Intro Sommelier Course - Day Two Flashcards
Italy: What are wines without geographic indication?
Vino (generic wines - blanco, rosso, rosato)
Italy: What are wines with geographic indication?
IGP Indicazione Geografica Protetta (includes IGT Indicazione Geografica Tipica); DOP Denominazione di Origine Protetta (includes DOC and DOCG). Can use either depending on classification in “old” system - traditional DOCG zone probs won’t use DOP acronym)
Italy: What is Italy’s most important river in Piedmont?
Po
Italy: What is the grape variety of Barolo and Barbaresco DOCG within Piedmont?
Red, 100% Nebbiolo
Italy: How is the vinification Amarone made?
Using the appassimiento process (grapes are harvested, dried, fermented > yields high alcohol wine)
What country is home to some of the world’s coolest vineyards at the northernmost extreme of viticulture in the northern hemisphere. Some of the top vineyards are also among the world’s steepest producing what is arguably the world’s purest expression of Riesling.
Germany
Germany: What is the German term for the grape variety Pinot Noir?
Spatburgunder
Germany: What is Germany’s viticulture?
Vineyards planned on steep, south-facing hillsides to max sunlight. Long, cool growing season but struggle to fully ripen.
Germany: What are important rivers to Germany’s wine regions?
Rhine, Mosel, and their tributaries
Germany: What is the Pradikat system based on?
Ripeness of grapes at harvest. 6 levels of quality
Germany: What are the 6 Pradikat levels of quality from least to most ripe?
Kabinett, Spatlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese (BA), Eiswein, Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
Germany: What are all GG (Grosses Gewachs) wines?
Dry, or trocken, wines from the top vineyard sites in the VDP Classification.
Austria: What are the primary white grape varieties grown in Austria?
Gruner Veltliner and Riesling
Austria: What is the important river that flows through Austria’s main wine-growing regions?
Danube
Austria: What are the 4 main wine regions of Austria?
Niederosterreich, Wien, Burgenland, and Styria
Austria: What are the 3 important sub-regions of Niederosterreich?
Kremstal DAC, Kamptal DAC, and Wachau
Austria: What are the 3 categories of Wachau dry wine classification?
Steinfeder (11.5% max, lightest), Federspiel (11.5-12.5%). Smaragd (12.5% min, rich and dry white wines)
Austria: What is the vinification of Austrian wines?
Very dry or very sweet
Spain: What are the sub-regions of Rioja?
Rioja Alavesa, Rioja Alta, Rioja Baja
Spain: What is the importance of oak aging to red wines and bottle aging requirements in Rioja?
Crianza requires total of 2 yrs. Reserva requires 3 yrs including 1 year in oak. Gran Reserva requiress at least 2 years in oak and 3 years in bottle
Spain: What is the location, climate, primary grape variety, and style of wine in Rias Baixas DO?
“Green Spain” bordering Portugal, humid and maritime, white albariño grape, crisp/dry/aromatic white wine
Spain: What is the location, climate, primary grape variety, and style of wine in Rioja DOCa?
1 of 2 DOCas. Protected by Pyrenees and Cantabrian Mtns, continental climate w/ rain shadow, primarily virua for white graps and tempranillo/garnacha for red wines
Spain: What is the location, climate, primary grape variety, and style of wine in Duero River Valley?
Continental w extreme diurnal shifts, on high central plateau (Meseta), red grape variety Tempranillo, grapes get very ripe, red wines only w small rose production
Spain: What is the location, climate, primary grape variety, and style of wine in Toro DO?
Contential w hot/dry summers, red Tempranillo, rich/intense red wines
Spain: What is the location, climate, primary grape variety, and style of wine in Rueda DO?
Continental, white Verdejo/Sauv Blanc, crisp/dry white wines
Spain: What is the location, climate, primary grape variety, and style of wine in Penedes DO/Cava DO?
Environs of Barcelona reaching to Pyrenees Mtns at French border, Mediterranean, white Macabeo/Xarel-lo/Parellada, sparkling wines by traditional method
Spain: What is the location, climate, primary grape variety, and style of wine in Priorat DOCa?
1 of 2 DOCa wines of Spain (DOQ in Catalan). Rugged and close to Mediterranean Sea, hot and dry, stony schist soils, red Garnacha (Grenache) and Cariñena (Carignan), low yields, intense/concentrated/dry red wines
Portugal: What is the location, climate, main grape variety, and style of Vinho Verde DOG?
Northern Portugal on Atlantic Coast south of Spanish border, cool/maritime/rainy/humid, white Loureiro (most planted)/Trajadura, Alvarinho (Albariño), low-alcohol/high acid/efferverscent white wine
Portugal: What is the location, climate, main grape variety, and style of Douro DOG?
Northern Portugal along Douro River, 3 sub-regions that become drier and hotter as you move inland from Atlantic Ocean, mountainous/wild/remove, schist, red Touriga Nacional, steep vineyard, single vineyards (quintas), rich/dry/ripe/powerful red wines
Portugal: What are the three sub-regions of Douro DOP?
Baixo Corgo, Cima Corgo, Douro Superior
Portugal: What are 3 DOP regions located in Portugal?
Bairrada, Dao, and Alentejo
North America (US): Who were key contributors to success of industry?
Agoston Haraszthy (Hungarian fur trader) is the father of California wine industry, Robert Mondavia and Andre Tchelistcheff brought quality winemaking back to life in California
North America (US): What is the governing body that regulates bev alcohol in US?
TTB (Tax & Trade Bureau)
North America (US): What are wine label min requirements for variety?
75% min variety if from USA, state, county, or AVA. 90% min in Oregon
North America (US): What are wine label min requirements for vintage?
85% min from vintge stated if from state or county. 95% min from vintage if stated from AVA or single vineyard
North America (US): What are wine label min requirements for appellation or AVA (origin of grapes)?
75% min from USA, state [95% for WA, 100% for CA and OR], or county. 85% min from stated AVA. 95% min from stated single vineyard
North America (US): What are wine label min requirements for estate bottling?
100% from grapes grown on land/controlled by winery which must be located in an AVA
North America (US): What is an AVA?
American Viticultural Areas. Defined as delimited grape-growing areas
North America (US): What are Napa Valley AVAs?
Carneros AVA, Stags Leap District AVA, Oakville AVA, Rutherford AVA, Howell Mountain AVA
North America (US): What are Sonoma County AVAs?
Carneros AVA, Sonoma Valley AVA, Sonoma Coast AVA, Alexander Valley AVA, Russian River Valley AVA, Dry Creek Valley AVA
North America (US): What are Mendocino County AVAs?
Anderson Valley AVA
North America (US): What are Santa Barbara County AVAs?
Santa Maria Valley AVA, Santa Ynez Valley AVA, Sta. Rita Hills AVA
North America (US): What are Oregon AVAs?
Willamette Valley AVA (best known for pinot noir grapes)
North America (US): What are Washington State AVAs?
Columbia Valley AVA, Yakima Valley AVA, Walla Walla Valley AVA
North America (US): What are New York state AVAs?
Finger Lakes AVA, Hudson River Region AVA, Long Island AVA, Lake Erie AVA
South America (Chile): What are the major geographical influences that affect the vine-growing regions of Chile?
Very narrow, rarely exceeding 100 miles in width and bounded by Andes and Pacific Ocean
South America (Chile): What are the major grape varieties grown in Chile and how did they arrive to the country?
White (Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc), Red (75% of plantings - Cabernet, Merlot, Carmenere [long mistaken for Merlot])
South America (Chile): What is the Denominacion de Origen (DO)?
Similar to AVA system in US. Min 75% must be from the region.
South America (Chile): What are the 6 regional DOs in Chile from north to south?
Atacama, Coquimbo, Aconcagua, Valle Central, Sur, Astral
South America (Chile): For the major Chilean Region Aconcagua DO, what are its notable sub-regions?
San Antonio DO and Casablanca Valley DO. Cool climate regions near Pacific coast
South America (Chile): Where is more than 80% of Chile’w wine production?
Valle Central DO (Central Valley DO)
South America (Chile): For the major Chilean Region Valle Central DO (Central Valley DO), what are its notable sub-regions?
Maipo Valley DO (most famous, best known for Cabernet Sauvignon), Curico DO, Rapel DO, Maule Valley DO
South America (Argentina): Where are vineyards planted?
In front range of Andes at average of 3,000 feet above sea level. Elevation is key to success of viticulture
South America (Argentina): What are the grape varieties in Argentina?
White (Torrontes). Red (Malbec, Bonarda, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah)
South America (Argentina): What is the temperature like?
Major diurnal swings between hot days and cool nights during the growing season
South America (Argentina): What is the role of irrigation in Argentina?
Essential due to rain shadow cast by Andes Mtns creating arid climate. Snowmelt from Andes provides plentiful water
South America (Argentina): What are the 3 important appellations of Argentina?
Salta IG, Mendoza IG, and Patagonia IG
South America (Argentina): What are the geographic and climate factors for Salta IG?
Northernmost wine region in Argentina. Generally warm climate, but planed at high elevation w cooler temps
South America (Argentina): What are the geographic and climate factors for Mendoza IG?
Continental/arid, elevation-dependent. Most vineyards planted between 2,000 and 4,000 feet
South America (Argentina): What are the geographic and climate factors for Patagonia IG?
Notably cool area, southernmost Argentina vineyards.
South Africa: What are the basics of South Africa’s wine-growing history?
Was settlement for Dutch East India company after being refueling and trading station. Didn’t flourish until 1688 w French Huguenots. Economic boycotts lifted in 1994
South Africa: What is the Cape Doctor?
Strong southeasterly wind, blows across the western cape in spring and summer. Can help suppress fungal disease, moderate temps, and injure vines/disturb flowering
South Africa: What two oceans is South Africa adjacent to?
Atlantic and Indian
South Africa: What ocean current flows north from Antarctica to cool the coastal areas?
Benguela Current
South Africa: What is the KMV?
Ko-operative Wijnbouwers Vereniging van Zuid-Afrika (KWV). Formed in 1918, rescued South African wine industry after phylloxera and severe loss of exports in late 1800s. produced wine, stabilized prices, established quota system emphasizing quantity over quality
South Africa: What are the districts in South Africa?
Stellenbosch, Paarl, Walker Bay, Swartland