The Pantry Quiz #15
What is it?
Happy New Year! Let's end 2012 with a quiz question about everyone's favorite celebration libation. One common pantry ingredient is added to grapes (Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier varietals) to make champagne. What is it?
__________
Please leave your answer in the comments, and let us know whether you have this ingredient in your pantry.
[Last week's answer: An ancho chile is a dried, smoked poblano pepper.]
You can find most answers to The Pantry Quiz by using the search box at right, at the top of the page, to hunt for clues. Come back next Saturday for the answer to today's quiz question.
Posted by: Benjamin C-G | December 29, 2012 at 01:53 AM
Yeast (I hope)
Posted by: Jean Gogolin | December 29, 2012 at 07:35 AM
yeast?
Posted by: Laura Turley | December 29, 2012 at 08:15 AM
Sugar or yeast? Not totally sure Both cause fermentation and bubbles....
Maybe yeast is more in beers
Posted by: Debbie | December 29, 2012 at 09:21 AM
Yeast
Posted by: Lora Johns | December 29, 2012 at 10:25 AM
Sugar, most often in a syrup form.
Posted by: Cousin Martin | December 29, 2012 at 10:50 AM
I didn't schlep through those claustrophobic champagne caves in both France and California for nothing! Thus I hope I know that sugar is added once the wine has mostly fermented in order to develop that extra carbonation and bottle POP! As for yeast, I think that natural yeasts do the fermentation. Specific brewer's yeast is added to make beer; but grapes have lots of natural yeast on their skins and even in white wine, yeast mixes with the juice when the skins are strained out.
Posted by: Pattypro | December 29, 2012 at 10:56 AM
Like Laura, I'm guessing yeast or sugar or both. I do have both.
Posted by: Kalyn | December 29, 2012 at 11:21 AM
I'm guessing sugar, but truly I have no idea. Happy New Year Lydia and Ted!
Posted by: susan g | December 29, 2012 at 01:12 PM
Home brewers use champagne yeast. "Real" champagne....?
Posted by: Donna @ Cooking + Praying | December 29, 2012 at 06:07 PM
I agree with the yeast answer. Something has to create the bubbles. And yes, I have ordinary yeast in my pantry. Not sure it's the right kind of yeast and it's probably not fresh anyway. Love champagne!
Posted by: carme | December 30, 2012 at 08:50 AM
both sugar and yeast! same with catalan 'cava'.
happy new year!!!
Posted by: L G Andrews | January 1, 2013 at 01:44 AM
sugar makes the bubbles!
Posted by: carol, boston @ cabinetstew | January 2, 2013 at 03:18 PM
I am with Cousin Martin above as he did all the "leg work!" :-)