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WSET Level 2 > 24. Sparkling Wines > Flashcards

24. Sparkling Wines Flashcards

1
Q

What characteristics does the base wine for sparkling wines usually have?

A

Dry
High acidity
Low in alcohol
Blend of different wines

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2
Q

What is the equation for the process of making sparkling wines?

A

Sugar + Base wine + Yeast = Alcohol + Carbon Dioxide

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3
Q

How are the bubbles typically formed in a sparkling wine?

A

During a second fermentation carbon dioxide is released as the yeast converts the sugar to alcohol.
The carbon dioxide is trapped in a sealed vessel and therefore creates bubbled in the wine.

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4
Q

How many fermentations take place in most sparkling wines?

A

Two - one to create the base wine and one to create the bubbles

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5
Q

How much ABV does the second fermentation add to sparkling wines?

A

1.5% ABV

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6
Q

What are the two main types of second fermentation to make sparkling wines?

A

Bottle fermentation

Tank fermentation

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7
Q

What are the six stages of bottle fermenting a sparkling wine?

A
  1. Secondary fermentation
  2. Yeast autolysis
  3. Riddling
  4. Disgorgement
  5. Dosage
  6. Resealing
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8
Q

What happens during the second fermentation of sparkling wines made by the traditional method?

A

Base wine, sugar and yeast added to a bottle and sealed with a crown cap.
Bottle stored on its side.
Yeast converts sugar to alcohol and carbon dioxide (bubbles)
Dead yeast sinks to form lees.

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9
Q

Why are champagne bottles laid on their side to bottle ferment?

A

Increased contact with the lees to gain lots of flavours

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10
Q

What is yeast autolysis?

A

Lees breaking down imparting flavours to the sparkling wine

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11
Q

What characteristics does yeast autolysis add to a sparkling wine?

A

Biscuit
Bread
Brioche

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12
Q

What is riddling?

A

Moving the lees deposit to the neck of the bottle when making a sparkling wine by bottle fermentation
Bottle is slowly moved from a horizontal to an inverted vertical position.
Done by hand or gyropalette

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13
Q

What are the two methods of riddling?

A

Hand riddling on an A frame

Using a gyropalette to process hundreds of bottles at a time

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14
Q

What is disgorgement?

A

When the neck of a sparkling wine bottle is frozen to trap the lees in a plug of ice. Once the crown cap is removed the pressure forces the plug out the bottle.

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15
Q

What is dosage (process)?

A

Adding wine, and usually sugar into a sparkling wine after disgorgement to top up the bottle.
The amount of sugar added (dosage) determines the sweetness of the wine.

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16
Q

What is liqueur d’expedition?

A

The sugar and wine mixture added to a sparkling wine during the dosage process.

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17
Q

What different levels of dosage are common?

A

Brut nature - 0 sugar added
Brut - dry, some sugar added
Demi Sec - medium sweetness

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18
Q

What two sparkling wines are traditionally made using bottle fermentation?

A

Champagne

Cava

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19
Q

What does the wine labelling term Methode traditionnelle mean?

A

A sparkling wine made in the traditional bottle fermentation method, e.g. Champagne

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20
Q

Why are the lees typically removed from bottle fermented sparkling wines?

A

Otherwise the wines would be hazy/cloudy

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21
Q

What three grapes are typically blended to form Champagne?

A

Pinot Noir
Pinot Meunier
Chardonnay

22
Q

What is the climate in Champagne?

A

Cool climate

23
Q

What is a Non Vintage champagne and why is this commonly made?

A

A blend of various base wines from different vintages.

To create consistency

24
Q

What is the minimum legal amount of time for Champagne to age on lees?

A

12 months

25
Q

What flavours can be expected from a very good quality champagne?

A

Green apple
Lemon
Toast/biscuits

26
Q

What is a Vintage Champagne and what is different about the way it is produced?

A

Only made in exceptional years out of the best grapes from that harvest.
Aged with lees contact for longer and also bottled ages after disgorgement
Nuts and honey flavours present due to bottle age

27
Q

Where does the majority of Cava come from?

A

Catalunya

28
Q

What grapes are used to make Cava?

A

Mainly local varieties, sometimes Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

29
Q

What is the climate in Catalunya?

A

Warm climate

30
Q

What wine is commonly produced in Catalunya?

A

Cava

31
Q

What flavours are common in Cava?

A

Green apple
Pear
Very subtle autolytic characteristics

32
Q

What countries around the world produce traditional method sparkling wines?

A 
France - Champagne
Spain - Cava
California
South Africa
Australia
New Zealand
33
Q

What does Methode Cap Classique on a bottle label signify?

A

A sparkling wine from South Africa.

34
Q

Why may tank fermentation be used instead of bottle fermentation for sparkling wines?

A

Cheaper and simpler process
Less labour intensive
Preserves the flavours of the grapes

35
Q

What are the stages of the tank fermentation process for sparkling wines?

A
  1. Yeast and sugar added to a base wine
  2. Sealed in a tank for second fermentation
  3. Lees removed by filtration
  4. Bottled under pressure
36
Q

What grapes is Prosecco made from?

A

Glera

37
Q

What are the characteristics of Glera?

A

Light to medium bodied
Dry to off dry
Apple and melon flavours

38
Q

What flavours are typical in a Prosecco?

A 
Apple
Melon
Pear
Citrus
Florality
39
Q

What are the stage of the asti method of making sparkling wine?

A

Grape juice is partially fermented in a pressurised tank.
Tank is sealed to retain carbon dioxide
Filtration of the yeast to stop fermentation

40
Q

What are the key characteristics of an Asti wine?

A

Low alcohol
Sweet
Produced by one fermentation

41
Q

What is the key different between the Asti method and tank fermentation for other wines?

A

Asti method begins with grape juice not base wine - only one fermentation for Asti

42
Q

Where is Asti made?

A

Piemonte, Italy

43
Q

What grapes is Asti made from?

A

Moscato / Muscat

44
Q

What sparkling wine is commonly made from Muscat/Moscato?

A

Asti

45
Q

What flavours are common in an Asti wine?

A

Grape
Pear
Blossom
Peach

46
Q

Why should sparkling wine be well chilled before opened?

A

Reduces the pressure in the bottle

47
Q

What are the four stages of opening a bottle of sparkling wine?

A
  1. Chill the bottle
  2. Remove foil and keep thumb on cork
  3. Unscrew cage
  4. Turn bottle keeping hold of the cork and cage
48
Q 
What wine has the following characteristics:
Off dry
Light to medium body
Sparkling
Light apple, pear and melon flavours?
A

Prosecco

49
Q 
What wine has the following characteristics:
Dry
Light body
Simple flavours of green apple and pear
Short finish
Sparkling?
A

Cava

50
Q

What wine has the following characteristics:
Dry
Pronounced flavours
Sparkling
Flavours of green apple, lemon, toast and biscuits
Medium-long finish?

A

Champagne

51
Q 
What wine has the following characteristics:
Sweet
Low alcohol
Flavours of grapes and peaches
Short finish
Sparkling?
A

Asti

WSET Level 2 (24 decks)

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