Grape Varieties Flashcards
White Varieties
Describe Monastrell
What other name is it known by, in what country
Full-bodied, deep colour/tannin, aromas of red fruit (wild strawberry, raspberry) and palate of bitter red fruits (Cranberry, redcurrant) and develops distinct aged characters (meat, leather, game, musk).
Known as Mouvedre in France
Put the following Chile wine regions into order from South to North:
Colchagua
Central Valley
Maipo
Casablanca
Central
Colchagua
Maipo
Casablanca
Which grape variety is least likely to be found in Southern Australia: Grenache, cabernet sauvignan, riesling, shiraz
cabernet sauvignan
Which of these regions is best known for Shiraz and Semilan: Barossa valley, Hunter valley, Eden valley, bordeaux
Hunter valley
Describe Syrah
Full-bodied, high colour / tannin, medium acidity, flavours of black fruits (blackberry, blackcurrant), and pungent spices (black pepper, liquorice)
Describe Mouvedre. What’s it called in Spain
Full-bodied, deep colour/tannin, aromas of red fruit (wild strawberry, raspberry) and palate of bitter red fruits (Cranberry, redcurrant) and develops distinct aged characters (meat, leather, game, musk).
Monastrell in Spain
Describe Grenache
Give some other names for it
Late ripening
High tolerance to drought
High sugar/alcohol
Low tannin/colour, high alcohol, flavours of red fruits (strawberry, which can be qutie baked/jammy/burnt), sweet spice (cloves, cinnamon), pungent spice (liquorice, white pepper).
Describe Albarino
Describe Albarino
Dry, High acidity, can be light to full-bodied. Lees contact common.
Like cool to moderate climates
thick skinned
pergola trained
common as a 100% single varietal
Red apple, Floral, stone fruit, blossom, honeysuckle, citrus (lemon, lime, grapefruit).
Describe Cabernet Franc
Describe Cabernet Franc
Flowers and ripens early. Related to Cabernet Sauvignon - and sometimes herbaceous when not fully ripe. Likes moderate/warmish climate - has difficulty in Bordeaux.
Floral
Red fruit (cherries, raspberries, cherries).
Oak.
Often blended and used for rose, but single varietal in Loire
Describe Chenin Blanc
Describe Chenin Blanc
High acidity, non-aromatic
Ripens unevenly.
Early budding, mid-ripening
Diverse range of styles from steely, to lucious.
Can age very well.
Similar to Chardonnay - apple and citrus, but honey notes are distinctive.
Sometimes oaked.
Describe Corvina. Where is it found and what wines is it normally found in
Found in Veneto
Valpolicella
Amarone della Valpolicella
Ripasso Della Valpolicella
Recioto della Valpolicella
Thin skinned, moderate colour, low-medium tannins, high acidity. Plums, cherries, dried fruit and cigar (depending on wine)
Compare budding and ripening times between Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot ripens earlier - so there can be issues with spring frost.
But, it’s picked earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon, which can be very useful if autumnal rain damages the CS crop
State and explain two grape growing reasons why Merlot is grown in greater volumes than Cabernet Sauvignon in Bordeaux
- It is very well suited to the soils there - it can successfully grow on the cooler, clay soils found in the areas where Cabernet Sauvignon would struggle to ripen.
- It is an earlier ripening and therefore a more consistent grape variety in the maritime climate of Bordeaux
Describe the style of Merlot in a generic Bordeaux AOC
This wine is medium body, medium alcohol, medium tannins but with high acidity and fresh fruit character and leafy/vegetal notes.
It is lighter - fresh and fruity.
Describe two important wine making steps used to achieve a typical generic Bordeaux AOC
- Merlot will typically be de-stemmed and crushed on arrival at the winery to avoid the green stems.
- Fermentation will occur with commercial yeast at 22025 degrees C to maximise fresh fruit flavours.
- Shorter maceration - less skin contact
Pomerol is known for full-bodied styles o Merlot-led wines. State and explain the grape-growing and winemaking or maturation method used to create this style.
Grapegrowing method: Low-yielding rapes are harvested late to provide density and intensity.
Winemaking method: Wines are fermented and/or matured in high percentages of new oak to add more body and toasty oak aromas/flavours.
Grapegrowing method: Low-yielding rapes are harvested late to provide density and intensity.
Winemaking method: Wines are fermented and/or matured in high percentages of new oak to add more body and toasty oak aromas/flavours.
Napa Valley AVA in California produces merlot in a style similar to that of Pomerol. Describe this style (5 marks)
Merlot from Napa Valley is often deeply coloured wines with soft, velvety tannins, a luscious body, high alcohol and classic varietal flavours of blackberry and plum. They are typically supported with a toasty oak note
In which Italian region is Merlot the most planted black grape variety
a) Tuscany
b) Friuli-Venezia Giulia
c) Piemonte
d) Sicily
.
Answer: Fruili Venezia Giulia
Merlot buds later than Cabernet Sauvignon - True or false?
Answer: False
What is the typical sweetness of an AOC Alsatian Riesling
Answer: dry
What aromas are typical of an aged premium South Australian Riesling
Honey and toast
In which German region is Riesling likely to have green fruit and floral aromas dominating?
Mosel
Why is resling particularly suited to cool climates? (4marks)
It is very tolerant to cold winters and thus can survive in very cold conditions and is late budding, avoiding problems with spring frost.
How is Riesling able to produce quality sweet wines in the vineyard?
It is susceptible to botrytis/noble rot, thus making quality sweet wines.
And, it can maintain its acidity in the grape, even when left on the vine for long periods of time.
Eg Vendange Tardives in Alsace or Spatlese in Germany
Why does the Rheingau region in Germany produce some of the fullest and most concentrated Rieslings? (5 marks)
- South facing slopes of River Rhein
- Light reflection
- Protected by Taunus hills
- Optimal conditions for ripening
- Slate soils which reflect heat
Describe a typical Rheingau Riesling
Rheingau Riesling have a medium to full body and a distinct ripe peach character to their fruit flavours. They can be dry (trocken) or sweet.
Eden valley in Australia is well-known for producing premium Riesling with bright high acidities. What conditions in the vineyard account for the high acidity.
The warm climate is tempered by cool afternoon breezes and the nights are cold. Many vineyards are planted at altitude (300-400m), some even as high as 570m. All the above provide a gentler growing season with higher acidities.
What soil is Sancerre grown on
Sancerre is well known for chalk and limestone.
Are Sancerre wines made exclusively from Sauvignon blanc
No - There is red and rose Sancerre as well as white.
Give some typical aromas, including one typical tropical aroma found in New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
Gooseberry, elderflower, grapefruit and Passionfruit
Describe four impacts excessive rainfall has on Sauvignon blanc
Rainfall
1. Increased rainfall during the growing season will cause excesive growth diverting sugars from ripening.
2. The excessive growth can also create shading, leading to decresed ripening and increased disease.
3. Heavy rainfall can cause waterloggin, resulting in roots that become saturated and die.
4. Heavy rainfall at flowering can cause disruption of pollination and reducitn yields.
5. Increased disease pressure overall.
6. Bloating of grapes at harvest, diluting the sugars and acidity.
Sauvignon Blanc is an intensely pronounced style of wine. List fine techniques you would empoly as a winemaker to protect its aromatic style.
- Monitored and controlled use of SO2
- Whole bunch pressing
- Clarification such as settling
- Inert vessles such as stainless stell
- Cultured yeast strains
- Avoidance of MLC / Lees / oak
You are looking to make a rounder and fuller expression of Sauvignon Blanc. State and describe two winemaking process you would empoly to achieve this
Process 1. Blending with a variety such as Semillon to achieve more body.
Process 2. Utilising winemaking processes such as MLC / lees / oak
Is Pinot Gris/Grigio an aromatic grape variety?
No - it’s non or only semi-aromatic.
Which of the following areas commercially produces Pinot Gris/Grigio
- Oregon
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- Spain
It’s the leading white grape variety in Oregon! Exceptional quality there.
and also, very popular and good in New Zealand, Marleborouth Hawke’s Bay, Gisborne
Which of the following regions in Italy does not produce Pinot Gris/Grigion
- Terntino
- Fruili-Venezia-Giulia
- Piemonte
- Alto-Adige
Answer: Piemonte
What are the typical sweetness levels for an Alsatian Pinot Gris: Dry, Off-dry, medium, dry, medium sweet and sweet
Dry and off-dry.
What is the typical body of a Pinot Grigio from Veneto: Light, medium or full-bodied.
Light
Pinot Gris/Grigio is an old variety that has multiple clones. What is a clone? (5 marks).
- its a variation of a grape variety
- It’s genetically identical
- It happens as a result of mutations that sometimes occur when vines grow.
- These mutations can sometimes be positive
- Can result in plants with better quality of fruit or better disease resistance.
How do the clones of Pinot Grigio differ from the alpine areas (Alto-Adige, Trentino and fruili-Venezia-Giulia) Vs Veneto (4 marks)
Alpine areas: These clones have small berries and are capable of greater flavour concentration.
Veneto: These berries have pale skin with large fleshy pulp producing high yields and neutral wines.
Is Pinot Gris early or late budding
Early.
What grapegrowing hazard is Pinot grigio most at risk from, why? and what does it do to the vine (5 marks).
Spring frost because it’s early budding and ripening. This occurs when cold air, below 0 degrees C collects at ground level, freezing any water vapour that has settled on the ground or vine. If this happens to newly burst buds or young shoots, it kills them. This can be extremely damaging to the yield.
What climate does Pinot Gris/Grigio prefer
Cool to moderate - fresher style
Describe thePinot gris/grigio grapes
Small and variable in colour.
Acidity levels of Pinot Gris/grigio
low to moderate.
Generalise mass market Pinot Grigio style
Picked early
Reductive winemaking - stainless stell
Inoculated yeast
SO2 levels high to keep wine fresh
Lees/oak MLC avoided.
Generalise Pinot Gris style (compared to Pinot Grigio and give an example).
Example: Grau Burgunder
Riper fruit - aspect of slope leading to better ripeness. Riper, richer more complex wines.
Both reductive and oxidative winemaking
Often wild yeasts.
Lees ageing
Sometimes residual sugars
Which countries have the most Pinot Gris/Grigio
- Italy - North East.
- California
- Germany
- Austria
- France
Flavour profile of early picked Italian Pinot Grigio
Delicate: Lemon, pear, lime, floral. very high acid. Pear, jasmine chamomile. Light body, lower alcohol.
Flavour profile of rich Pinot Gris (eg from Germany and Alsace)
peaches, apricots, buttery, nutty (walnut and almond), smoky. Trick is to combine this with acid - therefore chalk / clay will produce the best.
Is chardonnay early or late budding
Early - suffers from spring frosts
Is Chardonnay Early or late ripening
Early ripening
Is Chardonnay adaptable
Yes - it grows everywhere!!
Is Chardonnay clonally diverse
Yes
In burgundy, approximately what proportion of grapes grown is Chardonnay
50%
Which part of the Napa Valley is particularly well-known for Chardonnay?
Los Carneros - it’s the coldest area. Famed for Chardonnay.
Describe Chardonnay from Chablis
High acidity, showing green apple and citrus notes, sometimes with a hint of wet stones and slate.
Chardonnays from the Cote d’Or are often medium to full bodied with subtle notes of primary, secondary and tertiary aromas/flavours. State and explain three methods a winemaker can employ to obtain this style (9 marks).
- Malolactic conversion: A secondary fermentation through an inoculation with lactic bacteria that converts the natural malic acid into lactic acid. This creates secondary flavours such as dairy (cream, milk, butter) and adds texture.
- Yeast Autolysis - “sur lies” Keeping the wine in contact with the fine lees for an extended time (often up to a year) in any vessel, but often oak, maximising contact through processes such as battonage. This creates secondary flavours such as yeast (Bread, biscuit, dough) and adds body/texture.
- Oak fermentation and/or maturation - the use of new/old French oak barrels which will
- Protect primary aromas: Control of temperature, stainless steel fermentation, possibly cultivated yeast.
Russian River Premium Chardonnay - What are the conditions in the vineyard that craft this wine
Due to a break in the coastal ranges (known as the Petaluma Gap), and the proximity to the San Pablo Bay, the Russian River Valley AVA has very cool, foggy conditions, and is best known for high-quality, elegant Chardonnays.
Describe the likely style of a Premium Rusian River Chardonnay::
Acidity:
Body:
Primary:
Secondary:
Acidity: High
Body: Full
Primary: Stone fruit / tropical
Secondary: Vanilla, nutmet, butter,cream
Producers of high volume, inexpensive Chardonnay often produce a highly toasted style. Explain how a winemaker can achieve this.
For inexpensive chardonnays, shortcuts will be made, with the use of charred/toasted oak staves or chippings that will impart a roasted/toasted style of oak, effectively an inexpensively through immersion in the wine.
Describe a pre-fermentation employed in the vineyard to keep Chardonnay fresh
Whole bunch pressing.
Paralleda
Country, area, colour
White. Spain, Catalunya, Cava
Grechetto?
White. Central Italy. Orvieto
Aglianico
Black. Southern Italy. Refined and complex
Welshriesling
White. Austria
Carinena
Black. Languedoc, Cataluynia.
Cinsault
Black. S. Africa, S France. Often blended. Heat and drought tolerantG
Graciano
Black. Spain, Rioja, deeply coloured.
Petit Manseng
White. SW France
Mazuelo (aka)
Black. Carignan, Carinena
Aligote
White. Burgundy. Cold tolerant.
Grecho
White. Campagna Italy
Mourvedre (aka)
Black. Monastrell, Mattero. Provence, Jumilla, Yecla
Viura (aka)
White. Macabeo. Rioja and Catalunya (Cava).
Negroamaaro
Balck, S Italy (Apulia). Deeply coloured and rustic.
Macabeo (aca)
White. Viura, Rioja, Catalunya (Cava)
Gruner Veltliner
Spicy, peppery, citrus, herbaceous, high acidity. Sone fruit when ripe. Fresh
Malvasia
White. Central Italy and manty other areas
Mencia (aka)
Jean - Portugal. Black. Light, pale, fragrant from Galicia - Bierzo
Viognier - describe
What’s the main location
Viognier - Condrieu N. Rhone
Full-bodied, low acidity, high alcohol, perfumed aromas of blossom, apricots and stone fruits. Oak is also possible, giving notes of vanilla. It can be oily and complex
