Grape Varieties Traits and Food Pairing Flashcards
What are the characteristics of a Riesling?
- Young; Fresh, lime, lemon and floral
- Aged; Kerosine, petrol, toast and honey
- High levels of acidity and drier than Euro
- Thrives in cool-moderate climates
- Some of the most expensive wines in the world
What are the dominant flavours of a Riesling?
- Lime
- Green apple
- Beeswax
- Jasmine
- Petroleum
What food would pair well with a Riesling?
- Seafood pairs well with Riesling to match the high acidity
- Shellfish
- Spicy foods
How long can you age a Riesling?
Up to 10 years
What are the characteristics of a Sauvignon Blanc?
- Herbaceous, Green, Grassy, Capsicum, Lychee, Citrus, Passionfruit
- Favourite drink for people in 30s and 40s
- Unnoaked
What are the dominant flavours of a Sauvignon Blanc?
- Green Melon
- Grapefruit
- Peach
- Passionfruit
- Grass
- Capsicum
Which foods match well with a Sauvignon Blanc?
- Smelly cheeses
- Washed rind
- Green vegetables
- Seafood or vegetable risotto
What are the characteristics of a Chardonnay?
- The variety that has the most options
- Sparkling or still
- Oak or unnoaked
- Powerful or delicate
- Malolactic Fermentation
- Aged up to 5 years
What are the dominant flavours of a Chardonnay?
- Acidic apples
- Melons
- Peach
- Pineapple
- Butter
Which foods pair well with Chardonnay?
- Huge amount of foods
- White meats
- Smoked fish
- Grilled and roasted poultry
- Creamy pastas
What are the characteristics of a Pinot Gris/Grigio?
- Skin colour is pink but it is a white wine
- France = Gris, Italy = Grigio
- Flavours can be savoury and fragrant at the same time
- More popular than Sauv Blanc at the moment!
- Aged up to 5 years
What are the dominant flavours of a Pinot Grigio?
- Lemon
- Yellow apple
- Melon
- Nectarine
- Peach
What are some foods that go well with Pino Grigio?
- Mediterranean dishes
- Antipasto
- Simple Pesto pasta
What are the traits of a Pinot Noir?
- Long identified as a variety
- Not blended with other varieties as a table wine, except sparkling wine
- Flavours/complexity is both a strength and weakness, because to make it is finicky
- Aged up to 5 years
What are the dominant flavours of a Pinot Noir?
- Cranberry
- Cherry
- Raspberry
- Clove
- Mushroom
What foods match well with Pino Noir?
- Gamey earthy dishes
- Duck or Rabbit
- Salmon or Tuna
- Mushroom or Betroot dishes
What are the traits of a Sangiovese?
- Home of Tuscany in Italy
- Famous for Chianti
- Often part of a blended wine
- Part of the “Super Tuscans”
- Popular boom as a single variety in Aus
- Aged up to 10+ years
What are the dominant flavours of a Sangiovese?
- Red currant
- Roasted tomato
- Raspberry
- Potpourri
- Claypot
Which foods pair well with Sangiovese?
- Rustic Italian food, moderate acids and grippy tannins
- Tomato based dishes
- Pizza
What are the characteristics of a Shiraz?
- Originally known as Hermitage
- Early in Australian history
- Workhorse of grapes
- Unique Aussie styles
- Versatile in flavour
- Most planted and highest red tonnage in Australia
- Aged 15+
What are the dominant flavours of a Shiraz?
- Blackberry
- Plum
- Chocolate
- Tobacco
- Peppercorn
- Berry jam
What foods pair well with a Shiraz?
- BBQ
- Spicy Asian
- Red meats
- Lamb roast
What are the characteristics of a Cabernet Sauvignon?
- Taken around the world
- Grows best in maritime climates
- Ready to be tannic if needed
- Oak
- Aged 10+ years
What are the dominant flavours of a Cabernet Sauvignon?
- Tobacco
- Black currant
- Red capsicum
- Baking spices
- Cedar
- Bay leaf
- Plum
Which foods pair well with Cabernet Sauvignon?
- Rich foods
- Roasted red meats
- Lamb
- Hard flavoursome cheeses
