Grape Varieties Flashcards
Know the key grape varieties making up the majority of the world's wines.
List the principal white grape varieties
- Chardonnay
- Sauvignon blanc
- Pinot grigio
- Riesling
List the principal black grape varieties
- Cabernet sauvignon
- Merlot
- Pinot noir
- Syrah/shiraz
Describe the characteristics of a cool climate chardonnay.
- High acidity
- Light to medium-bodied
- Green fruit
- Citrus aromas
Describe the characteristics of a warm climate chardonnay.
- Medium acidity
- Medium to full body
- Stone fruit flavors
- Tropical fruit flavors
True or False:
Chardonnay can be used in the making of Champagne.
True
It is often blended with pinot noir in Champagne.
Describe some of the characteristics of wine made from sauvignon blanc grapes.
- High acidity
- Medium-bodied wines
- Aromas of green fruit
- Citrus aromas and flavors
- Herbaceous aromas and flavors
They are often fermented in stainless steel tanks instead of oak.
What country is pinot grigio mainly associated with?
Italy
High acidity, light body and simple pear and lemon flavors make up a typical wine produced with pinot grigio.
True or False:
Riesling only produces wines that are sweet.
False
Riesling produces wines that range from dry to sweet but always have high acidity.
They are often fermented in stainless steel tanks.
What are some characteristics of cabernet sauvignon wines?
- Dry wines
- High levels of tannins and acidity
- Medium to full bodied
- Black fruit aromas
- Herbaceous notes
These wines are often matured in oak and blended with other grape varieties due to the high level of tannins.
Describe the typical characteristics of a merlot wine.
- Generally dry
- Medium to full-bodied wines
- Medium acidity and tannins
- A range of flavors and aromas from red fruits to black fruits
They are often matured in oak.
True or False:
Pinot noir is the principal black grape in New Zealand?
True
Wines produced from Pinot noir tend to be dry and light-bodied with low tannin levels.
They have red fruit flavors and are often matured in oak.
What are the characteristics of wines produced with syrah/shiraz?
- Dry wines
- medium to full bodied
- high tannins
- medium acidity
The wines produced in France are medium-bodied with fresh black fruit and pepper aromas, while the wines produced in warmer regions such as Australia are more full-bodied with jammy black fruit and liquorice flavors.
