Brandy Flashcards
What do these label terms mean and what liqueur/ spirit are they used for?
Cognac: VS or ***- 2 yrs min age, VSOP- 4 yrs min age, XO- 6 yrs min age
Armagnac: VS or ***- 1 hrs min age, VSOP- 4 yrs min age, XO- 5 yrs min age
Why is the main grape used in brandy production in Cognac?
Ugni Blanc (aka Trebbiano)
What are the two most famous regions for Brandy?
Cognac and Armagnac
What is the spirit/ liqueur made from distilled wine?
Brandy
What is the name for Apple brandy from Normandy and Brittany
Calvados
Describe Marc Brandy
Brandy made by distilling the fermented liquor obtained from steeping the pips and skins left after the grapes have been pressed for the protection of wine.
Describe Grappa
Brandy that under EU law can only be made in Italy and made by distilling the fermented liquor obtained from steeping the pips and skins left after grapes have been pressed for the production of wine.
What do the terms Invecchiata and Stravecchia refers to?
Both refer to oak aging of Grappa
Brandy is often presented
as a more feminine counterpart to whiskey; in its premier forms the spirit evokes delicate aromas of flowers, fruit, subtle oak and spice. Whereas whiskey is distilled from fermented grains, brandy uses wine as its source material. In France, brandy is considered eau de vie—again, the “water of life”—of grapes. One story recalls a 16th century Dutch trader conceiving of brandy—derived from the Dutch brandewijn, or “burned wine”—as a method of preserving its essence, or soul, on voyages northward from Spain and France to Holland. He surmised that he could simply reconstitute the wine with water upon his return. The trader, who kept the brandewijn in wooden casks during the voyage, was surprised to discover that his countrymen enjoyed the mellowed taste of the spirit—and brandy was born. Brandy is defined by the EU as a distillation of wine—not pomace—with a minimum abv of 36% and a minimum oak aging period of six months. Today, Brandy may be produced across the world’s viticultural regions, with notable production in France, California, Spain, Germany, South America and Eastern Europe. Cognac and Armagnac, two delimited regions of brandy production in southwest France, have historically produced the world’s best brandies.
What type of Brandy is the only one defined by Spanish Law?
Brandy de Jerez
What particular features of Brandy de Jerez make it unique?
The fact that high end spirits are used and that a solera system is involved. This leads to a large range of styles and quantities.
Brandy De Jerez- Grape Varieties
Producers are not required to use a specific grape variety, but 95% must be made from Airen. The grass aren’t grown in the area but are grown in La Mancha. Wine made from Airen is a lower acidity and typically has higher alcohol than wines used in Cognac and Armagnac.
Brandy De Jerez- Distillation
Most distilling doesn’t occur in Jerez, but takes place La Mancha. Pot and column stills are used.Columns stills are used to produce all three classes of spirit, but only pot stills can be used for Hollandes. The use of high and low strength spirits is not unique to Jerez but the advantage is the same: it provides the blender more options.
What are the three classes of Brandy de Jerez?
holandes, aguarientes and destilados
Brandy de Jerez- Maturation
- Must be aged in Jerez using a Solera
- Filter through the Criadera to the oldest which is called a solera.
- Barrels used for Brandy de Jerez must have first been used to store Sherry. Normally American Oak
