Fortified Wines Flashcards
(40 cards)
What helps the ageing process in fortified wines.
Heat and warm climates
Why is most of the ageing complete before barrelling?
Blending older with younger wines
What is fortified wine?
The wine has had the grape spirit added to it during winemaking process
What are the two types of grape spirit used?
- Brandy spirit - 35-45% alcohol. Made from steeping “low” wine to create concentrated alcohol. Burnt sugar flavour.
- Neutral spirit (SVR) which is flavourless, but distilled to 97% alcohol
What does adding extra sugar during the winemaking process do to the wine?
Adding sugar during fermentation will kill yeast. This creates a higher alcoholic wine that has residual grape sugar
What are the famous fortified wines?
- Port; 19% abv
- Sherry; 15-18.5% abv
- Muscat and Topaque; 17.5-18.5 abv
- Vermouth; 20.5-28.5% abv wide range internationally
What are some French dessert fortified wine?
- Vins doux naturels; light, from white Muscat or red Grenache in Southern France
- Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise; made from white Muscat grapes in the Rhone Valley
abv 15% to 16%
What is Vermouth?
Vermouth is a fortified wine with various botanicals (roots, barks, flowers, seeds, herbs and spices). Famous brands/flavours include Noilly Prat (dry Vermouth) and Campari (distinct red colour)
What is the history of Sherry?
- Originally Jerez
- Famous for English connection since 15th Century
- South West near Cadiz
- Hot, Dry, Chalky soil
- White grapes; Palomino, Pedro Ximenez & Moscatel
What are the major styles of Sherry?
- Fino; dry and youngest in age, “drunk from the wood” salty foods pair well e.g. sardines, olives etc
- Amontillado (Manzanilla = place & style); slightly sweet (“off dry”)
- Olorosso; sweet and aged for many years in a barrel; burnt & caramelised
- Pedro Zimenez (PX); sweet, concentrated and aged for many years. Viscous and very sugary. Brown colour
What happens in the production of Sherry?
- Flor yeast for Fino
- “Solera system” which is a collection of barrels that are blended from young to old
- Freshness and age in one is key
Where is Port from?
The home of port - Oporto and the Douro Valley
• Long English connection
• Douro Valley is hot and long and terraced
• Vineyards (Quinta=farm) in the valley where raw port is made
Where is the raw port taken to?
Oporto
Can port be white?
Yes, but most are red
What are the varieties pf Port?
Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional & Tinta Barroca, all are red
What is most Port fortified with?
Brandy spirit
What are the big Port producers?
Houses, Taylors and Fonseca
What are the styles of Port?
Ruby, Tawny, Vintage, LBV (Late Bottled Vintage)
What technique is Tawny matured with?
Solera System
How many years does vintage Port spend in the barrel before being put in a bottle?
2 years before long age maturation
What is LBV?
Late Bottled Vintage. Instead of spending 2 years a barrel, it spends 4-5 years in a barrel and then 2-3 years in a bottle. This imitates the flavour of Vintage port without waiting 20 years
What word replace Port and Sherry?
- Sherry has been replaced by Apera
- Port has been replaced either by “Fortified Shiraz” or “Vintage”
What are famous fortified wines in Australia?
- Tokay (Austrian trademark); replaced by the word Topaque
* Muscat or Liqueur Muscat
Where are Muscat and Topaque created?
• made mostly Nth East Victoria and SA
• Muscat is made from Red grapes
• Topaque is made from white grape Muscadelle
- Classic; 5-10 yrs in barrel
- Grand; 10-15 yrs and higher sugar
- Rare; 20+ years
*the older the higher price and concentrated flavour and sugar
