4.9 | Regionally Important Varieties - Chenin Blanc, Semillon & Furmint, 4.10 | Regionally Important Varieties - Gewurztraminer, Viognier & Albariño Flashcards
what are the key characteristics of Chenin Blanc?
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.
True/False: Chenin cannot age for a long time in bottle and is meant to be consumed while young
false. chenin can age for many years in bottle because of its high acidity
What are the important regions for Chenin Blanc?
France: Vouvray
South Africa
True/False: Chenin is the only variety permitted in the wines of Vouvray AOC (Loire)
True
what are the characteristics of Vouvray AOC (Loire Valley, France)?
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.
True/False: Vouvray is usually unoaked to retain fresh fruit
true
The best Vouvray can age in-bottle. What tertiary aromas can it evolve?
honey, dried fruit
What is the most widely planted white grape in South Africa?
Chenin Blanc
Quality may vary among South African Chenin blanc. What are characteristics of low-quality vs. high-quality Chenin blanc?
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.
which white grape variety is it traditional to blend with Chenin Blanc to add aromas of floral?
Viognier
what are the typical aromas of young Semillon?
simple, primary flavors: lemon, apple, grass
what are important regions for Semillon?
France: Bordeaux, Sauternes
Australia: Hunter Valley, Barossa Valley
Whites from Bordeaux AOC are commonly a blend of which two varieties?
Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc
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?
primary: stone fruit (apricot
secondary: oak maturation (smoke, vanilla)
tertiary: dried fruit, honey, caramel
what is distinctive about Hunter Valley, Australia’s Semillon?
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.
what are the main characteristics of Gewurtztraminer?
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
which is the most famous region for Gewurtztraminer?
Alsace AOC. Very high-quality grand cru wines.
what are the main characteristics of Viognier?
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
which northern Rhone appellation is dedicated to single-varietal Viognier?
Condrieu AOC (common to have light oak flavors (vanilla))
Albarino is grown in Rias Baixas DO, a cool region in northwest Spain. What characteristics does Albarino have?
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
