Fortified wines Flashcards
(29 cards)
When is alcohol added in a dry fortified wine.
After the alcoholic fermentation because then all sugars are already converted into alcohol and the end product is dry.
When is alcohol added in a sweet fortified wine.
Before or during fermentation, before the sugars are converting into alcohol.
Where is the Sherry region situated?
The sherry region is situated in the province of Cadiz in Andalusia, in the South of Spain.
Between which towns is the Sherry region situated?
Sanlucar de Barrameda, Jerez de la Frontera and Puerto de Santa Maria.
What is the climate in the Sherry region?
Sub-tropical climate with cool influences from the Golf of Cadiz. Winter temp. 10 degrees, and in summer temp. 22-40 degrees.
From which grape varieties is Sherry made?
95% of the grapes are Palomino Fino, this grape prefers the Albariza (A white calciferous) soil. The rest of the grapes are Pedro Ximenez and Moscatel.
How is sherry produced?
A basic wine is made after harvesting. A warm fermentation of 28*C. The basic wine is low in acidity. tartaric acid is added. Malolactic fermentation. Alcohol percentage of 12 to 13%.
What is Fino Sherry?
Very good quality basic wine, is matured organically. It will be fortified with alcohol to a 14,5% = 15,5% abv. This enhances the sherry yeast cells and a thick layer of flor(yeast) develops. This layer prevents oxidation and a brown colour.
Fino sherry has a pale yellow colour. A condition is that the barrel should only be filled 1/3.
What is a solera system for Fino Sherry?
A pile of barrels with the youngest sherry at the top. In the layer below a less old sherry and all the way to the bottom the oldest sherry ready for bottling. This way of mixing ensures the same taste pattern and quality each year.
What is Amontillado sherry?
If the basic wine is of a good quality and 15% of alcohol is added then still the Flor may die after some time. The result is a layer with dots of fungus. This sherry oxidizes a little.
What is Olorosqo sherry?
The wine that is of inferior quality will not be matured organically. The wine is fortified to a percentage of 17% alcohol. The wine will oxidize to a brown/amber colour.
What is Almacenista?
Sherry from a small wine house.
What is Añada?
Sherry of one year of harvest. This is not mixed in the Solera. These are high-quality sherries.
What is Manzanilla?
A fino sherry from Sanlúcar de Barrameda. A dry sherry with a subtle salty tang.
What is Palo Cortado?
A luxurious, often matured sherry, which in taste is situated between an Oloroso and Amontillado?
What is P.X. Sherry?
A very sweet syrupy type of sherry, made of the Pedro Ximénez grape. Per liter it contains of 300 to 500g of sugar. The grapes are put in the sun to dry so that the water evaporates. Brown to vert dark brown and tastes of liquid grapes. Good combination with sweet heavy chocolate or caramel desserts.
What is OLD, VOS and VORS Sherry?
Old sherry has an indication of age.
VOS, Very Old Sherry: at least 20 years in a Solera
VORS, Very Old Rare Sherry; at least 30 years in a Solera.
Where is Port produced?
In the Port area, alongside the Douro River that runs from Spain through Northern Portugal and flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
Of which grapes is Port produced?
White port is made from the white Malvasia grape and red Port must be made for at least 60% of the following grape varieties:
- Bastardo
- Tinta Barroco
- Tinta Roriz
- Touriga National
How is port harvested?
Mainly by hand since mechanical is impossible due to the steep slopes.
What is ruby port?
Aged in bulk for 2-3 years, then blended, filtered and bottled. Red fruit character and rather simple style. Blend from several harvest years.
What is tawny port?
Aged on wood for a minimum of 3,5 years. Reserve tawny is recognizable on the tawny colored rim with a nutty raisin character. Tawny is blended from several harvest years.
Cheap tawny is a blend of white and ruby port, and is recognizable by a pink rim.
What is colheita port?
Tawny from one single vintage, minimum aging of 7 years.
What is vintage port?
From one single harvest year. Most expensive port. Aged for 2 or 3 years on wooden casks and then aged for 20 to 30 years on the bottle before drinking; the wines develops and becomes more complex.
