4.4 Wines Made from the Principal Grape Varietals

Question 1

Champagne

Answer 1

Champagne is a French sparkling wine made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

It is typically dry and has high acidity with aromas of green fruits (apple) and citrus (lemon) and bread notes.

Question 2

Sancerre

Answer 2

Sancerre is a dry, medium-bodied French white wine made from Sauvignon Blanc.

It is typically unoaked with high acidity and pronounced green fruit (apple) and herbaceous (grass) aromas.

Question 3

Chablis

Answer 3

Chablis is a dry, light-bodied French white wine made from Chardonnay.

It is unoaked with high acidity, green fruit (apple) and citrus (lemon) aroma

Question 4

Bourgogne Blanc

Answer 4

The white wines (Bourgogne Blanc) are made from Chardonnay and can be oaked or unoaked.

They are dry, medium-bodied, and often show riper fruit flavors than Chablis, such as citrus (lemon) and stone fruits (peach).

Question 5

Bourgogne Rouge

Answer 5

The red wines (Bourgogne or Bourgogne Rouge) are made from Pinot Noir and are dry.

They tend to be low in tannins and light-bodied with high acidity, and have flavors of red fruits (raspberry, red cherry) and sometimes vanilla and cloves from oak.

The French name for Burgundy is ‘Bourgogne’. It is often used on wine labels of both white and red wines from Burgundy.

Question 6

Bordeaux

Answer 6

Bordeaux wines come from the Bordeaux region in France.

They are typically a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

They are most often red, with high acidity and tannins.

These red wines are dry and medium- to full-bodied with aromas of black fruits (blackberry, blackcurrant) and cedar notes from oak.