Sparkling

Question 1

What are the steps for Traditional/Champagne Method

Answer 1

1. Hand picked whole clusters
2. Gentle Pressing
3. 1st fermentation to make a dry still wine base (9 months in closed tanks)
4. Blending with other wines
5. Liqeur de triage where yeast, sugar and nutrients are added
6. 2nd Fermentation occurring in bottle (bubbles form here)
7. Yeast autolysis (wine making contact with dead yeast cells)
8. Riddling (slowly turning the bottles while upside down)
9. Disgorgment (removal of frozen yeast cap)
10. Topping up the wine and adding any desired sugars
11. Bottle aging (usually a few months to help the flavors settle after disgorgment)

Question 2

What grapes are Champagne/Franciacorta made from?

Answer 2

chardonnay, pinot noir

Question 3

What are the aging/region requirements for Champagne

Answer 3

Must be from Champagne, France
15 months for 1st fermentation and 12 months on the lees

Question 4

What is Franciacortia?

Answer 4

Italy’s “champagne”

Question 5

What are the aging/region requirements for Franciacorta

Answer 5

Made in Lombardy, Italy
18 months for 1st fermentation and 15 months on the lees

Question 6

What method is Prosecco made in, and what are the steps?

Answer 6

In the tank/charmat method
1. 1st fermentation in stainless steel tanks for the base wine
2. 2nd fermentation in pressurized sealed tanks (with added sugar, yeasts for bubbles)
3. Wine is filtered
4. Wine is bottled under pressure

Question 7

What grape is Prosecco made from?

Answer 7

Glera

Question 8

What are the aging/region requirements for Prosecco

Answer 8

Made in Veneto, Italy
1 month for 1st fermentation, 30 days on the lees