Grape Variety Flashcards
Cabernet Sauvignon (R)
Prefers warm conditions, gravel well drained soils
Late budding, late ripening
Thick skin, High acid, high tannin
Herbaceous when un-ripen
Worked oxidatively
Found in Bordeaux, Chile, Cali, Aus, Spain, Argentina, Italy
Blackcurrant, cedar, cigar aroma
Merlot (R)
Prefer warm conditions, likes clay-limestone soil
Early budding, mid-ripening
Mid-High acidity, Mid-High tannin
Herbaceous when not ripe
Often worked oxidatively
Int’l version is harvested late to get color / tannin; Bordeaux style is more nuanced
Found in Bordeaux, Italy (Veneto, Tuscany), Napa
Gives blackberry, black plum flavor, and red fruit flavor for Bordeaux style
Semillon (W)
Likes gravel, limestone, clay soil
Mid-ripening
Often used as blending partner
Found in Bordeaux and Australia
Moderate-high acidity
Gives lemon, honey, petrol, oak flavors
Pinot Noir / Spatburgunder (R)
Likes cool-moderate climates
Thin-skin, early budding, early ripening
High acidity, low tannin
Often worked for whole bunch / semi-carbonic maceration, extraction (pre-ferm maceration, careful cap management); controlled oxidative
Found in Burgundy, Loire, California
Gives cherry, raspberry, leather, forest floor flavors
Malbec (R)
Likes moderate-warm conditions, limestone soil
Mid-budding, Mid-ripening
High acidity, high tannin
Worked for intensive extractions
Key places including Mendoza (Argentina) and Cahors (France)
High alcohol, full bodied
Gives black plum, blackberry, gamey flavors
Chardonnay (W)
Likes limestone soil
Early budding, early ripening
High acidity
Semi-aromatic, worked MLF to soften acid, sometimes yeast autolysis / oak is used to increase structure
Found in Burgundy, California, Australia, Italy, Chile, S. Africa
Gives green apple and citris notes in cool conditions, in warmer conditions gives mango, peach, pineapple, melon flavors
Gamay (R)
Prefers moderate climate, pool soil (like granite)
Early budding, early ripening
Low-medium tannin
Pruned short en “gobelet”, not trellized
Semi-carbonic maceration often used in Beaujolais
Key places include Beaujolais, Loire Valley
Gives red cherry, raspberry, bright red fruit flavors
Gewurztraminer (W)
Prefer cool-moderate conditions, clay-limestone soil
Early budding, early ripening
High sugar, Low acidity
Aromatic, oxidizes quickly and more inert vessels / SO2 used
Found primarily in Alsace
Gives rich density peach, lychee, stone fruit, rose, honey flavor; fully body and rich oily texture
Riesling (W)
Best in cooler climate, warm is ok
Late budding, mid-late ripening
Needs fertile soil to ripen
High acidity
Found in Germany, France (Alsace), Austria, Australia, New York
Gives green fruit with floral notes; in warmer conditions gives citrus and stone fruit; tertiary aroma includes petrol, oil, honey
Pinot Gris / Grigio (W)
Prefer cool-moderate climate
Early budding and early ripening
Mutation from Pinot Noir
High acidity
Key places found in Italy (Veneto), California, Germany, Alsace
Grigio gives lemon, pear and is more lean body;
Gris is more creamy and nutty and full bodied
Muscat (W)
Found in Alsace, France
Light-to-medium body, Low-to-medium acidity
Aromatic, gives orange, rose and grape flavors
Sauvignon Blanc (W)
Prefers cool conditions
Early budding, mid ripening
High acidity
Aromatic, worked reductively
Blending partner with Semillon
Key places found: Loire Valley, Marlborough, South Africa, Chile, California, Australia
Gives herbaceous note, green apple, white pepper notes
Cabernet Franc (R)
Found in Loire Valley, France
Prefers limestone soil
Late budding, late ripening
Mid-high tannins
Gives blackcurrant, bell pepper, violet flavors
Chenin Blanc (W)
Prefers Calcerous soil
Early budding, mid-ripening
Very High in acidity
Non-aromatic, affinity towards MLC, macerations, oaks
Found in South Africa, Loire Valley (France)
Gives green fruit, lemon, apple, honey flavor
Melon Blanc / Muscadet (W)
Late budding, early ripening
High acidity
Frost resistant
Found in Loire Valley, France
Gives elderflower, greenfruit, lemon flavor
Viognier (W)
Found in Northern Rhone, France
Picked late-ripe, low acidity
Careful handling not to become oily; new oaks used sometimes
High alcohol, gives peach, apricot, stone fruit flavors
Syrah / Shiraz (R)
Prefers warm conditions
Mid budding, mid ripening, short window
Thick, dark skin; often worked oxidatively with active cap mgmt
High tannin, high alcohol
Full bodied, gives black, dark fruit aroma, black pepper and chocolate flavors
Garnacha / Grenache (R)
Prefers warm / hot climates
Bush vine trained, upright positions, tolerant to drought and wind
Early budding, late ripening
Low acidity, low tannins
Thin-skinned, sweet (high sugar)
Often worked with pre-ferm maceration, semi-carbonic; gentle cap mgmt
Key places found in Southern Rhone / Spain / Italy
Gives red fruit, jammy, liquorice flavors
Mouvedre / Monastrell / Mataro (R)
Prefers hot conditions
Best trained as short bush / cordon
Late budding, late ripening
High tannins
Found in Southern Rhone, Spain, USA
Gives dense black fruit, gamey, meaty aromas
Cinsault (R)
Prefer dry-hot conditons
Drought and heat resistant
Late budding, medium tannin
Used as red blend / rose
Gives red fruit aroma
Muller Thurgau (W)
Found in Germany
Mid-ripening and earlier than Riesling, related to Riesling
Lower acidity than Riesling
Gives floral and fruity notes
Silvaner (W)
Found in Franken, Germany
Early ripening
Low acidity
Less acidic / fruity than Riesling
Gives citrus green fruit aroma
Dornfelder (R)
Found in Rheinhessen, Germany
High tannin, deep color
Gives black fruit aroma with some oak notes
Welschriesling (W)
Found in Burgenland, Austria
High acidity
Gives citrus fruit, green apple notes
Gruner Veltliner (W)
Found in Niederosterreich, Austria
High acidity
Gives citrus fruit, white pepper, honey, toast
Zweigelt (R)
Found in Burgenland, Austria
Low tannin level
Gives red, bramble fruit aroma
Blaufrankisch (R)
Found in Burgenland, Austria
High acidity, medium tannin
Dark blueberry fruit, sour cherry aroma
