4.9 | Regionally Important Varieties - Chenin Blanc, Semillon & Furmint, 4.10 | Regionally Important Varieties - Gewurztraminer, Viognier & Albariño

Question 1

what are the key characteristics of Chenin Blanc?

Answer 1

prized for versaitility - grows in cool, moderate, and warm climates
flavors vary according to ripeness: range from green fruit (apple), citrus (lemon), stone fruit (peach), tropical (pineapple, mango)
high acidity - suitable to late harvesting
susceptible botrytis
made broad range of styles dry to sweet, oaked to unoaked.

Question 2

True/False: Chenin cannot age for a long time in bottle and is meant to be consumed while young

Answer 2

false. chenin can age for many years in bottle because of its high acidity

Question 3

What are the important regions for Chenin Blanc?

Answer 3

France: Vouvray

South Africa

Question 4

True/False: Chenin is the only variety permitted in the wines of Vouvray AOC (Loire)

Answer 4

True

Question 5

what are the characteristics of Vouvray AOC (Loire Valley, France)?

Answer 5

wines are made in a wide range from dry to sweet and sparkling
dry Vouvray - fresh apple
demi-sec Vouvray = off-dry or medium
sweet Vouvray is made from extra-ripe or botrytis affected grapes. Has stone-fruit or tropical fruit aromas.

Question 6

True/False: Vouvray is usually unoaked to retain fresh fruit

Answer 6

true

Question 7

The best Vouvray can age in-bottle. What tertiary aromas can it evolve?

Answer 7

honey, dried fruit

Question 8

What is the most widely planted white grape in South Africa?

Answer 8

Chenin Blanc

Question 9

Quality may vary among South African Chenin blanc. What are characteristics of low-quality vs. high-quality Chenin blanc?

Answer 9

low quality: produced for high-volume brands, which use grapes from the warm inland region. These are often blended with other varieties like Chardonnay. Produces dry, medium-bodied wine with aromas of peach, pineapple, and vanilla (from oak chips/staves)

high quality: old vines, low yield of concentrated fruit. pronounced tropical fruit (pineapple, mango). Often aromas of smoke and vanilla from oak.

Question 10

which white grape variety is it traditional to blend with Chenin Blanc to add aromas of floral?

Answer 10

Viognier

Question 11

what are the typical aromas of young Semillon?

Answer 11

simple, primary flavors: lemon, apple, grass

Question 12

what are important regions for Semillon?

Answer 12

France: Bordeaux, Sauternes

Australia: Hunter Valley, Barossa Valley

Question 13

Whites from Bordeaux AOC are commonly a blend of which two varieties?

Answer 13

Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc

Question 14

Sauternes AOC is a small wine subregion in Bordeaux that makes a sweet white wine from Semillon grapes. What are the primary, secondary, and tertiary aromas?

Answer 14

primary: stone fruit (apricot
secondary: oak maturation (smoke, vanilla)
tertiary: dried fruit, honey, caramel

Question 15

what is distinctive about Hunter Valley, Australia’s Semillon?

Answer 15

it is a dry single-varietal Semillon. This is achieved by early harvesting in a warm climate when grapes have low sugar and high acidity.

At first, it has neutral flavors. After a few years of bottle age it develops honey and nuts aromas.

Question 16

what are the main characteristics of Gewurtztraminer?

Answer 16

aromatic. 
cool to moderate climate
powerfully scented. Dry to sweet
accumulated high sugar during ripening -> high alcohol 
full-bodied
low-medium acid
pronounced floral (rose), stone-fruit (peach, apricot), tropical fruit (lychee)
usulally unoaked
develops tertiary honey/dried fruit

Question 17

which is the most famous region for Gewurtztraminer?

Answer 17

Alsace AOC. Very high-quality grand cru wines.

Question 18

what are the main characteristics of Viognier?

Answer 18

aromatic variety
mainly grown in moderate climates
typical Viognier: dry, low to medium acidity
high alcohol
medium to full body
pronounced floral (blossom), stone-fruit (peach, apricot)
usually fermented in inert vessels, though some oak-aged are made

Question 19

which northern Rhone appellation is dedicated to single-varietal Viognier?

Answer 19

Condrieu AOC (common to have light oak flavors (vanilla))

Question 20

Albarino is grown in Rias Baixas DO, a cool region in northwest Spain. What characteristics does Albarino have?

Answer 20

because Rias Baixas is cooler, wetter, and cloudier than Spain’s other wine regions, it produces refreshing whites.
Dry, high acid
medium-bodied
citrus (lemon, grapefruit), stone fruit (peach, apricot)
usually unoaked and drunk young
sometimes lees contact