Grape Varietals: Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Sémillon/Semillon, Furmint Flashcards
What are the varietal characteristics of Chenin Blanc?
- versatile: range of climates
- dry to sweet
- high acidity
- susceptible to botrytis/noble rot
What types of climate does Chenin Blanc prefer?
- Cool
- Moderate
- Warm
Where are the important regions in France for Chenin Blanc?
• Loire Valley:
- Vouvray
What is South Africa’s most widely planted white grape variety and where is it grown?
- Chenin Blanc
* Western Cape
What are the varietal characteristics of Semillon/Sémillon?
- medium to high acidity
- light to full body
- susceptible to botrytis/noble rot
What types of climate does Semillon/Sémillon prefer?
- Moderate
* Warm
Where are the important regions in France for Sémillon?
• Bordeaux
- Sauternes AOC
Where are the important regions in Australia for Semillon?
- Hunter Valley
* Barossa Valley
What are the varietal characteristics of Furmint?
- high acidity
* susceptible to botrytis/noble rot
What is the important region for Furmint?
• Tokaj, Hungary
What types of climate does Furmint prefer?
• Moderate
Where is the important region in France for Riesling?
• Alsace
Where are the important regions in Germany for Riesling?
- Mosel
- Rheingau
- Pfalz
Where are the important regions in Australia for Riesling?
- Clare Valley
* Eden Valley
What types of climate does Riesling prefer?
- Cool
* Moderate
What are the varietal characteristics of Riesling?
- dry to sweet
- light to full body
- high acidity
- susceptible to botrytis/noble rot
- aromatic variety
- pronounced floral notes
- fruit characteristics vary according to ripeness
What is the biggest benefit of Riesling’s high acidity?
It balances both ripeness and high levels of sweetness (residual sugar).
Describe the different fruit profiles found in just-ripe Riesling vs. extra-ripe Riesling.
Just-ripe
• Green apples
• Green pears
• Sour citrus (lemon, lime)
Extra-ripe
• Stone fruits (peach, apricot)
• Tropical fruits (mango, pineapple)
• Dried fruits (golden raisins
Name 2 ways that off-dry or medium style Rieslings get their sweetness.
- Interrupting fermentation and filtering/removing yeast, leaving the wine with some residual sugar
- Adding sterile grape juice (Süssreserve) after fermentation
What is Süssreserve?
Sterile, naturally sweet grape juice
How do the sweetest styles of Riesling retain their sugar?
Fermentation stops naturally in the sweetest styles of Riesling.
There is too much sugar for the yeasts to eat.
Why do winemakers typically ferment Riesling in stainless steel, or other inert vessels, rather than oak?
Stainless steel helps Riesling retain those hallmark fruit and floral aromas and flavors.
Name some tertiary flavors that aged Riesling can develop.
- Honey
* Petrol (gasoline/Vasoline)
Which region will have the lightest-bodied Rieslings and why?:
- Mosel
- Rheingau
- Pfalz
Mosel because it is the most northerly and the grapes struggle to ripen.
Rheingau Rieslings are typically drier or sweeter than Mosel Rieslings?
Drier
Which region in France is known for its dry, intensely-flavored Rieslings?
Alsace
Which direction do most vineyards in Alsace face?
East and southeast
Late-harvested grapes in Alsace carry what term on the label?
Vendanges Tardives (VT)
Rieslings from Eden Valley and Clare Valley are known to be:
dry
off-dry/medium sweet
Dry
Germany’s labeling language usually reflects the:
ripeness
sweetness
acidity
Ripeness of the grapes at time of harvest
Name the 6 Prädikatswein categories from lowest sugar level to highest. (Riesling)
- Kabinett
- Spätlese
- Auslese
- Beerenauslese
- Trockenbeerenauslese
- Eiswen
Which 3 of the 6 Prädikatswein categories may be made dry in style?
- Kabinett
- Spätlese
- Auslese
What term is used on German wine labels indicating the wine is dry?
Trocken
What does the term halbtrocken mean?
Slightly sweet
Why would an Auslese Trocken Riesling be higher in alcohol than either a Kabinett Trocken or Spätlese Trocken Riesling?
Because Rieslings harvested at Auslese ripeness will have more sugar than Spätlese and Kabinett, the yeasts will eat all that extra sugar available in the Auslese giving the wine increased alcohol levels.
How do Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese, and Eiswein grapes concentrate their sugars?
By hanging on the vine long after harvest is normally completed.
Which 2 of the 6 Prädikatswein categories must have Botrytis-affected grapes?
- Beerenauslese
* Trockenbeerenauslese
Why does Chenin Blanc perform so well in South Africa?
It is able to retain its acidity despite the warm climate.
South African Chenin Blancs are usually oaked or unoaked?
Oaked
Describe a typical Chenin Blanc from South Africa.
- Dry
- Medium bodied
- Fruity
- Lightly oaked
Chenin Blanc in its youth shows flavors of ___; as it ages it takes on more ___ flavors.
Youth –> citrus, apple
Ages –> tropical, stone fruit
What is the only white grape varietal allowed in Vouvray AOC?
Chenin Blanc
List the styles and sweetness levels permitted in Vouvray AOC.
- Still
- Sparkling
- Dry
- Off-dry
- Medium
- Sweet
Describe the flavor differences between a dry Vouvray and a sweet Vouvray.
Dry Vouvray = fresh apple and crunchy pear flavors.
Sweet Vouvray = extra-ripe tropical and stone fruit flavors, usually Botrytis-affected, too.
What is the labeling term used in Vouvray to denote an off-dry or medium style?
Demi-sec
Chenin Blanc from Vouvray is usually oaked or unoaked?
Unoaked
What are some of the flavors Chenin Blanc can express as it ages?
- Honey
- Dried fruit
- Marzipan
What are the styles of Sémillon produced in Bordeaux?
Still wines, both dry and sweet
What is the grape used to blend with Sémillon in wines labeled Bordeaux AOC?
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauternes AOC wines are always:
- dry, sparkling, not affected by Botrytis
- sweet, still, always affected by Botrytis
Sweet, still, always affected by Botrytis
What is the typical flavor profile of Sauternes AOC?
• Apricots/stone fruits - concentrated/extra-ripe/dried • Vanilla • Crème Brûlée • Caramel, honeycomb (on aged Sauternes)
Describe the style of Semillon that’s typical for the Hunter Valley.
- Dry
- Light bodied
- Low alcohol
- Neutral flavors in its youth
- Honeyed and nutty flavors when it is aged
Are Hunter Valley Semillons typically made in inert vessels or in new oak?
inert vessels.
What’s the typical style of Barossa Valley Semillon?
There isn’t a typical style; many styles are made.
- can be light-bodied and unoaked
- can be full-bodied and matured in oak
The Tokaj appellation is legendary for making what wine? (Furmint)
Tokaj Aszú
What is Tokaj Aszú?
A Botrityis/noble rot-affected sweet wine principally made from Furmint.
What is the term on a Hungarian wine label that indicates sweetness level?
Puttonyos
What are the two puttonyos levels used in Tokaji?
5 and 6 Puttonyos
Describe the flavor profile of Tokaj Aszú.
- Full body
- Sweet
- High acidity
- Fresh + dried fruits
- Citrus
- Vanilla
- Caramel/crème caramel
How age-worthy is Tokaj Aszú?
Very age-worthy thanks to the high acidity and deliberate oxidation during maturation.
