L2 - Class 4: Factors Influencing the Production of White, Sweet and Rosé Wines - focus on Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Semillon and Furmint Flashcards
What are the characteristics of Riesling?
- An aromatic grape that produces pronounced fruity, floral aromas w/ high acidity
-Cool to moderate climates
-Susceptibility to botrytis/noble rot
-Suitable for production of wine of outstanding quality at all sweetness levels
What are the range of flavors for Riesling and what factor determines the wine’s flavor?
-The range of flavors depends on the level of ripeness
-Just ripe grapes produce green fruit flavors (apple, pear) & citrus (lemon, lime)
-Extra ripe grapes give flavors of stone fruit (peach apricot), tropical fruit (mango, pineapple), and sometimes dried fruit (dried apricots, raisins)
What are the range of styles for Riesling?
-Dry to sweet and light to fully body
-Riesling produces dry, off dry, medium and sweet wines
When is a good time to harvest and why?
-Riesling retains acidity and builds sugar and flavor slowly
-As a result, it is suitable for late-harvesting in regions
How off-dry and medium style Rieslings usually made?
-Fermentation is interrupted by removing the yeast, leaving a wine with lower alcohol and some residual sugar or by the addition of “sterile grape juice”
-The sweetest styles have juice so high in sugar that fermentation stops naturally
What type of vessel is typically used to ferment riesling?
-inert vessels (ie. stainless steel tanks) to preserve floral aromas
-Fine rieslings can age for years or decades in the bottle
- High natural acidity of riesling grapes preserve the freshness of wine while it develops tertiary flavors or honey and petrol
What are the 3 most important regions for riesling?
-Germany (has a predominantly cool climate, some vineyards at above 50 degrees latitude north ot the equator)
-France
-Australia
What are the 3 most important regions for riesling in Germany?
-Mosel –Due to its northerly latitude, these rieslings are typically lighter in body than those from the south. Medium sweetness balanced by high acidity. The best vineyards are planted on steep south or southeast facing slopes on the banks of the Mosel river, where stony soils reflect sunlight from the river and aid gardening)
-Rheingau –Vineyards here are situated on steep, south-facing slopes on the north bank of the River Rhine. These wines are typically drier in style and have more body
-Pfalz–Similar in style to Alsace rieslings, this region is close to the French border and Alsace protected by mountains in the west. Wines are dry and medium-bodied. Climate= dry & sunny, long growing season
Which sub-region in France is most important for riesling?
-Alsace AOC
-Lies to the east of the Vosges Mountains which protects the vineyards from rain-bearing westerly winds - makes it the driest/sunniest wine producing region in France
-The best vineyards are planted in the mountain foothills facing east or southeast to benefit from the morning sun. Long periods of uninterrupted sunshine extend the growing season long into the autumn, allowing grapes to ripe slowly and gradually
-Flavor= dry, pronounced aroma/taste, citrus, stone fruit, blossom
-Medium body, high acidity
-best vines are in grand cru vineyards. can age for decades in bottles (tertiary flavors= honey, dried-fruit)
-Sweeter styles were made from late harvest grapes
Which sub-regions in Australia are known for riesling?
-Eden Valley
-Clare Valley
-Due to higher altitude these regions have moderate climates and produce dry rieslings
-Pronounced aromas of lime, peach, blossom, petrol
What does Germany’s labelling terminology typically reflect?
-The degree of ripeness in grapes at the time of harvest, measured in sugar levels
Landwein – light bodied and dry to off-dry in style
Qualitätswein – Must come from 1 of 13 regions in Germany (Rheingau, Mosel), must achieve a higher level of grape ripeness than is required for landwein. More intense in flavor and fuller in body.
Prädikatswein – a higher level of sugar is required than Qualitätswein, must come from a single region. There are 6 categories classified in order of sugar levels.
Trocken- a dry wine
Halbutrocken- a wine with some sweetness
What are the 6 categories of Prädikatswein?
(1) Kabinett– can be made in a trocken style, lightest, most delicate, green fruit (green apple) & citrus-fruit (lime), floral aromas.
(2) Spatlese– More concentrated, fuller body, riper citrus fruit (lemon, lime), stone fruit (peach), higher alc than Kabinett, can be made trocken.
(3) Auslese– Made from extra ripe bunches, stone fruit(apricot), tropical fruit (Mango), dried fruits. Can be made trocken, but usually sweet.
(4) Eiswein– Made from grapes frozen on vine, vibrant fresh stone fruit (peach, apricot), tropical-fruit (mango, pineapple). Botrytis plays not part in eiswein. Labor intensive wine, small yields, high prices, does not occur every year. Low alc
(5) Beerenauslese/BA– Made from berries concentrated by botrytis. Fresh stone fruit (apricot), tropical fruit(mango), dried fruit and honey. Low alc
(6) Trockenbeerenauslese/TBA– Low alc. Made from berries dried through botrytis. Rare & concentrated wines w/ flavors similar to but more intense than BA wine
What are the characteristics of Chenin Blanc?
-1 of the most versatile white grape varietals
-Grows well in cool , moderate, and warm climates
-Flavors= green fruit (apple), citrus (lemon), stone fruit (peach), tropical fruit (pineapple, mango)
-Natural high acidity, suitable for late harvest, susceptible to botrytis/noble rot
-Made in a broad range of styles dry to sweet
-Oaked and unoaked
-High acidity, very good or outstanding quality examples can age in bottle for many years
What regions are best known for Chenin Blanc?
-France and South Africa
What sub-region in France is best known for Chenin Blanc?
Vouvray AOC
-Located in Loire Valley , Chenin Blanc is the only varietal permitted here.
-Produced in a range of styles; Dry, off-dry, medium, sweet, & sparkling
-Dry Vouvray = fresh apple flavors
-Off-dry to medium dry are labeled demi-sec
-Sweeter styles are made from extra ripe or botrytis affected grapes & can have stone fruit or tropical fruit aromas
-Typically unoaked to retain fresh fruit characteristics
-The best wines of all styles can age and develop notes of honey & dried fruit
