Winemaking Process Flashcards
What 3 things do oak vessels (barrels) contribute to wine?
flavor
oxygen
softer tannins
What are the 3 main features of stainless steel and concrete (inert vessels)?
fermentation and storage
no flavor added
can be airtight
What are the 5 winemaking steps for the production of Red Wine?
crushing alcoholic fermentation pressing storage or maturation packaging
State the key stages of the alcoholic fermentation process.
Yeast converts sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide
Describe the 10 ways in which winemaking options can influence the style and quality of wine produced.
Adjustments: Addition of sugar, adjustment to acidity
Fermentation temperatures: Cool, warm
Red wine: Extraction
Rosé wine: Short maceration, blending
Sweet wine: Fermentation stopped, sweetness added
Vessel types: Stainless steel, concrete, oak
Oak vessel types: Small, large, new, old, level of toast
Malolactic conversion
Lees
Blending: Consistency, complexity, style
Identify the key changes that occur to a wine during bottle ageing (red and white wine).
Red wine: Color, tannin, aromas and flavors
White wine: Color, aromas and flavors
What 3 things does a wine need to age?
flavor concentration
flavors that can develop in a positive way
high acid, tannin or sugar
What are the 5 winemaking steps for the production of white wine?
crushing pressing alcoholic fermentation storage or maturation packaging
Name 2 other oak alternatives to oak barrels.
oak staves
oak chips
What are the results of malolactic conversion in the winemaking process?
lower acidity
secondary flavors:
- butter
- cream
What 3 methods may be used in the making of sweet wines?
concentration of grape sugars stopping the fermentation - removing the yeast - killing the yeast adding sweetness
What are the 5 winemaking steps for the production of rosé wine?
crushing alcoholic fermentation draining storage packaging
Name 3 reasons for the blending of wine.
style
consistency
complexity
Alcoholic fermentation is an exothermic reaction.
What does that mean?
Alcoholic fermentation creates and releases heat.
What is the optimum fermentation temperature for white wine?
Between 12°C - 22°C (54°F - 72°F)
Rosé wines are typically fermented at similar temperatures to white wines.
What effect does a lower fementation temperature have on a white wine?
Lower fermentation temperatures bring about fruitier aromas.
What are some commonly practiced adjustment techniques?
- Adding sugar to increase alcohol
- Adding acid (acidification)
What is the most common adjustment made to white grapes from warm/hot climates, and why?
Acidification
Warm climate grapes can have lower levels of natural acidity.
How does adding sugar to the must before or during fermentation change the final wine?
Adding sugar before or during fermentation increases the alcohol level in a wine.
What is residual sugar?
Sugar that remains in a wine after fermentation.
What does “off-dry” mean?
Off-dry is when a wine’s residual sugar is just-perceptible.
What are 2 additions a winemaker can use to sweeten up a dry wine?
Name 1 other way winemakers can make a wine sweet.
- Unfermented grape juice
- Concentrated grape juice
Other way: blend the dry wine with a sweet wine
What flavors will aging in new oak add to white wines?
- Vanilla
- Toast
- Smoke
- Coconut
- Baking spice (clove, dill, nutmeg, anise)
- Sweet spice (molasses, brown sugar, butterscotch)
What determines how much flavor an oak barrel adds to a wine?
- How the barrel was made (what was its level of toasting?)
- Age of barrel (if it’s new, it’ll impart more wood flavor than a used one)
- Size of barrel (smaller ones encourage more oxygen transfer, helping flavors evolve sooner)
