Grape Varieties: Budding, Ripening, Characteristics Flashcards
Chardonnay
Early budding
Early ripening
Retains high acidity
Delicate apple & citrus
Light-full bodied
Sauvignon Blanc
Late budding
Early ripening - among first to ripen
High acidity
Tropical / herbaceous
High in thiols
Semillon
Mid budding
Late ripening
Oily or Waxy texture, and medium body & medium acidity
Honey, hazelnut, white blossom and acacia flower, citrus & pear
Lanolin
Pinot Grigio
Pinot Gris
Pinot Blanc
Early budding
Late ripening
Medium intense apple & pear
Medium + to high acidity
Light - medium body
Riesling
Late budding
Mid-late ripening
Range from green fruit > citrus > tropical | white flower & honeysuckle
High acidity can be retained when fully ripe
Thick wood, relatively frost resistant
Muller-Thurgau (Rivaner)
Mid-budding
Mid-ripening
Simple floral and fruity aromas
Medium acid
Silvaner
Late ripening
Delicate citrus | can range from green fruit > tropical | subtle floral / earthy
Dry, medium body, medium - medium + acidity
Likes calcareous soils, too heavy in heavy soils
In good years from Franken can ‘plaster’ or coat the palate.
Cross between Traminer & Austrian white
Aligote
Chenin Blanc
Early budding
Mid-late ripening
Medium intense apple & citrus
High acidity
Lightly toasted with autolysis
Muscadet
Viognier
Early budding
Mid-late ripening
Moderate acidity
Apricot / dried fruits / textural
Marsanne
Roussanne
Palomino
Macabeo
Late budding
Early ripening
High yielding
Light intensity apple & lemon
Susceptible to botrytis bunch rot & bacterial blight
Xarel-lo
Mid budding & ripening
Greenage & gooseberry notes
Earthy when overripe
Affinity with oak
Parellada
Early budding
Late ripening
Planted at higher altitudes for longer growing seasons to avoid high alcohol, and reacg flavour maturity.
Adds finesse & floral notes
Syrah
Late budding
Early Ripening
Cabernet Sauvignon
Late budding
Mid-late ripening
High in methoxypyrazines
Merlot
Early budding
Early ripening
Pinot Noir
Early budding
Early ripening
Meunier
Early budding (later than Pinot Noir & Chardonnay)
Early ripening (earlier than Pinot Noir & Chardonnay)
Grenache / Cannonau (Sardinia) / Garnacha (Spain)
Early budding
Mid-late ripening
Malbec
Petit Verdot
Cabernet Franc
Carignan
Carmenere
? budding
Late ripening
Nebbiolo
Sangiovese
Cinsault
Mouvedre (French) / Mataro (US & Australia) / Monastrell (Spanish)
Zinfandel
Tempranillo
Dornfelder
Mid budding
Mid-late ripening
Cherry, Blackberry | slight floral
Deeply coloured
High acidity | Medium to Medium + tannin
High vigour, large berries
Best results from leaf thinning / green harvesting
Produced occasionally with residual sugar mainly in Pfalz & Rheinhessen.
Most widely planted black variety head of Spatburgunder.
