British Columbia White Varieties Flashcards
What are the 7 principle white wine varieties in BC
Pinot Gris
Chardonnay
Gewurztraminer
Riesling
Sauvignon Blanc
Viognier
Pinot Blanc
What are the 6 principle red wine varieties in BC
Merlot
Pinot Noir
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Franc
Syrah
Gamay Noir
What is the taste profile of Pinot Gris
Dry to Off-Dry
Medium Body
Flavours & Aromas of pear, honeydew, cantaloup, and lemon
Sometimes Honey, mineral, baking spice
What is the taste profile of Chardonnay
Crisp Acidity
Flavours & Aromas of peach, nectarine, and lemon
Subtle lees, nut, and oak
What is the taste profile of Gewurztraminer
Full body
High Acidity
Touch of sweetness
Ripens to 14%
Pink Skin adds a ting of colour
Flavours & Aromas Ripe stone fruit, lychee, and rose petal
What is the taste profile of Riesling
Dry or Off Dry
Powerful and fresh
Zippy acidity
Flavours & Aromas intense apple, citrus, and mineral notes
What is the taste profile of Sauvignon Blanc
Racy and Fresh
Crisp Acidity
Flavours: Green bean, Passion fruit, and Tropical notes
Sometimes blended with Semillion and barrel fermented for richer style.
What is the taste profile of Pinot Blanc
Fresh, Crisp acidity
Medium body
flavours apple peel and citrus
What is the taste profile of Viognier
Crisp BC Acidity
Flavours and & Aromas: Jasmin, Honeysuckle and stone fruit
What is the taste profile of Merlot
Firm Tannins
Medium to full body
Flavours & Aromas: black plum, black cherry, violet and chocolate notes
What is the taste profile of Pinot Noir
bright and fresh
Crisp Acidity
Medium Body and Tannins
Flavours & Aromas: cherry, strawberry and raspberry
What is the taste profile of Cabernet Sauvignon
Structured tannins
High Acidity
Flavours & Aromas: Intense cassis (Black current), Plum, and Blackberry
Notable dried sage note
What is the taste profile of Cabernet Franc
Medium Body
Juicy and Fresh
Elegant tannins
Flavours & Aromas: bright berry, redcurrant with floral, violet, and dried herb notes.
What is the taste profile of Syrah / Shiraz
Flavours & Aromas: Intense blueberry, blackberry and plum
Gamy, meaty and floral
Silky texture
lots of black pepper
What is the taste profile of Gamay
Light Body and Tannin
Fresh juicy Acidity
Silky texture
Flavours & Aromas: Red berry, cinnamon, and minerality.
Pinot Gris is a mutation of what grape
Pinot Noir
What are the 2 styles of Pinot Gris in BC
Northern Italy: Crisper, lighter, fresher style
Alsace: Richer, honeyed, off-dry more tropical
How where many of the earlier BC Pinot Gris treated style wise?
Treated like Chardonnay, fermented and aged in oak
What is a Pinot Gris Niche Style?
Utilize the bronze skin colour of the grape to make copper or salmon coloured versions that boarder Rose.
Where does BC Pinot Gris style fit in compared to Italy and Alsace
Fruitier and fuller bodied the Italy
Lighter and fresher than Alsace
What State produces Pinot Gris similar to BC
Oregon
Chardonnay was just recently overtaken by what grape in BC
Pinot Gris
How do Chardonnay styles vary in BC
- Unoaked, crisp acidity, with apple flavours
- world class barrel fermented wines with complex lees, oak, and fruit flavours.
What region in the world in renowned for Chardonnay
California
How does BC Chardonnay compare to California
California: Is lush, full bodied, with heavy oak and tropical fruit flavours.
BC: Wines are generally lighter, fresher, with more elegance, and higher acidity
where is the origin and home of Chardonnay
How do they compare to BC
Burgundy, France
These wines are more mineral, but with flavours similar to BC. Centuries of experience and an elegance thats hard to rival.
BC Wines are similar with more fruit flavour and ripeness.
Which wine does BC have a chance to compete on a global level?
Chardonnay
What is a Key Fact regarding Chardonnay in BC
Successful in many styles and regions in BC
What is a Key fact regarding Gewurztraminer in BC
*Hint where
Many high quality examples in Summerland area
What is the colour of Gewurztraminer skin
Pink
What level of alcohol does Gewurztraminer ripen and ferment to?
14%
What is unique about BC Gewurztraminer vs other parts of the world?
With the high alcohol level, the wine can lose acidity quickly and become flabby.
BC Gewurztraminer’s are naturally higher in acidity from cooler nights means this is rarely an issue.
What is a Style trait of BC Gewurztraminer vs Alsace, France
Alsace: full bodied with an oily palate and strong baking spice flavour.
BC: Not as Fatty or oily and retain more freshness. Which has made them popular in the province.
What was the most plated grape 30 years ago?
Riesling
What is helping Riesling being taken to the next level in BC
A change in mentality with growers to make serious, top quality wines with lower yields
What is a key fact and great ability of Rieslings?
Their ability to Age and cellar for more than a decade
What styles of Riesling is BC best know for today?
- Dry
High Acid
intense apple, lime and mineral flavour - some stop fermentation before all sugar is converted to make a slightly sweeter lower alcohol version that balances the high acidity.
BC dry style Rieslings are similar to which countries
-Eden Valley, Australia: More intense lime characteristics
-Alsace, France: fuller bodied, earthier
-Germany: similar to sweeter versions
-Washington State has similar style
When did Sauvignon Blanc experience a world wide popularity explosion.
When did planting increase in BC
- 1990
- early 2000’s
Sauvignon Blanc is the 5th most popular grape in BC today
True or False
True
What are the 3 styles of Sauvignon Blanc that can be produced in BC based and when they are picked and produced.
Both styles have high Acidity
Early harvest: Crisp, green bean, grass, and asparagus (New Zealand inspired)
Later Harvest: Riper, tropical fruit, and richer
Later Harvest: Oak fermented and blended with Semillion wine are similar to white Bordeaux.
What wine has never quite taken off in BC
Why Not
-Pinot Blanc
-When the BC industry was in its growth phase, there were not really any benchmark wines to provide inspiration.
What wine actually has a decreasing acreage in BC, but make great value, crisp refreshing wines
Pinot Blanc
What wine making techniques were use for early versions of Pinot Blanc
It was treated like a Chardonnay and Fermented in new oak.
What is the best know areas in the world for producing Pinot Blanc
-Alsace, France
-Northeast Italy
What is difficult for growers regarding Viognier
-The grape ripens LATE to develop its intense jasmine and stone fruit scented perfume.
-If it is picked too early it lacks aromatics, texture, and flavour
What climate does Viognier do best
Warm Sites
what is a Viognier Ket Fact
Some of BC’s top white blends involve Viognier with Roussanne and Marasanne
Viognier is also blended with what grape to add perfume, texture, and brightness of colour. (Co-fermentation)
Syrah
Where is the homeland and origin of Viognier
Rhone Valley
Other parts of the world where Viognier is successful
California
Australia
New Zealand
South Africa
Chili
