Sparkling Wines

Question 1

Liqueur de tirage

Answer 1

Mix of grape must and yeast used to start secondary fermentation

Question 2

Liqueur d’expedition

Answer 2

Mix of reserve wine and sugar added as dosage to round out the flavor of a sparkling wine

Question 3

Champagne method / Methode Tradionelle / Metodo Classico

Answer 3

Making still wine, assemblage of Cuvée, Creating
bubbles using Liqueur de tirage, Sur Lie Aging, Riddling
(Remuage) using pupitre or gyropalette, Disgorging
(Dégorgement), Dosage using Liqueur d’expédition.

Question 4

Transfer method

Answer 4

Identical to the classic method up to completion of second fermentation. Secondary fermentation occurs
in bottle. The bottles are disgorged under pressure into large tanks. The wine is then filtered and then
rebottled. Advantages: Lees contact for flavor is obtained and riddling is eliminated.

Used for extra large and small format bottles. Also for cost savings.

Question 5

Charmat Method

Answer 5

Secondary fermentation occurs in pressurized tanks. Fermentation is complete in 4-5 days. The wine is
filtered and then bottled. Advantages: Saves an immense amount of time and cost with no riddling or disgorging. Can be as little as 90 days from harvest to final bottling. This is the best process for making sparkling wine from aromatic grape varieties.

Examples: Prosecco, Moscato d’Asti, Lambrusco

Question 6

Method Ancestrale

Answer 6

Primary fermentation is paused mid-way. The wines are bottled and the fermentation finishes inside
the bottle. The CO2 produced is trapped in the bottle. There is no requirement to remove the sediment by disgorging.

Also called Ancestral Method / Méthode Rurale / Pétillant Naturel (a.k.a. “Pet-nat”). Bottled at much
lower pressure.

Question 7

Crémant

Answer 7

French sparkling wine produced by méthode traditionnelle made outside the Champagne Region.

Examples: Crémant de Bourgogne, Crémant d’Alsace, Crémant de Loire

Question 8

What is a gyropalette and what are the advantages of using it?

Answer 8

Machine that holds a lot of bottles and is able to do the riddling mechanically

Question 9

Best region for sparkling wine in Australia

Answer 9

Tasmania

Question 10

Best region for sparkling wine in South Africa

Answer 10

Region: Breede River Valley
District: Robertson

Question 11

Best region for sparkling wine in Italy

Answer 11

Franciacorta DOCG

Question 12

Best region for sparkling wine in the US

Answer 12

Carneros

Question 13

Best region for sparkling wine in Spain

Answer 13

DO Cava / Penedes

Question 14

Best region for sparkling wine in France

Answer 14

Champagne

Question 15

Notable regions in France for sparkling wine besides Champagne

Answer 15

Vouvray
Cremant de Loire
Cremant de Bourgogne
Cremant d’Alsace