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WSET 2 > Grape Varietal: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris > Flashcards

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
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2
Q

Where are the important regions in USA for Chardonnay?

A

• California

  • Sonoma
  • Carneros
  • Napa Valley
  • Santa Barbara County
  • Oregon
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3
Q

Where are the important regions in Chile for Chardonnay?

A
  • Central Valley

* Casablanca Valley

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4
Q

Where are the important regions in South Africa for Chardonnay?

A
  • Western Cape

* Walker Bay

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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.

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6
Q

Where are the important regions in New Zealand for Chardonnay?

A
  • Marlborough

* Hawke’s Bay

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7
Q

Where are the important regions in USA for Sauvignon Blanc?

A

• Napa Valley

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8
Q

Where are the important regions in Chile for Sauvignon Blanc?

A
  • Central Valley

* Casablanca Valley

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9
Q

Where are the important regions in South Africa for Sauvignon Blanc?

A
  • Elgin

* Constantia

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10
Q

Where are the important regions in Australia for Sauvignon Blanc?

A
  • Adelaide Hills

* Margaret River

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11
Q

Where is the important region in New Zealand for Sauvignon Blanc?

A

• Marlborough

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12
Q

Where are the important regions in France for Pinot Gris?

A

• Alsace

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13
Q

Where are the important regions in Italy for Pinot Grigio?

A

PGI production:
• Veneto

PDOs:
• Delle Venezie
• Friuli-Venezia Giul

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14
Q

What are the varietal characteristics of Chardonnay?

A
  • versatile: range of climates

* medium to high acidity

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15
Q

What types of climate does Chardonnay prefer?

A
  • Cool
  • Moderate
  • Warm
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16
Q

What are the varietal characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc?

A
  • high acidity
  • aromatic
  • variety
  • herbaceous
  • floral
  • fruit (green, citrus, tropical)
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17
Q

What types of climate does Sauvignon Blanc prefer?

A
  • Cool

* Moderate

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18
Q

What are some winemaking options for Chardonnay?

A
  • adjustments
  • malolactic conversion
  • lees contact
  • oak
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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
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20
Q

What are the aging aroma/flavor characteristics of Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris?

A

very good or outstanding examples can age:

  • honey
  • ginger
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21
Q

In what climates can Chardonnay grow?

A
  • Cool
  • Moderate
  • Warm
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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.
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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
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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
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25
Q

What is a typical winemaking adjustment made to warm climate Chardonnays?

A

Acidification

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26
Q

What winemaking options can be deployed to add complexity to Chardonnay?

A
  • Malolactic conversion
  • Oak vessels
  • Lees aging
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27
Q

What is Burgundy’s most northern AOC for Chardonnay?

A

Chablis AOC

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28
Q

What regional AOC can be used on a label if the Chardonnay grapes came from anywhere within Burgundy?

A

Bourgogne AOC

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29
Q

In which direction do Premier Cru and Grand Cru vineyards of Chablis face?

A

South/southeast

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30
Q

Why does having a south/southeast facing vineyard help in cool climates like Chablis?

A

They receive maximum sun exposure which helps the grapes ripen and develop more flavorful characteristics.

31
Q

What is the main weather threat for Chablis?

A

Springtime frost

32
Q

Generally, does Chablis see lots of new oak or no oak at all?

A

No oak; most Chablis are raised in inert vessels.

33
Q

What are some tertiary notes typically found on developing/aged Chardonnays?

A
  • Hazelnuts

* Mushrooms

34
Q

Where in California is bulk Chardonnay mostly grown?

A

Central Valley

35
Q

What appellation in Australia produces Chardonnay in high volume (and is usually low-to-medium quality)?

A

South Eastern Australia

The grapes can come from anywhere within this huge area.

36
Q

What fruit profile does Chardonnay from Australia typically express?

A
  • Peach/ripe stone fruits

* Pineapple/tropical fruits

37
Q

Which appellation on New Zealand’s North Island is known for Chardonnay? What is its climate?

A

Hawke’s Bay which has a moderate climate

38
Q

New Zealand’s Chardonnays generally have high or low acidity?

A

High acidty and peach/stone fruit flavors, too.

39
Q

High-volume, bulk Chardonnay from South Africa is known to come from the hot inland areas of the ___ ___.

A

Western Cape

40
Q

When making high-volume Chardonnay in South Africa, many winemakers will blend in what grape?

Why?

A

Chenin Blanc, because its naturally high acidity will balance the low acid style of warm climate Chardonnay.

41
Q

In what climates does Sauvignon Blanc prefer to grow?

A
  • Cool

* Moderate

42
Q

Describe the general style of Sauvignon Blanc.

A
  • Dry
  • High acidity
  • Light to medium body
  • Aromatic/floral
  • Herbaceous (grass, bell pepper, asparagus)
  • Fruits range from gooseberry to passionfruit
  • Most are unoaked
43
Q

What grape is typically blended with Sauvignon Blanc?

A

Semillon/Sémillon

44
Q

When Sauvignon Blanc is made as a single-varietal wine, which type of vessel is it usually fermented in?

A

Inert vessels, such as stainless steel.

45
Q

Why isn’t new oak usually used on single-varietal Sauvignon Blanc?

A

Oak flavors typically overpower the fruity characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc.

46
Q

When is Sauvignon Blanc normally best consumed?

A

In its youth when fruit flavors and herbaceous notes are at their freshest.

47
Q

What are the 2 regions in France that are best known for Sauvignon Blanc?

A
  • Loire

* Bordeaux

48
Q

Which region in France is known to bottle Sauvignon Blanc as a single varietal?

A

Loire Valley

49
Q

Which appellations in Loire produce quality Sauvignon Blanc?

A

In descending quality:
• Sancerre AOC
• Pouilly-Fumé AOC
• Touraine AOC

50
Q

What is the climate of Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, and Touraine?

A

Cool climate

51
Q

In the cooler climate of the Loire Valley, what characteristics will Sauvignon Blanc express?

A
  • Dry
  • High acidity
  • Green apple
  • Herbaceous
  • Wet river rock, especially in Sancerre AOC
52
Q

Which is lower in quality: Touraine AOC or Sancerre AOC?

A

Touraine AOC is lower in quality to Sancerre AOC

53
Q

What 3 appellations in Bordeaux are known for Sauvignon Blanc?

A

In descending order of quality:
• Péssac-Léognan AOC
• Graves AOC
• Bordeaux AOC

54
Q

Of Bordeaux’s 3 appellations known for Sauvignon Blanc, which produces the most generic in style?

A

Bordeaux AOC

55
Q

Because Bordeaux typically blends Sauvignon Blanc with Sémillon, what winemaking technique do many winemakers use?

A

Barrel aging

White wines from Bordeaux will develop attractive and pleasant aromas from the oak maturation, such as honey and nuts.

56
Q

In Australia, is Sauvignon Blanc bottled as a single varietal or blended with other grape varietals?

A

Both, and when it’s blended it’s usually with Semillon.

57
Q

What impact does Semillon/Sémillon have when it’s blended with Sauvignon Blanc?

A

Semillon/Sémillon adds weight and texture to Sauvignon Blanc, giving it a fuller body.

58
Q

What stylistic choice do some Napa Valley winemakers make with their Sauvignon Blancs?

A

Oak maturation, which adds body, texture and vanilla/smoky flavors

59
Q

In what climates does Pinot Gris/Grigio like to grow?

A
  • Cool

* Moderate

60
Q

What are the 2 distinct styles of Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio?

A
  • 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
Q

To help retain Pinot Gris/Grigio’s fruit flavors, in what vessel is it likely to be fermented?

A

An inert vessel, such as stainless steel.

62
Q

Light, simple styles of Pinot Grigio, like Italian Pinot Grigio, are always fermented dry or off-dry?

When are they best consumed?

A

Dry

Best consumed in their youth

63
Q

Complex, fuller-styled Pinot Gris are sometimes fermented to off-dry. How are they made off-dry?

A

By removing the yeasts through filtration.

64
Q

When the intense, complex-styled Pinot Gris are left to age, they can develop flavors of ___.

A
  • Ginger
  • Honey
  • Candied citrus
65
Q

What are 2 appellations in northern Italy that are known for light, simple, inexpensive Pinot Grigio?

A
  • Veneto IGT

* delle Venezie DOC

66
Q

Where in Italy can you find a more structured, fruity, full-bodied style of Pinot Grigio?

A

Friuli-Venezia Giulia

67
Q

Alsace Grand Cru AOP vineyards are found on the sloped foothills of which mountains?

Which direction do these vineyards face?

A

Vosges Mountains

Alsace Grand Cru AOP vineyards face east/southeast

68
Q

Name 3 grapes suitable for Alsace Grand Cru AOP status.

A
  • Riesling
  • Pinot Gris
  • Gewurztraminer
69
Q

What is it about the Alsace Grand Cru sites that make them different from regular Alsace AOP vineyards?

A
  • They are on steeper slopes
  • Receive more sunlight
  • Produce grapes that are riper and have fuller flavor
70
Q

What does Vendanges Tardive translate to in English?

A

Late Harvest

71
Q

Vendanges Tardives is only allowed to be used in which French region?

72
Q

If a wine is labeled Pinot Grigio, what style do you expect it to be: Italian or Alsatian?

A 
Very much Italian in style:
• Light
• Simple
• High acid
• Unoaked
73
Q

If a wine is labeled Pinot Gris, what style do you expect it to be: Italian or Alsatian?

A 
Very much Alsatian in style:
• Fuller body
• More complex
• Medium acidity
• Ripe stone and tropical fruits

WSET 2 (14 decks)

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