Notable Structural Characteristics

Question 1

What are the 5 notable structural characteristics

Answer 1

Sweetness
Acidity
Tannin
Body
Alcohol

Question 2

Which notable characteristic produces a mouth-drying effect in red wines

Answer 2

Tannin

Question 3

What causes the sweetness in wine

Answer 3

Presence or lack of residual sugar

Question 4

What are the 3 levels of sweetness that can vary in wines

Answer 4

Dry
Medium
Sweet

Question 5

What level of sweetness do the majority of wines fall under

Answer 5

Dry

Question 6

What is the key way of making a dry wine

Answer 6

The yeast needs to convert all of the sugar in the grape juice into alcohol

Question 7

Are wines like Chablis and Sauvignon Blanc dry, medium, or sweet

Answer 7

Dry

Question 8

Which wine styles will most of the wines with a medium level of sweetness fall under

Answer 8

White and Rose

Question 9

What are the two key ways of making a wine of medium sweetness

Answer 9

1. The yeast are removed before all of the sugar is converted into alcohol
2. Unfermented grape juice is added to a dry wine

Question 10

Are wines like White Zinfandel and some German Rieslings dry, medium, or sweet

Answer 10

Medium

Question 11

What are the 2 key ways of making a sweet wine

Answer 11

1. The grapes are so high in sugar that the yeast stop fermenting before they eat all of the sugar
2. In the case of fortified wines, the yeast are killed by addition of high-strength distilled alcohol before they have eaten all the sugar

Question 12

Are wines like Sauternes, some German Riesling, Port, and some Sherries dry, medium, or sweet

Answer 12

Sweet

Question 13

Why is acidity important in a wine

Answer 13

It gives a refreshing characteristic that makes your mouth water and balances out any sweetness to stop it from being unpleasantly sweet

Question 14

Do wines like Chablis, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir have high or low acidity levels

Answer 14

High

Question 15

What taste and texture do tannins bring in a wine

Answer 15

Bitterness and mouth-drying

Question 16

Do wines like Red Bordeaux and Chianti have high or low tannin levels

Answer 16

High

Question 17

Do wines like Beaujolais and some Pinot Noir have high or low tannin levels

Answer 17

Low

Question 18

What levels of alcohol (abv) do the majority of still and sparkling wines fall under

Answer 18

Still - 14%

Sparkling - 11.5%

Question 19

Is Chateauneuf-du-Pape a high or low alcohol wine

Answer 19

High

Question 20

Is White Zinfandel a high or low alcohol wine

Answer 20

Low

Question 21

What does the body of a wine mean

Answer 21

The overall feel of the wine in your mouth

Question 22

What are the 3 levels of body that can vary in wines

Answer 22

Light
Medium
Full

Question 23

Are Pinot Grigio and Beaujolais light, medium, or full bodied

Answer 23

Light

Question 24

Are Sancerre and Cotes du Rhone light, medium, or full bodied

Answer 24

Medium

Question 25

Are Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauternes light, medium, or full bodied

Answer 25

Full

Question 26

Where do aromas and flavors of wine come from

Answer 26

Grapes
Winemaking
Maturation

Question 27

What fruit aromas can be found in a cool climate Chardonnay

Answer 27

Green fruit (apple)
Citrus (lemon)

Question 28

What fruit aromas can be found in a warm climate Chardonnay

Answer 28

Stone Fruit (peach)
Tropical Fruit (pineapple)

Question 29

In addition to fruit and oak aromas, what other aromas can wines have

Answer 29

Grass, flowers, herbs, vegetables, earth, mushrooms, leather

Question 30

What source gives aromas like cedar, cloves, coconut, smoke, and vanilla

Answer 30

Fermentation and/or maturation in oak barrels