Grapes And Regions Flashcards
What is the best climate for pinot noir
Cool to moderate
Describe pinot noir main structural characteristics
High acid, low-med tannin, pale-med colour, red fruit flavours
Name 3 areas of California suitable for pinot noir
Sonoma, Santa Barbara, Carneros
Where in Chile is suitable for Pinot Noir
Casablanca Valley
Where in South Africa is suitable for Pinot Noir
Walker Bay
What is the other name for Zinfandel and where does it come from?
Primitivo. Puglia Italy
What is best climate for Primitivo
Warm climate
Why is Zinfandel high in sugar
Some grapes dry to raisins within the bunch
Describe white zinfandel wine and making
Rose wine, med-sweet, low alcohol (8-10%), short maceration
Describe structure of a typical Primitivo
Full body, high alcohol, med-high tannin, med-high acid
Describe structure of Riesling
Variable alcohol, high acid, variable body,
Name 3 ways to make sweet style from Riesling
Late harvest, botrytis, freezing on the vine
How is sweetness in off-dry or medium Riesling formed
Interrupting the fermentation by removing the yeast
How is sweetness in sweet Riesling formed
Late harvest - the grapes have so much sugar that fermentation stops naturally
Name 3 main regions for Riesling in Germany, and their characteristics
- Mosel: cool climate, light body, med sweetness to balance v high acidity
- Rheingau: drier than Mosel and more body
- Pfalz: cool-mod climate, dry, med bodied
What geologic feature is important for Alsace and why
Vosges mountains; protects vines from rain-bearing westerly winds. Dry, sunny area
Describe a typical Alsace Riesling
Med body, high acid, dry - pronounced intensity, ripe citrus - tropical fruit, blossom
What is the name for sweet style of Alsace Riesling?
Vendanges tardives
What are the 2 PDO classifications in Germany
Qualitatzwein - must come from 1 of 13 regions
Pradikatswein - grapes from a single region. Higher levels of sugar
What is a Troken wine
A dry wine
What is a Halbtroken wine
A wine with some sweetness
What are the 6 Pradikat categories for German Riesling
- Kabinett - citrus, floral
- Spatlese - ripe citrus, some stone
- Auslese - stone and tropical fruit
- Eiswein - sweet
- Beerenauslese - sweet, select berry harvest
- Trokenbeerenausese - sweet, select dried berry harvest
Why is Chenin Blanc described as versatile
Grows from cool to warm climates, can be made from dry to sweet, both oaked and unoaked
Describe Vouvray Chenin different styles
Dry style - apple
Off-dry - called Demi-sec
Sweeter style - botrytis, stone/tropical fruit
Is Chenin high in acid?
Yes
2 most famous Chenin growing regions
Loire - Vouvray
South Africa
What is best climate for Semillion
Med-Warm climate
Describe Semillon wines
Structure: varies from light to full bodied
Acid: med - high
What are tertiary flavours from Semillon
Nuts, honey, dried fruit
Describe 2 styles of Semillon from Bordeaux
- Dry, blended with Sauvignon Blanc to give-body and ageing potential
- Sweet, Sauternes, full body, high acid
Describe Furmint characteristics
High acid, susceptible to botrytis.
Describe Tokaj
High acid, sweet, fresh-dried fruit, oak aromas, deliberate oxydation (caramel)
Describe characteristics of typical Pully Fuisse
Med-high alcohol, full body, concentrated stone/tropical fruit, fermented/aged in oak.
Describe different styles of Chardonnay from California
Central Valley - cheap, oaked
Sonoma, Napa - full bodied, high oak
Santa Barbara - high quality similar to Burgundy
Where do you see Chardonnay grown in
Aust
NZ
S Africa
Chile
Yarra, Adelaide Hills, MR
HAwkes Bay, Marlborough
Western Cape
Casablanca Valley
Typical characteristics of a Sauvignon Blanc
Light-med body, High acid, very floral (herbaceous, floral), green fruit - tropical fruit
What are best areas in the world for Sauvignon Blanc
France - Bordeaux (simple - complex, best blended with Semillon and oak aged),
Loire - high acid, green fruit, herbaceous, wet stones
Australia - MR (concentrated herbaceous), Adelaide Hills (fresh, fruity)
NZ - Marlborough (broad range of flavours, more intense than Loire, oak/lees contact)
S Africa - Constantina (fresh, ripe tropical), Elgin (cold climate)
USA - Napa (harvested early for freshness, sometimes oaked)
Chile - Casablanca Valley (good quality, cooled by fog), Central Valley (cheaper - v good)
Describe the 2 most common styles of Pinot Grigio/Gris
- Light bodied, picked early, high acidity, simple green apple/lemon)
- Low yields, full bodied, med acidity, higher in sugar, pronounced lemon/stone/tropical fruit
Describe how the 2 styles of Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris
- Light/simple - inert vessels, full fermentation to leave dry wine
- Yeast removed = off dry/medium, (tertiary ginger and honey)
What are the most famous regions for Pinot Grigio in Italy, and what styles do they produce?
- Veneto IGT/della Venezie DOC - light, simple, cheap
- Friuli-Venezia Giulia - fuller bodied style
Describe a typical Alsace AOC Pinot Gris
Late picked, dry-med sweetness, full body, tropical fruit and ginger - very complex and pair well with strongly flavoured food.
What grapes are grown on Alsace Grand Cru sites?
Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurtz
What does Vendanges Tardives mean, what region can use it, and what grapes could be used to make?
Late harvest, Alsace, Riesling/Gewurtz/Pinot Gris
Describe a typical Gewurtztraminer
Sweet grape = High alcohol, full bodied, low-med acidity, very floral (rose, lychee), stone/tropical fruit. Unoaked.
Describe a typical Viognier
Med-Full body, high alcohol, low-med acidity, floral (blossoms), tropical fruit (peach, apricot)
What is different about a wine from Condrieu v’s typical Viognier
Use of small amount of oak (unusual for an aromatic grape)
Climate of Rias Baixas
Notably cooler, wetter, cloudier than other wine areas of Spain
Describe a typical Albarino
Dry, high acidity, med bodied, lemon and stone fruit (apricot, peach), unoaked typically, sometimes some lees contact to add body/complexity
What does Merlot add to a blend
Softness, good with high-tannin grapes
Describe the 2 styles of Merlot
- Early harvest: light-med bodied, med acidity, red fruit, herbaceous (capsicum) - little oak
- Full body, med acidity, cooked black fruit - oaked - tertiary dried fruit and tobacco
Describe main Left Bank and Right Bank AOCs in Bordeaux
Left Bank: Medoc => Hautes Medoc => Margaux, Pauillac, St Esephe. Graves => Pessac Leognon
Right Bank: Pomerol, Saint Emilion
What is the dominant grape of Medoc => Hautes Medoc
Merlot
What are the most famous regions for Merlot
Bordeaux: Pomerol, St Emilion
California: Sonoma, Napa,
Chile: Central Valley
Australia: MR (blends)
S Africa: Stellenbosch
NZ: Hawkes Bay
What are typical characteristics of a Cabernet Sauvignon
Med-Full body, high acid, high tannin, black fruit, herbaceous. Oaked=> dried fruit, earth, forest floor
What are the most famous regions for Cabernet Sauvignon
Bordeaux (left bank)
USA: Napa => Oakville, Rutherford, Calistoga
Chile: Central Valley => Maipo/Colchagua valleys
S Africa: Stellenbosch (often in Cape Blend)
Australia: MR, Coonawarra
NZ: Hawkes Bay
What are the main characteristics of Shiraz from 1. Warm and 2. Moderate climates
Warm: Full body, high alcohol, med-high acid, med-high tannin - cooked black fruit, licorice
Moderate: Med body, med-high acid, med-high tannin - fresh black fruit, herbal, pepper
What are the main characteristics of Gamay
Light-med body, high acid, low-med tannin, red fruit - no oak
Describe typical wine making for a Beajolais
Extract colour, not tannin =. Banana, candy
How many villages in Beaujolais have their own Appelation (Cru)
10
What are the typical characteristics of Grenache
High alcohol, med-full body, low acid, low-med tannin - red fruit, spice
What are the typical characteristics of Rose made from Grenache
Short maceration, dry-med sweetness, drink young and fruity
Name 2 regions where Grenache is important in a blend?
Southern Rhone (CNDP)
Rioja, Ribera del Duero
Where are most famous single varietal Grenache from Spain found
Priorat (old vines, typically blended with other black grapes)
What are the main characteristics of Tempranillo, including primary/tertiary flavours
Med-full body, med acid, med tannin - primary (red and black fruit flavours) tertiary (mushroom, leather, dried fruit)
Name the 3 main regions for Tempranillo in Spain and their main characteristics
Catalunya DO: high volumes, style varies from light/fruity to full bodied/oaked
Rioja DOC: Moderate climate, generally blended with other grapes (Grenache)
Ribera del Duero: warmer, full bodied, with fresh black fruit
Name the 4 labelling terms used to describe Tempranillo in Spain
Joven - no min requirements on age. Light fruity, meant to drink young
Crianza - must be aged in oak
Reserva - min oak AND bottle ageing required before release
Gran Reserva - longer ageing => most pronounced secondary and tertiary flavours
What is the primary country producing wines made from Carmenere
Chile
What climate does Carmenere need to grow, and what region is it most commonly made
Long sunny season. Central Valley in Chile
Describe Carmenere wines when grapes are picked 1. early and 2. Normal/late
- When grapes are not fully ripe - herbaceous (green pepper, tomato leaf)
- When ripe - full body, med-high acidity, high tannin, fresh black fruit, eucalypt,
What are the typical characteristics of Malbec
Full bodied, high tannin, deeply coloured, black fruit (plum, blackberry) and tertiary (dried fruit, meat)
Where is Malbec most commonly grown
Argentina - Mendoza
Describe a typical Pinotage
Similar to Pinot: high acid, med tannin, med-full bodied, takes on coffee/chocolate/smoke with Oak
Describe a typical Cortese
Light bodied, high acidity, floral, green fruit citrus
Where is Cortese most famously grown
Piemonte - Gavi DOCG (not oaked, early drinking)
Describe a typical Garganega
Dry, med bodied, high acidity, green/citrus/stone fruit
What area is most famous for Garganega
Veneto - Soave DOC and DOCG - best young and fresh. Some develop honey and almond in bottle
Describe a typical Verdiccio
Med bodied, high acidity, green fruit, fennel - simple and drunk young.
Where is Verdiccio most commonly grown
Central Italy esp Marche region. Most famous is Verdiccio dei Catelli di Jesi
Describe a typical Fiano
Med - Full bodied, med acidity, stone/tropical fruit, sometimes lees contact/oak - often drunk young but can be aged and develop honey in bottle.
Where is Fiano typically grown
Campania
Describe a typical Nebbiolo (primary and tertiary)
Med-full bodied, high acid, high tannin - red fruit, dried herbs, floral, tertiary (leather, mushrooms, tobacco)
Describe a typical Barbera
High acidity, low-med tannins, red fruit, black pepper
Where is Barbera most famously grown
Piemonte - Barbera d’Asti DOCG - drink young, generally no oak
Describe a typical Corvina
Low-med tannin, high acidity, red fruit
Where is Corvina typically grown
Veneto -Valpolicella
Describe styles of wine made from Corvina grape
Valpolicella DOC - simple red fruit, light bodied
Valpolicella Classico DOC - more body and complexity
Amarone di Valpolicella - dry-off-dry, full bodied, high alcohol, high tannin - fresh fruit, dried fruit
Recioto di Valpolicella - sweet red wine. Too sweet for full ferment
What is Appassimento and name 3 wines made in this way
Picking grapes and drying them indoors
Amarone, Recioto di Valpolicella, Recioto di Suave
Describe a typical Sangiovese
Med bodied, high acid, high tannin - red fruit, dried herbs, secondary (leather, tobacco, earth)
Describe a typical Brunello
Full bodied, high tannin, high acid, must be matured in oak for extended period
What does ‘Classico’ represent on a label
Made from grapes grown in the centre of the region, typically on the hills, generally produce higher intensity
Describe a typical Montepulciano
Deeply coloured, med tannin, high acidity - black fruit (plum, cherry)
