Grape Varieties Flashcards
Describe the characteristics of Merlot incl the following:
Budding and ripening
Vulnerabilities
Favoured soils
Ideal vintage conditions
Flavour characteristics
Structural characteristics
Early budding and mid-ripening –> frost, autumn rain
- Coulure, drought, botrytis –> yields, sorting
Clay soils –> temp, berry size
Ripens well in cooler vintages, relatively fast sugar accumulation –> warmer years
Med-pronounced intensity strawberry, red plum, herbaceous (cooler years), cooked blackberry, plum (warmer years)
Med tannin and med-high alcohol
Describe the characteristics of Cabernet Sauvignon incl the following:
Budding and ripening
Vulnerabilities
Favoured soils
Ideal vintage conditions
Flavour characteristics
Structural characteristics
Late budding –> frost
Late ripening
–> required warmth –> soils
–> autumn rain
Vulnerable to fungal diseases esp. powdery mildew and trunk disease (Eutypa and Esca)
Prefers warm and well-drained soil –> ripening
Warmer vintages –> tannin ripeness and balanced acidity
Violet, blackcurrant, black cherry, menthol, herbaceous
Med alcohol, high acid and high tannin (small berries)
Describe the characteristics of Cabernet Franc incl the following:
Budding and ripening
Vulnerabilities
Resistances
Flavour characteristics
Structural characteristics
Early budding –> frost
Mid ripening –> autumn rains
Vulnerable to coulure
Resistance: winter cold
Med-pronounced redcurrant, raspberry, violet, leafy (esp with dense canopy/lack of ripeness)
- High acid, medium tannin, light-med body
Describe the characteristics of Malbec incl the following:
Ripening
Vulnerabilities
Flavour characteristics
Structural characteristics
Mid-ripening
Vigorousness, coulure
Violet, plums
Med acidity, med(+)-high tannin with high alcohol
Describe the characteristics of Petit Verdot incl the following:
Budding and ripening
Vulnerabilities
Ideal site / vintage conditions
Flavour characteristics
Structural characteristics
How is it used in blends?
Early budding –> frost
Late ripening (later than Cab S) –> tricky to ripen in cool years, autumn rain
Best in warmer areas / vintages
Spice notes
Deep colour and high tannin
Usually <5% as to add colour and tannin
Describe the characteristics of Semillon incl the following:
Ripening
Vulnerabilities
Yield
Flavour characteristics
Structural characteristics
Mid-ripening
Vulnerable to coulure, botrytis, noble rot
High yields
Light intensity, apple, lemon, grass (if underripe). Works well with oak –> vanilla, sweet spice –> toast and honey with age
Med(+) acid, med alcohol, med body
Describe the characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc incl the following:
Ripening
Vulnerabilities
Yield
Flavour characteristics
Structural characteristics
Late budding –> frost
Early ripening –> autumn rain
Vulnerable to vigourousness (canopy mngt, soils), powdery mildew, botrytis, trunk disease (Esca + Eutypa dieback (if cordon trained)
Flavour: pronounced grass, bellpepper, asparagus, gooseberry, grapefruit, wet stone (cool) –> riper + passionfruit (warm)
Structure: high acid, med alcohol, med body
Describe the characteristics of Muscadelle including:
Vulnerabilities
Flavour characteristics
- Vulnerable to botrytis - well-exposed site
- Flower and grape
Describe the characteristics of Chardonnay
Budding/ripening
Yields
Vulnerabilities
Main growing challenge
Flavour
Structure
Early budding / early ripening
Yield: well without loss of quality
Vulnerabilities: prone to grey rot, powdery mildew, millerandage, grapevine yellows
Challenge: managing vigour to avoid excessive yield and shading
Flavour: Apple, pear, lemon, wet stone –> ripe citrus, melon, stone fruit
Structure: Light-med body, high acidity –> med-med(+) body, med(+)-high acid
Describe the characteristics of Pinot Noir
Budding/ripening
Yields
Vulnerabilities
Main growing challenge
Flavour
Structure
Early budding/ripening
Yields: limited to ensure ripeness
Vulnerable to: millerandage, downy and powdery mildew, bot, fan leaf and leafroll viruses, shrivelling and sunburn
Challenges:
- Ripens too quickly in warm conditions –> harvest earlier so lacks aromatic intensity
- Lack of ripeness - tannin colour and flavour - cool vintage
Flavours: strawberry, raspberry and red cherry, light oak (smoke, clove) for HQ wines, earth, game and mushroom with age
Structure: high acid, med alcohol, low-med tannin (up to med+ for top quality)
Describe Gamay including budding/ripening, vulnerabilities, and yields, flavours and structure.
Early budding, early ripening
Thin skin –> rot
Vulnerable to: spring frost, millerandage, rot, wind
Flavours: red berries, floral, carbonic flavours + earthy flavours for more intense
Structure: Med(+)-high acid, light-med(-) body, med alcohol, light-medium tannin
Describe Riesling including budding, ripening, resistances, yield, flavours, and structure.
Buds late –> spring frost
Late ripening –> required growing season length
Resistant to winter freeze, downy mildew, powdery, botrytis
High yielding while maintaining quality (up to 70hL/ha)
Flavour: green –> tropical; floral; toast, honey, petrol
Structure: High acid with a variety of sweetness
Describe Gewurztraminer including budding, ripening, vigorousness, yield, vulnerabilities, colour, flavours, and structure.
Early budding
Early ripening –> autumn rain but picked late to ensure ripe skins –> tannins
Vigorous –> pruning + canopy mngt
Moderate yields due to coulure
Vulnerable to chlorosis, stem desiccation, powdery mildew, grapevine moth, grey rot –> various free clones (?)
Med lemon colour
Pronounced lychee, peach, rose, spice
Dry-sweet, low acid, med-high alcohol, med-full body
Describe Pinot Blanc including budding, ripening, vulnerabilities, flavour, and structure.
Early budding
Early ripening
Prone to fungal disease
Low-intensity apple and peach
Med acid and alcohol
Describe Auxerrois (may also be labelled Pinot Blanc).
Early ripening
Low-intensity aromatics
Low acid
Describe Pinot Gris including budding, ripening, yield, vulnerabilities, flavours and structure.
Early budding
Early ripening
Moderate yields
Vulnerable to BBR, downy
Med intensity peach, apple –> honey and smoke with age
Dry - sweet, med acid, rich oily texture (best examples)
Describe the flavour and structural characteristics of Sylvaner/Silvaner
Low intensity, green - tropical fruit, earthy
Controlled yields –> dry, med-med+ acid, med body
Describe the characteristics of Muscat Blanc a Petit Grain.
Aromatic
Tolerates dry weather –> Med climates
Susceptible to powdery, botrytis, mites
Describe the grape variety Melon including:
- Budding and ripening
- Yield
- Resistance and vulnerabilities
- Structure and flavour
- Early budding –> frost
- Early ripening –> cool climate, rainfall threat
- High yields
- Resistant to powdery mildew
- Tight bunches –> downy and bot
- Structure: high acid, low-med ABV, light body
- Flavours: light intensity green apple
Describe the grape variety Chenin Blanc including:
- Budding and ripening
- Yield
- Vulnerabilities
- Structure and flavour
- Early budding
- Late + uneven ripening –> hand harvest, multiple passes
- Vigorous –> high yields
- Prone to powdery, bot, trunk diseases
- High acid, med alcohol, range of sweetness
- Green apple, lemon, steely, smoky
Describe Grolleau Noir including budding, ripening, its vulnerabilities and what it is used for.
Early budding
Mid-ripening
Prone to: bot
Used for: rosés, especially Rosé d’Anjou and Rosé de Loire.
Describe the characteristics of Syrah, including vigour, vulnerabilities, colour, flavour and structure.
Vigorous
Vulnerable to: mites and BBR
Colour: deep ruby
Flavours: Med-pronounced violet, plum, blackberry, black pepper, herbal
Structure: Med-high acid and tannin
Describe the characteristics of Viognier, including budding, trellising, yields, colour, flavour and structure.
Early budding
Trellised to prevent wind damage
Yields: low, unpredictable –> poor flowering and poor fruit set (coulure)
Colour: med lemon
Flavour: Pronounced honeysuckle, apricot, peach
Structure: Low acid, med-high alcohol
Describe the characteristics of Marsanne, including budding, vigour, ideal sites, yields, vulnerabilities, colour, flavour and structure.
Budding: late
Vigorous –> control yield for quality
Ideal sites: stoney, low fertility soils –> slopes
Vulnerable to: powdery mildew, mites, BBR
Colour: med lemon
Flavour: Low-intensity honeysuckle, lemon, apricot
Structure: Med acid, med-high alcohol, oily texture
Describe the characteristics of Roussanne, including budding, vulnerabilities, colour, flavour and structure.
Late budding
Vulnerable to: wind, coulure, powdery mildew, BBR, mites –> vineyard work + yields –> cost
Overall trickier to grow than Marsanne
Colour: med lemon - gold
Flavour: med-med+ intensity pear, herbal, ages faster than Marsanne
Structure: Med-med+ acid, med-high alcohol
Describe the ripening, yield, ideal climate and soil, vulnerabilities and style of Grenache
Ripening: late (–> autumn rain), accumulates sugar quickly –> ABV, VDN
Yield: high
Climate: warm
Vigour: grows upright so good for training as bush vine if pruned short
Soils: dry, low fertility soil –> drought resistance
Vulnerabilities: coulure, downy mildew, phomopsis, BBR, bacterial blight
Style: pale ruby, ripe red fruit, spice, herbal, low acid, low-med tannin, high ABV
Used for: blending with Syrah, Mourvedre and more
Describe the budding, ripening, yield, ideal climate and soil, training methods, vulnerabilities, and style of Mourvedre.
Budding: late
Ripening: late
Yield: low
Climate: hot for ripeness
Soils: soils with water-retaining property (e.g. calcereous)
Training: pruned short for either cordon or bush vine
Vulnerabilities: water stress, mites, leafhoppers, sour rot
Style: Deep ruby, intense blackberry, blueberry, violet, prone to reduction, high + firm tannin and high alc
Compare and contrast Grenache Blanc, Clairette and Bourboulenc.
Grenache Blanc
- Early budding and resistance to wind –> where is suitable to grow?
- Can reach high ABV –> VDN
- Low intensity ripe green fruit, floral, low acid, high ABV –> white blends and VDN
Clairette
- Vigorous - soil and rainfall –> where is suitable?
- Needs pruning for vigour (how?) but grows upright (easy to manage canopy) and resistant to wind
- Late ripening
- Apple, grapefruit, fennel, white flower, oxidises easily, low-med(-) acid and high ABV –> white blends
Bourboulenc
- Late ripening
- Loose bunches and thick skins –> resistance to BBR
- Lemon, med(+) acid, med alc –> white blends
Describe the budding, yield, resistances, vulnerabilities, style and uses of/for Cinsault.
Budding: late
Yield: high –> must be restricted to produce quality
Resistant to: drought, heat
Vulnerabilities: chlorosis, Esca, Eutypa, mites, grape moths
Style: Light ruby, med-med(+) fresh red fruit, low-med tannin, high alcohol
Used for: mid-range temp for ferment –> fruit and protective winemaking –> small part of red blends and/or early-drinking reds and rose
Describe Carignan including budding/ripening, yields, vulnerabilities, typical style made and HQ style.
Late budding
Late ripening - requires warm climate
High yields - 200 hL/ha –> concentration (old vines limit yield and improve concentration)
Vulnerable to: powdery mildew, grape moth
Difficult to harvest mechanically - grapes attached to vine
Typical: med ruby, simple black fruit, high acid, high tannin, acceptable-good/inexpensive
HQ: intense black fruit, spice, earth, premium-SP
Describe Malbec incl. ripening, vigour, vulnerabilities, aromas, structure
Mid-ripening
Vigorous
Vulnerable to: Coulure
Aromas: Violet, plum, affinity with oak
Structure: Med acid, high tannins
Describe the grape Tannat
Vigorous –> trellised
Mid-ripening
Vulnerable to: BBR
Flavours: blackberry, blackcurrant + oak
Structure: very tannic, high acid, med-high alc, full body
Describe Petit and Gros Manseng
Early budding
Mid-late ripening –> late harvest
Thick skins –> BBR –> late harvest
Moderately aromatic, high acid –> sweet wine
High alcohol –> care with picking dates
Gros: same but higher yield and less concentration –> dry wine
Describe Savagnin including budding, skin, best soils, flavour, and structure.
Early budding
Thick-skinned –> fungal disease
Best on marl
Med(-) lemon, apple
High acid, med alc, med body
Describe Poulsard including budding, ripening skins, vulnerabilities,
Buds very early
Ripens early –> autumn rain
Thin skin
Vulnerable to: coulure, fungal diseases
Very pale
Light red fruit
High acid, low tannin, med alc, light body
Describe Trousseau including thick skins, vulnerabilities, colour, flavour and structure.
Thick skins –> fungal disease
Vulnerable to: poor flowering, coulure, sometimes BBR
Needs warmth to ripen fully –> skins
Pale ruby
Low-intensity red fruit, med-high acid, low-med tannin, med alc, light-med(-) body
Describe the characteristics of Muller-Thurgau
- High yields: any time, any place
- Most planted in 70/80s - Liebfaumilsch (plantings have since halved)
- Simple fruit and floral aromas
- Med acidity
Describe the characteristics of Dornfelder
- 2nd most planted
- Deep colour, fruity/floral, high acid
Two styles:
- Sour cherry and blackberry, some RS, fruity and easy drinking
- More complex with tannic structure and some oak
Describe the characteristics of Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris) and Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc)
Both increasingly popular - Rheinhessen, Pfalz, Baden
Grau - likes heavy soils. Stone + tropical fruit, honey. Dry - sweet, med acid, med-full body.
Weiss - citrus and stone fruit. Med(+) acid.
Describe the characteristics of Gruner Veltliner including ideal soils, vigourousness, thick skin, structure and flavour.
Needs water –> loess
Very vigorous - soil type, canopy mngt
Thick skins - avoid excessive skin contact
Dry, med(+)-high acid
- Citrus and green fruit, acceptable-good, inexpensive
- Pronounced peach, ageable, VG-outstanding, premium
Describe the characteristics of Zweigelt including ripening, yields, vigorous, vulnerabilities, resistances, structure and flavour.
Early ripening - rot
High yielding
Vigorous
Vulnerable to potassium deficiency - grapes wither before ripening
Resistant to frost, rot
Med(+) acid, med tannin, red fruit, range from fruity and unoaked
Describe Welschriesling and the related regions/styles
High acid
Neutral aroma
Planted in Steirermark - fresh, neutral, unoaked, dry, acceptable-good, inexpensive
Planted near Neusiedlersee - noble rot BA or TBA with high acid, pronounced tropical and dried fruit, VG-outstanding and premium
Describe Blaufränkisch including budding/ripening, thick skins, yields, styles.
Early budding / late-ripening - generally only found in Burgenland
Thick skin –> rot –> Neusiedlersee
High yields
Range of style including pronounced black fruit, oak and high tannin