Grape Varietal: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris Flashcards
1
Q
Where are the important regions in France for Chardonnay?
A
PGI production:
• South of France
PDOs: • Bourgogne/Burgundy • Chablis • Cote d'Or - Puligny-Montrachet - Meursault • Mâconnais - Mâcon - Pouilly-Fuissé
2
Q
Where are the important regions in USA for Chardonnay?
A
• California
- Sonoma
- Carneros
- Napa Valley
- Santa Barbara County
- Oregon
3
Q
Where are the important regions in Chile for Chardonnay?
A
- Central Valley
* Casablanca Valley
4
Q
Where are the important regions in South Africa for Chardonnay?
A
- Western Cape
* Walker Bay
5
Q
Name 3 appellations in Australia where high quality Chardonnay is produced.
What shared feature do they have?
A
- Margaret River
- Yarra Valley
- Adelaide Hills
All 3 areas are cooler due to altitude (Adelaide Hills) or ocean breezes.
6
Q
Where are the important regions in New Zealand for Chardonnay?
A
- Marlborough
* Hawke’s Bay
7
Q
Where are the important regions in USA for Sauvignon Blanc?
A
• Napa Valley
8
Q
Where are the important regions in Chile for Sauvignon Blanc?
A
- Central Valley
* Casablanca Valley
9
Q
Where are the important regions in South Africa for Sauvignon Blanc?
A
- Elgin
* Constantia
10
Q
Where are the important regions in Australia for Sauvignon Blanc?
A
- Adelaide Hills
* Margaret River
11
Q
Where is the important region in New Zealand for Sauvignon Blanc?
A
• Marlborough
12
Q
Where are the important regions in France for Pinot Gris?
A
• Alsace
13
Q
Where are the important regions in Italy for Pinot Grigio?
A
PGI production:
• Veneto
PDOs:
• Delle Venezie
• Friuli-Venezia Giul
14
Q
What are the varietal characteristics of Chardonnay?
A
- versatile: range of climates
* medium to high acidity
15
Q
What types of climate does Chardonnay prefer?
A
- Cool
- Moderate
- Warm
16
Q
What are the varietal characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc?
A
- high acidity
- aromatic
- variety
- herbaceous
- floral
- fruit (green, citrus, tropical)
17
Q
What types of climate does Sauvignon Blanc prefer?
A
- Cool
* Moderate
18
Q
What are some winemaking options for Chardonnay?
A
- adjustments
- malolactic conversion
- lees contact
- oak
19
Q
What are the 2 key styles of Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris?
A
Pinot Grigio • dry • high acidity • light-bodied • simple • typically unoaked
Pinot Gris • dry, off-dry or medium • medium acidity • full-bodied • complex • typically unoaked
20
Q
What are the aging aroma/flavor characteristics of Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris?
A
very good or outstanding examples can age:
- honey
- ginger
21
Q
In what climates can Chardonnay grow?
A
- Cool
- Moderate
- Warm
22
Q
What can greatly affect Chardonnay’s flavor profile?
A
What climate it’s grown in.
- The cooler the climate, the more under-ripe and green-fruited it will be;
- The warmer the climate, the more ripe and tropical it will be.
23
Q
Describe the profile of a cool climate Chardonnay.
A
- Light to medium body
- High acidity
- Green orchard fruits (apple, pear)
- Tart citrus
- River rock
24
Q
Describe the flavors of a moderate climate Chardonnay.
A
- Medium to full body
- Medium to high acidity
- Ripe citrus
- Melon (green, orange)
- Stone fruits
25
What is a typical winemaking adjustment made to warm climate Chardonnays?
Acidification
26
What winemaking options can be deployed to add complexity to Chardonnay?
* Malolactic conversion
* Oak vessels
* Lees aging
27
What is Burgundy's most northern AOC for Chardonnay?
Chablis AOC
28
What regional AOC can be used on a label if the Chardonnay grapes came from anywhere within Burgundy?
Bourgogne AOC
29
In which direction do Premier Cru and Grand Cru vineyards of Chablis face?
South/southeast
30
Why does having a south/southeast facing vineyard help in cool climates like Chablis?
They receive maximum sun exposure which helps the grapes ripen and develop more flavorful characteristics.
31
What is the main weather threat for Chablis?
Springtime frost
32
Generally, does Chablis see lots of new oak or no oak at all?
No oak; most Chablis are raised in inert vessels.
33
What are some tertiary notes typically found on developing/aged Chardonnays?
* Hazelnuts
| * Mushrooms
34
Where in California is bulk Chardonnay mostly grown?
Central Valley
35
What appellation in Australia produces Chardonnay in high volume (and is usually low-to-medium quality)?
South Eastern Australia
The grapes can come from anywhere within this huge area.
36
What fruit profile does Chardonnay from Australia typically express?
* Peach/ripe stone fruits
| * Pineapple/tropical fruits
37
Which appellation on New Zealand's North Island is known for Chardonnay? What is its climate?
Hawke's Bay which has a moderate climate
38
New Zealand's Chardonnays generally have high or low acidity?
High acidty and peach/stone fruit flavors, too.
39
High-volume, bulk Chardonnay from South Africa is known to come from the hot inland areas of the ___ ___.
Western Cape
40
When making high-volume Chardonnay in South Africa, many winemakers will blend in what grape?
Why?
Chenin Blanc, because its naturally high acidity will balance the low acid style of warm climate Chardonnay.
41
In what climates does Sauvignon Blanc prefer to grow?
* Cool
| * Moderate
42
Describe the general style of Sauvignon Blanc.
* Dry
* High acidity
* Light to medium body
* Aromatic/floral
* Herbaceous (grass, bell pepper, asparagus)
* Fruits range from gooseberry to passionfruit
* Most are unoaked
43
What grape is typically blended with Sauvignon Blanc?
Semillon/Sémillon
44
When Sauvignon Blanc is made as a single-varietal wine, which type of vessel is it usually fermented in?
Inert vessels, such as stainless steel.
45
Why isn't new oak usually used on single-varietal Sauvignon Blanc?
Oak flavors typically overpower the fruity characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc.
46
When is Sauvignon Blanc normally best consumed?
In its youth when fruit flavors and herbaceous notes are at their freshest.
47
What are the 2 regions in France that are best known for Sauvignon Blanc?
* Loire
| * Bordeaux
48
Which region in France is known to bottle Sauvignon Blanc as a single varietal?
Loire Valley
49
Which appellations in Loire produce quality Sauvignon Blanc?
In descending quality:
• Sancerre AOC
• Pouilly-Fumé AOC
• Touraine AOC
50
What is the climate of Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, and Touraine?
Cool climate
51
In the cooler climate of the Loire Valley, what characteristics will Sauvignon Blanc express?
* Dry
* High acidity
* Green apple
* Herbaceous
* Wet river rock, especially in Sancerre AOC
52
Which is lower in quality: Touraine AOC or Sancerre AOC?
Touraine AOC is lower in quality to Sancerre AOC
53
What 3 appellations in Bordeaux are known for Sauvignon Blanc?
In descending order of quality:
• Péssac-Léognan AOC
• Graves AOC
• Bordeaux AOC
54
Of Bordeaux's 3 appellations known for Sauvignon Blanc, which produces the most generic in style?
Bordeaux AOC
55
Because Bordeaux typically blends Sauvignon Blanc with Sémillon, what winemaking technique do many winemakers use?
Barrel aging
White wines from Bordeaux will develop attractive and pleasant aromas from the oak maturation, such as honey and nuts.
56
In Australia, is Sauvignon Blanc bottled as a single varietal or blended with other grape varietals?
Both, and when it's blended it's usually with Semillon.
57
What impact does Semillon/Sémillon have when it's blended with Sauvignon Blanc?
Semillon/Sémillon adds weight and texture to Sauvignon Blanc, giving it a fuller body.
58
What stylistic choice do some Napa Valley winemakers make with their Sauvignon Blancs?
Oak maturation, which adds body, texture and vanilla/smoky flavors
59
In what climates does Pinot Gris/Grigio like to grow?
* Cool
| * Moderate
60
What are the 2 distinct styles of Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio?
* A simple, dry, light bodied wine with high acidity (grapes harvested early: Italian style)l
* A complex, fuller bodied wine with medium acidity and laden with flavor (grapes harvested later: Alsatian style).
61
To help retain Pinot Gris/Grigio's fruit flavors, in what vessel is it likely to be fermented?
An inert vessel, such as stainless steel.
62
Light, simple styles of Pinot Grigio, like Italian Pinot Grigio, are always fermented dry or off-dry?
When are they best consumed?
Dry
Best consumed in their youth
63
Complex, fuller-styled Pinot Gris are sometimes fermented to off-dry. How are they made off-dry?
By removing the yeasts through filtration.
64
When the intense, complex-styled Pinot Gris are left to age, they can develop flavors of ___.
* Ginger
* Honey
* Candied citrus
65
What are 2 appellations in northern Italy that are known for light, simple, inexpensive Pinot Grigio?
* Veneto IGT
| * delle Venezie DOC
66
Where in Italy can you find a more structured, fruity, full-bodied style of Pinot Grigio?
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
67
Alsace Grand Cru AOP vineyards are found on the sloped foothills of which mountains?
Which direction do these vineyards face?
Vosges Mountains
Alsace Grand Cru AOP vineyards face east/southeast
68
Name 3 grapes suitable for Alsace Grand Cru AOP status.
* Riesling
* Pinot Gris
* Gewurztraminer
69
What is it about the Alsace Grand Cru sites that make them different from regular Alsace AOP vineyards?
* They are on steeper slopes
* Receive more sunlight
* Produce grapes that are riper and have fuller flavor
70
What does Vendanges Tardive translate to in English?
Late Harvest
71
Vendanges Tardives is only allowed to be used in which French region?
Alsace
72
If a wine is labeled Pinot Grigio, what style do you expect it to be: Italian or Alsatian?
```
Very much Italian in style:
• Light
• Simple
• High acid
• Unoaked
```
73
If a wine is labeled Pinot Gris, what style do you expect it to be: Italian or Alsatian?
```
Very much Alsatian in style:
• Fuller body
• More complex
• Medium acidity
• Ripe stone and tropical fruits
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