Grapes and Wine Flashcards
Agiorgitiko
Raspberry, Blackberry, Plum Sauce, Black Pepper, Nutmeg
Greece
The Top red of Greence offers a wide range of styles from rose to deep red. The most exceptional Agiortiko are the full bodied red wines from Nemea Peloponnese.
Aglianico
White Pepper, Black Cherry, Smoke, Game, Spiced Plum
Italy, Argentina
Nebbiolo may be king of Northern Italy, but down south, Aglianico reigns supreme. It’s a wine with incredible quality and a unique savory flavor that’s best aged.
Airen
Apple, Pineapple, Grapefruit, Banana, Rose
Spain
The most planted grape of Spain is primarily used for brandy. Airen is often blended with other grapes, including Viura, Verdejo, or SB to make a more balanced wine
Albarino
Lemon Zest, Grapefruit, Honeydew, Nectarine, Saline
Spain, Portugal, USA
One of the most delightfully refreshing whites from the Iberian Peninsula. It’s found in cooler areas, close to the sea, which is how it gains its salty flavours
Alicante Bouschet
Black Cherry, Blackberry Bramble, BLack Plum, Black Pepper, Sweet Tobacco
Spain, France, Chile, Portugal, Algeria, Morocco
Arinto
Lemon Zest, Grapefruit, Hazelnut, Beeswax, Chamomile
An indigenous grape to Portugal that produces exceptional, age-worthy whites that can evolve over time to reveal flavors of beeswax and nuts
Portugal
Assyrtiko
Lime, Passion Fruit, Beeswax, Flint, Saline
One of Greece’s most famous grapes from Santorini
Baga
Blackberry, Blackcurrent Dried Cherry, Cocoa, Black Plum
Portugal
Barbera
Tart Cherry, Licorice, Blackberry, Dried Herbs, Black Pepper
Barbera is the everyday drinking red wine of Piedmont, Italy. Wines are approachable, affordable and have lip smacking high acidity.
Italy, Aus, USA, Argentina
Blaufrankisch
Blackberry Bramble, Black Cherry, Allspice, Dark Chocolate, Pepper
Filled with rich and peppery black fruit flavours
Hungary, Austria, Germany
Bobal
Blackberry, Pomegranate, Licorice, Black Tea, Cocoa Powder
Second most planted red wine in Spain. Wines are loved for their fruity flavours, soft tannis, and velvety finish
Bonarda
Plum sauce, Cherry, Cardamo, Fig paste, Graphite
This Bonarda grows alongside Malbec in Argentina, where it produces smooth and fruity wines
Bordeaux Blend
Black currant, Black Cherry, Graphite, Chocolate, Dried herbs
CS, Merlot, CF, Malbec, Carmenere, Petit verdot
Branchetto
Strawberry, Orange Zest, Black Currant, Apricot, Cream
A rare sweet red wine from Piedmont that is famous for its perfumed aromatics and frothy creamy bubbles
Cabernet Franc
Chinon France: Red Bell Pepper, Red Chilli Flake, Raspberry Sauce, Wet Gravel, Dried Herbs
Italy: Cherry, leather, strawberry, licorice, coffee
Strawberry Raspberry Bell Pepper, Crushed Gravel, Chillli Pepper
Parent grape of both merlot and CS. France, Italy USA, Hungary, Chile, South Africa, Spain, Canada
The Loire Valley is known for producing exceptional single varietal cabernet franc wines in and around the middle Loire Vally (Chinon, Bourgueil, Anjou, etc) The cooler climate lends itself to wines with lighter color, body higher acidity and distinct herbal flavours
Tuscany’s warmer climate gives CF richer fruit flavours. The regions’ red clay soils generally increase tannin. since CF is not an indigenous variety of Italy, wines are declassified to IGP and labeld by variety or made up name.
The regions of Shenandoah Valley, El Dorado, Fair Play and Fiddletown have warm stable climates that make for ripe, sweet grapes with lower acidity. Wines are typically fruit forward and jammy with higher alcohol and subtle whiffs of dried leaves.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Black Cherry, Black currant, Cedar, Baking spices, Graphite
France, Chile, USA, Aus, Spain, China, Argentina, Italy, South Africa
Chile: Cabernet Sauvignon excels in the Aconcagua, Maipo, Cochapoal, and Colchagua Valleys. In Maipo, the cooling winds from the Pacific create an ideal mediterranean climate, which makes the most full bodied CS in Chile. The Alto Maipo is a famous subregion for this grape. (Blackberry, Black cherry, Fig Paste, Baking Spices, Green peppercorn)
Napa Valley CA
One of Napa Valley’s most notable features is volcanic soils, which give its wines a distinct dusty and minerally character. Wines from the valley floor tend to offer more black cherry with lush tannins. Hillside wines have more acidity, blackberry notes, and rustic tannins. (Black currant, Pencil Lead, Tobacco, Blackberry, Mint)
South Ausralia
Coonawara in South Australia is marked by a warmer climate and red clay soils with high iron oxide content (called terra rossa) Cabernet wines are bold and fruity but evenly balanced, with higher tannic and rustic notes of white pepper and bay leaf (Black plum, white pepper, currant candy, chocolate, bay leaf)
Carignan
A productive, drought resistant vine that had apoor reputation until recently when several winemakers started making great wines sourced from old vineyards.
Dried Cranberry, Raspberry, Tobacco Leaf, Baking Spices, Cured Meat
France, Tunisia, Algery, Spain Italy
Carmenere
The herbal, peppercorn flavors in Carmenere are a great embellishment to roast meats and anything spiced with cumin.
Raspberry, Bell Pepper, Black Plum, Paprika, Vanilla
Chile,(nearly 50% of Merlot in Chile is Carmenere)
Chile, Italy, Argentina, France, USA
Castelao
Red Currant, Plum, Strawberry, Dried Meat, Mocha
Portugal- Castelao creates rich, fruity wines with subtle smoky flavors
Cava
Premier sparkler of Spain
Quince, Lime, yellow Apple, chamomile, Almond
Champagne
Citrus, Yellow Apple, Cream, Almond, Toast
France
Montagne de Reims: The hills are sunny enough to ripen Pinot NOir and Pinot Meunier. With the increase of red grapes in the blend, sparklers often have a richer and fruitier style. Many top Champagne house source their best grapes from the 10 Grand Cru vineyards from here. (White cherry, Golden raisin, Lemon Zest, Parmesan Cheese, Brioche)
Cotes des Blancs: This east-facing chalk covered slope is famous for single-varietal Blanc de Blancs Champagne. The region is planted to 98% chardonnay and boasts 6 Grand Cru vineyards. To many, this slope offers the purest expression of Champagne. (Yello apple, lemon cured, honeysuckle, cultured cream, marzipan)
Valee de la marne: the valley along the Marne river has just one Grand Cru vineyard. Ay, located right outside of the city of Epernay. The focus here is on pinot Meunier, which ripens more easily than Pinot Noir. Expect richer, more unctuous sparkling wines with smoke and mushroom aromas. (Yello plum, quince, cultured cream, mushroom, smoke
Chardonnay
Yellow Apple, Starfruit, Pineapple, Vanilla, Butter
France, USA, Aus, Italy, Chile, South Africa, Spain, Argentina, Moldova
Chablis France: While much of Burgundy produces a richer, oaked style of Chardonnay, Chablis is leaner and typically unoaked with higher acidity. The region’s chalk-white soils are often attributed as the source of the wine’s crisp, mineral-driven texture (Quince, Starfruit, Lime peel, White blossom, Chalk)
Santa Barbara, CA: The regions of Sta.Rita Hills and Santa maria are cool enough for excellent Chardonnay. The style here is much riper, often with ripe apple and tropical fruit flavors. Oak aging and malolactic fermentation five these wines a buttery, creamy texture with flavors of neutmeg and baking spices (Yellow apple, pineapple, lemon zest, pie crust, nutmeg)
Western Australia: The Granite-based soils in Margaret River produce a more elegant, a romantic style of Chardonnay. However, it’s still warm enough to produce ripe fruit. Several producers create blends with a small portion of oaked wine with unoaked wine to create a fantastic balance between fruit and creaminess. (White peach, Tangerine, Honeysuckle, Vanilla, Lemon Curd)
Chenin Blanc
Quince, Yellow Apple, Pear, Chamomile, Honey
South Africa, France, USA, Argentina, Aus, Mexico, Spain, Chile
Rich and off Dry: Each region specializing in Chenin Blanc produces multiple styles. The richest style comes from the ripest grapes. These wines have bold, sweet fruit aromas and an oily palate. In some places, such as in Paarl, South Africa, producers oak-age wines to impart subtle allspice flavors. (Asian pear, Yellow Apple, Honeysuckle, Orange Blossom, All spice)
Lean and Dry: Lean and dry styles use less ripe grapes and are common in cooler climate growing regions such as Vouvray in the Loire valley. This style is also the norm with value driven Chenin from South Africa. Wines have more tart fruit charcteristics with higher acidity and subtle green notes. (Quince, pear, pomelo, ginger, tarragon)
Sparkling: Brut (dry) or Demi-Sec (Fruity and off-dry) are the primary styles of sparkling Chenin Blanc. Examples to try include South Africa’s Cap classique, and therea re also single-varietal Chenin Blanc Sparklers from Vouvray in the Loire Valley (Honeydew Melon, Lemon, Jasmine, Lemon Cured, Cream)
Cinsault
Cinsault is one of the minor blending rapes in Rhone/ GSM blends and Provence rose. Expect fresh, punchy reds that are just as floral as they are fruity.
Raspberry, Red Currant, Tart Cherry, Violet, Black Tea
France, Algeria, Morocco, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey, Chile, Italy, USA
Colombard
Green Apple, Honeydew, White peach, Lemon Grass, Almond
Colombard is often blended with SB and Chardonnay to produce a tart, mouthwatering white.
South Africa, USA, France, Australia, Istrael, Brazil, Spain
Concord
American grape, most planted in NY for juices and flavouring
Grape, Plum Sauce, Musk, Potting Soil, Cumin
Cortese
Meyor Lemon, Gala Apple, Honeydew, Seashell, Almond
Italy Piedmont
Cremant
Lemon, White Peach, White Cherry, Almond, Toast
Dolcetto
Translation: Little Sweet One / Northern Italy
One of Italy’s classic food wines
Plum, Blackberry, Cocoa, Black Pepper, Violet
Italy, NZ, USA, Australia, Argentina
Falanghina
Zesty and minerally with peach and almond notes
it’s meant for scallops, prawns and clams.
Lemon, Citrus Blossoms, Peach, Honey, Almond
Italy
Fernao Pires
Top white grape in Portugal that delivers wines with high intensity floral aromas and medium body. it’s been blended sucessfully with viognier.
Lime, Peach, Orange Blossom, Honeysuckle, Clove
Fiano
South Italian white wine with a rich. almost waxy texture.
Honeydew, Asian Pear, Hazelnut, Orange Peel, Pine
Italy
Franciacorta
Sparkling wine from Lombardy, Italy using traditional method using samae grapes as Champaigne with the addition of Pinot Blanc
Lemon, Peach, White Cherry, Almond, Toast
Frappato
A rare find from Sicily that bursts with aromas of sweet and red berries and incense spice. It’s sometimes blended with Nero d’Avolo to add complexity.
Dried Strawberry, Pomegranate, White Pepper, Tobacco, Clove
Italy
Friulano
Leana, dry white wine is often mistaken for SB but with bolder fruit and subtle herbal flavors.
Grapefruit, Green pear, white peach, tarragon, crushed gravel
Furmint
most famous grape in Hungary. It’s famously used in Takaji Aszu’s dessert wines but also available as a dry white wine that tastes similar to Riesling
Meyer Lemon, Green Apple, Ginger, Smoke, Pepperrocini
try with herb crushed poultry or fish, chinese dumplings or sushi
Gamay
Fruity, floral and sometimes earthy light bodied red that is the main variety planted in Beaujolais.
Pomegrante, Blackberry Bramble, violet, Potting Soil, Banana
france,
Garganega
An important Italian white wine that is loved for it’s lean, dry style and the rich tangerine and toasted almond notes it gains as it ages. Garganega is the main grape of Soave.
Peach, Honeydew, Tangerine, Marjoram, Saline
Italy, Argentina
Gewurztraminer
Treasured for its’ intense floral aromas. Wines are best enjoyed in their youth when acidity is highest.
Lychee, Rose, Grapefruit, Tangerine, Giner
France, Italy, USA, Australia
Grechettto
The primary grape in Italy’s well-known Orvieto wines from Umbria and Lazio. white wine but they almost taste like dry rose.
White Peach, Honeydew, Strawberry, Wild Flowers, Seashell
Italy
