of the Italian sparkling wine made from the grape variety Glera?
Prosecco
What is the term for the process of removing dead yeast sediment from the bottle?
Disgorgement
What is the name of the Spanish sparkling wine made using the Champagne method?
Cava
What is the purpose of adding sugar and wine to the base wine in the bottle?
To start the second fermentation
What is the term for the mixture of sugar and wine added to the bottle before sealing?
Liqueur de tirage
What is the only region where Champagne can be produced?
Champagne
What is the term for a blend of several years of champagne?
Non-Vintage
What is the most expensive type of Champagne?
Prestige Cuvée
What are the three permitted grape varieties for making Champagne?
Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay
What is the term for a Champagne made only from the Chardonnay grape variety?
Blanc de Blancs
What is the term for a Champagne made from only the black/red grapes?
Blanc de Noirs
How can Rosé Champagne be made in Champagne?
In two ways: by adding red wine to the champagne or by using the skins of red grapes
What is the term for the top wine from each Champagne house?
Prestige Cuvée
What is the name of the traditional Prosecco that is fermented in a bottle?
'Col Fondo'
What is the name of the sparkling wine made using the ancestral method?
Pet Nat
Why should a bottle of sparkling wine be well-chilled before opening?
To prevent the cork from springing violently
What is the correct way to remove the cork from a bottle of sparkling wine?
Twist the bottle while holding the cork still
What is the name of the sparkling wine from the Basque country in Spain?
Txacoli
What is the purpose of having champagne lutes (or wine glasses) to hand when opening a bottle of sparkling wine?
To catch any overflowing wine
Why is it important to handle a bottle of sparkling wine gently and carefully when opening?
To prevent injury to people and things
What should you do with the decorative foil when opening a bottle of sparkling wine?
Remove it before opening
What is the name of the rot that affects grapes in the production of sweet wines?
Botrytis Cinerea
What is the purpose of adding alcohol to the fermentation process in the production of Vin Doux Natural?
To stop the fermentation and preserve residual sugar
Which region is known for producing sweet red wines using the drying method?
Italy
What is the characteristic flavor profile of Sauvignon Blanc?
Grassy and tangy
Which region is known for producing Sauvignon Blanc wines with a fruity and pungent flavor profile?
Marlborough
What is the typical body of Sauvignon Blanc wines?
Light-bodied
What is the classic food pairing for Sauvignon Blanc?
Soft fresh goats' cheese
What is the name of the sweet wine style produced in Germany?
Eiswein
What is the purpose of swirling the wine in the glass?
To release the aromas of the wine
What is the primary difference between biodynamic and organic wine production?
Biodynamic wine follows a homeopathic approach and uses the cycles of nature to achieve health and balance in the soil
What is a characteristic of natural wine?
Low or zero use of sulphur dioxide and natural wild yeasts for fermentation
What type of wine is known for its lightness and purity of fruit?
Natural wine
What is a popular combination of sweet and salt in wine pairing?
Sweet wine and blue cheese
Which type of wine is known for its high levels of acidity and restrained levels of alcohol?
Natural wine
What is a characteristic of organic wine production?
No use of synthetic chemicals in the vineyard
What is the purpose of labeling wine as 'no added sulphur'?
To indicate that the wine contains only naturally occurring sulphur dioxide
Study Notes
Wine Style: Sparkling Wine
- Champagne is a sparkling wine made from the process outlined below, and can only be called "Champagne" if it comes from the Champagne region in France.
- Types of Champagne:
- Non-Vintage (N.V.): a blend of more than one year's wines
- Vintage: made from the grapes of one year, usually an excellent year
- Prestige Cuvée: the top wine from each Champagne house
- Grape varieties used in Champagne:
- Pinot Noir
- Pinot Meunier
- Chardonnay
- Champagne production process:
- Ferment grapes as usual, usually in stainless steel, temperature-controlled tanks.
- Base wine is then blended and put in bottles with sugar and wine (liqueur de tirage).
- Second fermentation takes place in the bottle under seal.
- Bottles are rested in cool chalk cellars, then undergo riddling and disgorgement.
- Finished with a sugary wine (liqueur de dosage) and sealed with traditional cork and wire.
Labelling on Champagne and Sparkling Wine
- Brut nature, pas dosé, zéro dosage: 0-3 grams per litre (no sugar added)
- Extra brut: up to 6 grams per litre
- Brut: up to 12 grams per litre
- Extra dry: 12-17 grams per litre
- Sec/Dry: 17-32 grams per litre
- Demi-sec: 32-50 grams per litre
- Doux (sweet): > 50 grams per litre
Other Sparkling Wines
- Crémant: made in France, but not in Champagne, using the same method
- Cava: made in Spain, using local grape varieties, including Macabeu, Parellada, and Xarel-lo
- Prosecco: made in Italy, using the Glera grape variety, with second fermentation taking place in a tank
- Franciacorta: made in Italy, using the Champagne method
- Petillant Naturel (Pet Nat): made using the ancestral method, with partial fermentation in stainless steel vats and then bottled before fermentation
Organic, Biodynamic, and Natural Wines
- Organic:
- No synthetic chemicals added in the vineyard
- Permitted level of added sulphur
- Biodynamic:
- Follows a homeopathic approach using the cycles of nature and the planet
- Uses infusions of mineral, animal, and plant materials applied in homeopathic quantities
- Permitted level of added sulphur
- Natural:
- Takes organic or biodynamic practices as its starting point and extends them into the winery
- Aims to reduce chemical inputs and manipulations throughout the entire production process
- Often called "low intervention"
- Low or zero use of sulphur dioxide
Sweet Wine/Dessert Wine
- Made in different ways and varying degrees of sweetness
- Examples of sweet wine styles and regions:
- Sauternes, Barsac (Bordeaux, France)
- Jurancon (South-West France)
- Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise (Rhone, France)
- Tokaji Aszu (Hungary)
- Ice wine (Canada, Germany, and Austria)
- Fortified wines: e.g. Port (Portugal), Sherry, Madeira
Wine Tasting
- Sight: clarity and color
- Aromas/nose: put your nose right into the glass and sniff
- Taste: swish around the palate, noting acidity, tannin, alcohol, and sweetness
- Note the finish and length
- Aroma and flavor profiles:
- Fresh fruit
- Dried fruit
- Oaky-vanilla, toast
- Vegetation
- Floral
- Buttery
- Honey
- Nutty
- Spicy
- Animal
Learn about the process of making champagne and sparkling wine, and the differences between Non-Vintage, Vintage, and Prestige Cuvée.
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