20 World Sparkling Wines

Question 1

Champagne Stats

Answer 1

• Location: Northern France, 90 miles northeast of Paris; 49 deg parallel
• Climate: Cool continental, no natural protection from Atlantic
• Soil: Limestone & chalk
  –> good drainage, but also retain moisture & maintain constant temperature
• Grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Meunier

Question 2

Methode Champoneoise

Answer 2

• Make base still wines (light on color, low in alcohol, high in acidity)
• Assemblage of the Cuvee - assembling the blend
• Secondary fermentation - createing the bubbles –> base wine bottled with Liqueur de triage & sealed w crown cap
• Sur lie aging - 12 months min on Lees as part of min 15 months aging –> vintage champmagne must be aged for at least 36 months
• Riddling / Remuage - removal of sediment by trapping it in neck of bottle
• Disgorging (Degorgement) - freeze neck in ice bath to eject yeast
• Dosage - add wine / sugar (Liqueur d’expedition) to the bottle to inform sweetness level

Question 3

Champagne sub-regions

Answer 3

• Vallee de la marne
• Cote des blancs
• Montagne de Reims

Question 4

Cremant

Answer 4

• French sparkling wines in France grown outside Champagne
• Produced by Methode champenoise

Question 5

Italian Sparkling Wines

Answer 5

Asti DOCG
- Piedmont
- Mostcato d’Asti
- Charmat / Tank method

Prosescco
- Veneto
- Charmat / Tank Method

Lambrusco
- Emilia-Romagna
- Charmat / Tank Method

Franciacorta DOCG
- Lombardy
- Methode classique / Metodo classico / metodo tradizionale
- Grape: Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, Pinot Bianco

Question 6

Spanish Sparkling wines

Answer 6

Cava DO
- Catalonia
- Classic Method
- Grapes: Xarel-lo, Parellada, Macabeo

Spain produces more sparkling wine than nay other country