Grape Varietals Flashcards
Principal white grapes
Chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, riesling
Principal red grapes
Pinot Noir, Cab Sauv, Merlot, Shiraz (Syrah)
Chardonnay characteristics (cool climate vs. warm)
Acidity: High or medium (higher in cooler)
Cool climate: notes of lemon/lime/apple. Starting to get tropical fruits like pineapple, mango, banana
Warm: More of those tropical flavors + stone fruits like peach and apricot
If in oak, look for vanilla and spices like cloves
Burgundy Chardonnay vs. Chablis
Burgundy: Medium body, maybe vanilla from oak
Chablis: Light to medium body, high acidity
Sauvignon Blanc
Dry? Acid? Body? Aroma? Oak? Wines from the variety?
Dry
High acid
Light to medium body Green fruit (apple), citrus (lemon, grapefruit), tropical (passionfruit), herbaceous notes (asparagus, bell pepper, cut grass)
Usually fermented in stainless steel and not matured in oak
Popular wines: New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and Sancere (FR)
Pinot Grigio
Dry? Acid? Body? Aroma? Oak? Other notes
Dry
Medium to high acidity
Light body
Simple flavors of pear and lemon
Usually fermented in stainless steel and not matured in oak
Mostly associated with Italy
Riesling Dry? Acid? Body? Aroma? Oak? Wines from the variety?
Dry to sweet
High acid to balance sweetness
Light to medium bodied
Aromas ranging from floral and green fruits (apple), citrus (lemon/lime) , stone fruits (peach, apricot)
Often fermented in stainless steel and not matured in oak
Classic grape of Germany. Alsace (FR) and Australia also produce a dry style of resiling
Cab Sauv
Dry? Tannins? Acid? Body? Aroma? Oak? Other notes
Dry
High Tannins
High Acid
Medium to full bodied
Aromas of black fruits (blackcurrant, black cherry). Herbaceous notes (green bell pepper, mint
Often matured in oak, adding flavors of cedar and vanilla
Due to high tannins, often blended with other varieties
What is Cab. often blended with and why?
Often blended with Merlot due to high tannins, adding softness and body to the blend
Where is cab often grown?
California, Australia, Chile, South Africa
Merlot
Dry? Tannin? Acid? Body? Aroma? Oak? Other notes
Dry
Medium acid and tannin
Full bodied
Flavors range from red fruit (strawberry, plum) to black fruits (blackberry, black plum)
Often matured in oak (think vanilla)
Where is Merlot often grown? Where is it most famously blended with cab?
Widely grown in California and Chile, producing soft and fruity wines
Bordeaux is most famous region for merlot-cab blends
Pinot Noir
Dry? Acid? Tannin? Body? Aroma? Oak? Other notes
Dry
High acidity
Low to medium tannins
Light to medium body
Flavors of red fruit (strawberry, red cherry, raspberry)
Often matured in oak, creating vanilla and smoke aromas. More likely used oak than new to impart the flavors more delicately.
Usually grown in cooler regions
What is the principal and only grape used for red Burgundy?
Pinot Noir
What two grapes are commonly blended to make champagne?
Chard and Pinot noir
Shiraz (AU) Syrah (FR)
Dry? Tannin? Acid? Body? Aroma? Oak? Other notes
Dry
Medium to high tannins and body
Medium acid
Flavors of black fruit (blackberry, black cherry) and spice (black pepper, licorice)
Many matured in oak to give flavors of vanilla or coconut to the wine
Norther Rhone Syrah compared to Australia?
Cooler in Rhone, more medium bodied and fresh black fruit flavor and pepper compared to jammy black fruit and licorice in AU.
Champagne
Dry? Acid? Body? Aroma? Oak? Other notes
Sparkling wine made from chardonnay and pinot noir
Dry, high acidity
Aromas of green fruit (apples) and citrus (lemon) and bread notes
Sancerre
Grape? Dry? Acid? Body? Aroma? Oak? Other notes
Made from Sauvignon Blanc
Dry
High acid
Medium body
Typically unoaked
Green fruit (apple) and herbaceous (grass) aromas
Chablis
Grape? Dry? Acid? Body? Aroma? Oak? Other notes
French wine from Chardonnay
Dry, light body, high acid
Unoaked
Green fruit (apple) and citrus (lemon) aromas
Burgundy (white)
Grape? Dry? Acid? Body? Aroma? Oak? Other notes
Made from chardonnay
Dry, medium body
Often show riper fruit than Chablis such as citrus and stone fruit (peach)
Can be oaked or unoaked
Red Burgundy
Grape? Dry? Tannin? Acid? Body? Aroma? Oak? Other notes
Dry wines made from Pinot Noir
Low in tannins
Light body, high acid
Flavors of red fruits (raspberry and cherry). Sometimes vanilla and cloves from oak
Bordeaux
Grape? Dry? Tannin? Acid? Body? Aroma? Oak? Other notes
Typically a blend of Cab Sauv. and Merlot
Dry, High acid and tannin. Medium to full body
Aromas of black fruits (black cherry, black currant) and cedar notes from oak.
Beaujolais
Dry? Acid? Tannin? Body? Aroma? Oak? Other notes
(FR)
Dry, light bodied, low tannin
Fresh red fruit flavors (raspberry, red cherry)
Unoaked
Cotes du Rhone
Dry? Acid? Tannin? Body? Aroma? Oak? Other notes
(FR)
Dry, medium body
Can be oaked or unoaked
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Dry, full bodied, high alcohol
Red fruit (strawberry) and clove flavors from oak
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Dry, full bodied, high alcohol
Red fruit (strawberry) and clove flavors from oak
Sauternes
Sweet white wine from Bordeaux
Full bodied
Flavors of stone fruits (apricot), honey and vanilla from oak.
High acidity to balance
Prosecco
Light bodied sparkling wine
Green fruit (pear) and floral aromas)
Dry to medium sweetness
Chianti
Dry, medium bodied
High tannin and acidity
Red fruit flavors (red cherry, plum) aromas of clove from oak
Cava
Dry sparkling wine from Spain
Flavors of green fruit (pear) and citrus (lemon)
Rioja
Dry
Medium to full body
Typically red fruit (strawberry) and vanilla from oak
Sherry
Spanish fortified sweet wine
High in alcohol
Typically red, full bodied, high tannin
Black fruit (blackberry)
White Zin
Rose from California
Unoaked, low alcohol, medium sweet and flavors of red fruit (strawberry and raspberry)
