Grape Varietals with Descriptions Flashcards
What’s the difference between Champagne & Sparkling Wine?
Sparkling wine is the overarching category name and Champagne is within that category; Like Whiskey, and how Bourbon falls within that category of liquor
Sparkling wine can only be called champagne if it comes from the Champagne region in northern France (just outside of Paris).
There are several types of sparkling wine; the most common include:
- Champagne
- Prosecco from Italy
- Cava from Spain
Describe: Champagne
1. What kind of wine is it?
2. What’s the flavor profile/how would you describe this wine to a guest?
- Typically a dry, acidic SPARKLING (bubbly) wine
- Some champagnes may be a touch sweeter than others, but they are not typically classified as sweet wines.
Champagnes share some primary flavors of peach, cherry, citrus, almond, cream, and toast
Describe: Chardonnay
1. What kind of wine is it?
2. What’s the flavor profile/how would you describe this wine to a guest?
- Typically a dry, medium- to full-bodied WHITE wine with moderate acidity and alcohol.
Chardonnay has incredible versatility and range of flavors!
- Crisp unoaked versions in cool-climates
- Full-bodied and oak-aged in moderate climates
- Even sparkling blanc de blancs - Primary flavors: Lemon, Yellow Apple, Butter, Vanilla, Pineapple, Stone Fruits
Creamy mouthfeel, flavors of butter, toasted bread/nuttiness, and baking spices
Describe: Albarino
1. What kind of wine is it?
2. What’s the flavor profile/how would you describe this wine to a guest?
- Dry, light bodied WHITE wine with high acidity
- Hints of sour/tart/salty (lemon zest, grapefruit, honeydew, nectarines, salt) and ends with a slight bitter flavor; The older the wine the sweeter, fruitier.
Describe: Pinot Grigio
1. What kind of wine is it?
2. What’s the flavor profile/how would you describe this wine to a guest?
- Dry, light-bodied WHITE wine with high acidity
- Known for it’s fruit flavors (limes, lemon zest, white peaches, green apples, cantaloupe), green almond, crushed gravel
“It’s as refreshing as a cold glass of lemonade on a hot summer’s day/The 2nd most popular white wine in America”
to me: Think of any fruit that’s bright, crisp, or refreshing…and that’s Pinot Grigio in a nutshell
What are the 2 most popular white wines in America? What’s the difference?
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Grigio
Chardonnay is sweeter than Pinot Grigio and can also give off buttery notes. Pinot Grigio has a much lighter body than Chardonnay and has a punchy acidity with flavors like lemons and green apple which makes it crisp and feel so refreshing.
Describe: Sylvaner
1. What kind of wine is it?
2. What’s the flavor profile/how would you describe this wine to a guest?
- Dry, full-body WHITE wine with medium- to high-acidity
- Sylvaner is considered an aromatic wine; exhibiting floral notes (a light floral bouquet) and herbs. There’s a crisp finish with notes of citrus
Describe: Riesling
1. What kind of wine is it?
2. What’s the flavor profile/how would you describe this wine to a guest?
- Dry, Light-bodied WHITE wine with high acidity and low alcohol (can be sweet or off-dry too)
- Green fruity flavors (*green apple, *lime, pear), highly aromatic (beeswax, petroleum, and a distinct floral aroma: jasmine)
Describe: Sauvignon Blanc
1. What kind of wine is it?
2. What’s the flavor profile/how would you describe this wine to a guest?
- Dry (but it does contain residual sugar to make them a little sweet), light- to medium-bodied WHITE wine with high acidity
- It’s light, bright, and herbaceous!
Flavors of gooseberry, honeydew, grapefruit, white peach, and passion fruit.
Describe: Viognier (‘vee-on-yay”)
1. What kind of wine is it?
2. What’s the flavor profile/how would you describe this wine to a guest?
- Full-bodied, dry, aromatic WHITE wine with high alcohol levels and low levels of freshening acidity
- “Rich & spicy”
Yellow/Orange fruit characteristics of tangerine, peach, and mango; Floral aromatics of honeysuckle and rose. Richness comparable to Chardonnay.
Describe: Rose
1. What kind of wine is it?
2. What’s the flavor profile/how would you describe this wine to a guest?
- Anything from syrupy sweet to bone-dry. France & Spain will generally be dry; newer wines have more sweetness
- Red fruit (strawberry & watermelon), flowers (rose petal), citrus, and melon (honeydew) flavors with a crunchy green flavor on the finish (similar to celery or rhubarb)
Describe: Sake
1. What kind of wine is it?
2. What’s the flavor profile/how would you describe this wine to a guest?
- Japanese rice wine; Made by fermenting rice
- The umami present in sake makes it a great match for western dishes and other asian cuisines. Can have fruity flavors similar to apples, bananas, etc.
What is Bordeaux?
Wine from Bordeaux, France
Bordeaux wines are red wines made with different blends of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and/or Cabernet Franc
Describe: Cabernet Sauvignon
1. What kind of wine is it?
2. What’s the flavor profile/how would you describe this wine to a guest?
- Dry, full-body, med-high tannins/acidity/alcohol
- Rich, bold
Black fruits (B. Cherry, B. Currant), mint, baking spices, cedar, graphite
The world’s most popular red wine grape! “An accidental cross-breed between Cabernet Franc & Sauvignon Blanc vines in Bordeaux, France”
Describe: Cabernet Franc
1. What kind of wine is it?
2. What’s the flavor profile/how would you describe this wine to a guest?
- Dry, medium-body, med-high tannins, high acidity, moderate alcohol
- Very robust, herbaceous aromas, zesty acidity
Green (mint, green bell pepper), Red (strawberry, raspberry, chili pepper), crushed gravel
