Chapter 13 - Other White Grape Varieties And Wines

Question 1

What is the classic region for Pinot Gris in france? What would you expect?

Answer 1

Alsace. Fill bodied dry to off dry, medium and sweet wines with spicy tropical fruit flavours (ginger banana melon) and sometimes hints of honey.

Question 2

What other region is popular for PG? What varieties are made?

Answer 2

NZ where there are a variety of styles from dry to sweet in the Alsatian model.

Question 3

What would you expect of Pinot Grigio produced in Italy?

Answer 3

Dry medium or light body with medium acidity and neutral character.

Question 4

What are some of the better examples of Italian PG and what do they express?

Answer 4

Trentino-Alto Adige and Friuli-Venezia Giulia which show some of the ripe nuttiness and honeyed character prized in Alsace.

Question 5

What is Pinot Grigio used to describe outside of Italy?

Answer 5

Typically used to describe neutral and med to light bodied wine as opposed to Pinot Gris which would describe a fuller bodied example lol the Alsatian ones.

Question 6

What are Verdicchio and Trebbiano? Where are they produced and what would you expect?

Answer 6

In Italy, Verdicchio is high acid and medium bodied white with lemon fennel and bitter almond flavours. Produced in Marche and some of the best come from Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC.

Trebbiano is Italy’s most planted white grape and has high acid. Mainly used for inexpensive neutral wines but sometimes appears as a varietal.

Question 7

What are Soave and Soave Classico DOC? What grape is used for them and what does it express?

Answer 7

They are white wines from Italy’s north east and are made from Garganega, a late ripening variety with floral notes (chamomile) and green fruit (pear red apple) and white pepper. Mostly medium bodied and unoaked.

Question 8

What is Gavi DOCG?

Answer 8

From Piemonte Italy - made from Cortese. High acid, light with notes of green apple and citrus.

Question 9

What does Classico indicate?

Answer 9

That the grapes have been grown in the historical centre of the DOC / DOCG. Often on the hills and usually the best sites and best wines.

Question 10

What are the classic regions in france for Chenin Blanc? What is the main appellation?

Answer 10

Touraine in the Loire Valley where it is used in a range of styles. Main appellation is Vouvray AC.

Question 11

What would you expect of a Touraine Chenin Blanc?

Answer 11

Medium bodied with medium sweetness high acidity and unoaked with citrus, green fruit and tropical fruit notes (lemon apple pineapple) and some herbaceous aromas (green leaf).

Question 12

What is Chenin Blanc susceptible to?

Answer 12

Noble rot so sweet wines are also made

Question 13

What is the South African production of Chenin Blanc like? What would you expect of them?

Answer 13

Mainly for large volume inexpensive wine. Mostly medium bodied dry or off dry with citrus and tropical fruit flavours. Despite hot climate they have medium or high acidity.

Question 14

What is sometimes blended with Chenin Blanc in South Africa?

Answer 14

Chardonnay because it makes possible the production of large volumes at low prices and contributes some refreshing acidity and citrus to the blend.

Question 15

How is oak used in South African Chenin Blanc?

Answer 15

Many premium quality wines now have prominent oak flavours

Question 16

What is Melon Blanc? What regions produce wine using this variety?

Answer 16

A white grape variety.

Muscadet in the Loire produces many medium bodied unoaked dry white wines with Melon Blanc.

Main appellation is Muscadet AC. Muscadet sèvre et Maine AC is a sub region. Many have sur lie on the label meaning it was bottled from a vessel containing the lees. This gives body and complexity.

Question 17

What wines does Viognier produce and what is the main region?

Answer 17

Soft full bodied aromatic white wines. Best examples from northern Rhône which are low in acidity and high in alcohol with delicate fruit and floral aromas (peach pear apricot violet) and spicy notes.

Question 18

What other regions produce Viognier?

Answer 18

Southern France, Chile, Argentina, Australia, California.

Question 19

Where is Albariño produced and what style of wine is it?

Answer 19

Spain - Rias Baixas where it goes light to medium bodied wines with fresh green and citrus fruit (apple pear grapefruit). Typically unoaked with refreshingly high acidity.

Question 20

Where is Sémillon most used and how?

Answer 20

Bordeaux where it is blended with Sav Blanc to make dry wines and for sweet wines too.

Question 21

Where can Sémillon be found as a varietal? What would you expect? What styles are found elsewhere in this country?

Answer 21

In Australia in the Hunter Valley where it is dry light bodied and light in alcohol but high in acidity. Jas delicate citrus aromas in youth verging on neutrality but with age builds layers of complex toast honey and nut flavours.

From other areas it can range from medium bodied simple virtues it intensely vegetal and pungent.

Question 22

Where is the classic home of Gewürztraminer? What would you expect? Age?

Answer 22

Alsace. Intensely perfumed wines that can be dry off dry or medium sweet and full bodied with high alcohol and low acidity. Typical flavours include floral perfume (rose, orange blossom), tropical and stone fruit (lychee, peach, grape) and musky sweet spices (ginger).

Most are best consumed young but some develop honey and nut aromas with age.

Question 23

Where else is increasing its reputation for Gewurtztraminer ?

Answer 23

NZ

Question 24

Where is Torrentés a specialty and what would you expect? What is the main region?

Answer 24

Argentina. Aromatic variety giving medium bodied dry white wine with high alcohol medium acidity and pronounced fruity and floral aromas (perfume, grapes, peach).

Like Malbec, it’s widely grown but the best examples come from Cafayate in the southern province of Salta.