Basics - Regions & Grapes Flashcards
Which is Bourgogne’s red grape?
Its main white grape?
Pinot Noir & Chardonnay
Where is the Chablis regions? What grape & style of wine is Chablis?
Bourgogne.
Chardonnay, dry, light-bodied, unoaked & minerally.
Where can you find Sancerre?
What grape & style of wine is Sancerre?
Loire Valley.
Sauvignon Blanc, highly aromatic, bone dry, potential flinty notes.
What style of wine is Bourgogne Blanc?
Which sub-region of Bourgogne is most famous for this style?
Chardonnay, oaked, rich.
Côte de Beaune (incl. Chassagne-Montratchet, Santenay, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Volnay, Pommard)
Where is Côte de Nuits? What style is it famous for?
Bourgogne. Pinot Noir, full-bodied, earthy notes.
What is Côte d’Or?
Collective name for Côte de Nuits & Côte de Beaune. Contains some of the most expensive wines is Bourgogne.
Difference between Pouilly-Fumé & Pouilly-Fuissé?
Fumé is dry, smoky Sauv Blanc from the Loire. Very similar to Sancerre.
Fuissé is a Bourgogne style white (oaked Chardonnay) from the Mâconnais subregion.
Which is the top classification in Bourgogne? In Bordeaux?
Bourgogne: Grand Cru (then Premier Cru, then Village)
Bordeaux: Premier Cru Classé (then 2e Cru, 3e Cru, so on…)
What style of red wine is Bordeaux known for?
Red blend: Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon in different ratios. Small quantities of Cab Franc, Petit Verdot, (sometimes Malbec & Caménère)
Powerful red fruits, often lots of tannin (for aging)
Differences between Left Bank & Right Bank Bordeaux?
Match subregions to left & right bank:
Pauillac, Saint-Julien, Saint-Emilion, Saint–Estephe, Pomerol, Margaux, Pessac-Leognan
Left Bank is more powerful, more tannin, more Cab Sauv. Left Bank = Médoc & Graves.
Right Bank is more plummy, lighter, more Merlot.
Pomerol & St Emilion are Right Bank.
What style of white wine is Bordeaux known for?
Sauternes: dessert wine made fr Sémillon, blended with some Sauv Blanc & Muscadelle. Grapes are shriveled from botrytis (noble rot) - a fungus.
There is non-dessert white but much less famous.
What wine is Vouvray known for? Where is it?
Chenin Blanc, lots of different style. Dry, sweet, sparkling.
Loire Valley.
What wines are Alsace known for?
Dry Riesling, citrusy, apple-y.
Gewurtztraminer, lychee & rose. Can be sweeter than the German/Austrian style.
Slightly sweet Pinot Gris. Peach & apricot.
Order of AOC, IGP, VdP & VdF?
AOC - Appelation d’Origine Controllé, smallest regions, more tightly controlled.
IGP = VdP (Indication Geographique Protégée, Vin de Pays), less controlled.
Vin de France - usually lower quality. Grapes can come from anywhere in France.
What are these terms:
Brut Nature, Extra Brut, Brut, Extra-Dry, Dry, and Doux
Sweetness level in Champagne, from least sugar to most
What is Blanc de Blancs? Blanc de Noirs?
Champagne made from 100% white grapes (Chardonnay). Usually more citrusy & appley.
Vs from 100% red grapes (Pinot Noir & Pinot Meunier). Usually more berry.
Not specified -> usually more white style
What’s “on the lees” / tirage?
Aging champagne in bottles with the yeast. Makes more toasty, nutty (& more expensive) champagnes. Best ones take 5-7 years.
What champagne style is Montagne de Reims region? Côte des Blancs? Vallée de la Marne?
Montagne de Reims - powerful Blanc de Noirs
Côte des Blancs - Blanc de Blancs
Vallée de la Marne - smallest, lesser known, rich yet earthy & smoky style from Pinot Meunier.
Where is Chateauneuf du Pape? What style of wine?
Southern Rhone Valley, near Provence.
Powerful & herbal red blend of Grenache, Syrah & Mourvèdre
Where in France is famous for Syrah? What is French Syrah’s typical flavor?
Northern Rhône, especially Côte Rôtie, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage.
Red fruit, violet, chocolate, truffle.
What is a Condrieu?
White wine made from Viognier grape in the Northern Rhône. Luscious, apricot & floral, rich mouthfeel.
What grape & style of wine is Beaujolais? Where is Beaujolais region?
Gamay. Usually fresh & fruity (famously has banana flavors). Beaujolais Nouveau is wine that are drunk immediately after fermentation on 3rd week of November.
Beaujolais is immediately south of Bourgogne ( used to be considered a part of Bourgogne)
