2.2 REV Q (Notable Structural Charateristics) Flashcards
What are the five notable structural characteristics of wine?
Sweetness, acidity, tannins, alcohol and body
Which notable characteristic produced a mouth drying effect in red wines?
Tannin
What causes the sweetness of a wine?
The presence of sugar in the wine
What are the three levels of sweetness that can vary in wines?
Dry, medium, sweet
What level of sweetness do the majority of wines fall under?
Dry
What is the key way of making a dry wine?
The yeast needs to convert all of the sugar in the grape juice into alcohol
Are wines like Chablis and Sauvignon Blanc dy, medium of sweet?
Dry
Which wine style(s) will most of the wines with a medium level of sweetness fall under?
White and rosé
What are the two key ways of making a wine medium of sweetness?
- The yeast are removed before all of the sugar is converted into alcohol
- Unfermented grape juice is added to a dry wine
Are wines like White Zinfandel (rosé), some German Rieslings and some Sherries dry, medium or sweet?
Medium
What are the two key ways of making a sweet wine?
- The grapes are so high in sugar that the yeast stop fermenting before they eat all of the sugar.
- In case of fortified wines, the yeast are killed by addition of high-strength distilled alcohol before they have eaten all of the sugar.
Are wines like Sauternes, some German Rieslings, Port and some Sherries dry, medium or sweet?
Sweet
Why is acidity important in a wine?
It gives the wine a refreshing characteristic that makes your mouth water and balances out any sweetness to stop it from being unpleasantly sweet.
Do wines like Chablis, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir have high or low acidity levels
High acidity levels
What taste and texture do tannins bring in a wine?
Tannins taste bitter and cause your mouth to feel dry
Do wines like Red Bordeaux and Chianti have high or low tannin levels?
High tannin levels
Do wines like Beaujolais and Pinor Noir have high or low tannin levels?
Low tannin levels
What levels of alcohol (abv) do the majority of still and sparkling wines fall under?
11.5% and 14% abv
Is Châteauneuf -du-Pape a high or low alcohol wine?
High alcohol
Is white zinfandel a high or low alcohol wine?
Low alcohol wine
What does the body of wine mean?
The overall feel of a wine in your mouth
What are the three levels of body that can vary in wines?
Light, medium and full
Are Pinot Grigio and Beaujolais light-bodied, medium-bodied or full-bodied wines?
Light-bodied
Are Sancerre and Côtes du Rhône light-bodied, medium-bodied or full-bodied wines?
Medium-bodied
Are Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauternes light-bodied, medium-bodied or full-bodied wines?
Full bodied
Where do aromas and flavours of wine come from?
Some come from grapes themselves, while others develop during winemaking and maturation.
What fruit aromas can be found in a cool climate Chardonnay
Green fruist (apple) and citrus fruits (lemon)
What fruit aromas can be found in warm climate Chardonnay?
Stone fruits (peach) and tropical fruits (pineapple)
In addition to fruit and oak aromas, what other aromas can wines have?
Grass, flowers, herbs, vegetables, earth mushrooms and leather, for example
What source gives aromas like cedar, cloves, coconut and vanilla?
Fermentation and/or maturation in oak barrels
