Notes Flashcards
Define “brix”
measure of sugar in the grapes
French term for “old vines”
vieilles vignes
The more char on a barrel, the ___ oak flavors + tannins
less
These 3 vintages in the past two decades were great vintages for every major wine region
2005
2010
2015
Less than _% of the world’s wines are meant to be aged for more than 5 years
1
What are the affects of tannin dropping to the bottom of the barrel as sediment?
Less tannin, so wine tastes softer
more prominent fruit + acidity
as a wine ages, its fruit flavors may taste ____
dry. dried cherries, plum, etc
t/f: wine may develop more vegetal aromas as it ages
true. mushrooms, canned peas, asparagus, etc
What does a burnt matches smell indicate?
sulfur dioxide. flaw
what flaw does an aroma of vinegar indicate?
volatile acidity
t/f: sulfur is produced during fermentation
true
t/f: the majority of the contents of a bottle of wine is water
true
Who first started wineries in California?
Spanish missionaries
California produces __% of American wine
90
Federal law in the US mandates if a label lists the grape, at least __% of that wine must be made from said grape
75
Why do American wineries often use proprietary names?
Allows wineries to differentiate their best wines from other wines from the same AVA, varietal, or their other offerings. Also due to 75% varietal listing mandate
t/f: many of the larger houses in California produce more than 20 labels
true
Name 4 areas in California with a cool enough climate to suit Pinot Noir
Carneros
Monterey
Sonoma
Santa Barbera
t/f: Bordeaux wine is more accessible young than California
false
Why do California wines taste more accessible when young than Bordeaux?
California reds have more generous fruit + less tannins
Name two wine-grape species native to North America
Vitis Labrusca + Vitis Rotundfolio
How many AVAs does the US have?
240+
If an AVA appears on a label, what % of grapes must come from that region?
85%
Which two California counties have the most Syrah planted?
San Luis Obispo + Sonoma
The 4 major regions for California Chardonnay are …
Carneros
Napa
Santa Barbera
Sonoma
t/f: california has more chardonnay planted than any country in the world
true
t/f: chardonnay is the 2nd most popular variety sold in America
false. #1
The 3 major red grapes of Washington
Cab Sauv
Merlot
Syrah
The two major white grapes of Washington
Chardonnay
Riesling
The most important river in Washington
Columbia River
The 3 main wine region in New York
Finger Lakes
Hudson Valley
Long Island
This doctor is an important figure in New York winemaking
Dr Konstantin Frank
3 top grapes of Oregon
Pinot Noir
Pinot Gris
Chardonnay
Oregon state law requires that wine labeled Pinot Noir must contain __% Pinot Noir
100%
These two AVAs encompass parts of Oregon and Washington
Columbia Valley AVA
Walla Walla Valley AVA
The #1 importer of French wines
USA
About ___ of French wines are AOC eligble
half
The 7 sub AOCs of the Medoc
Haut Medoc Margaux Pauilllac St.-Julien St.-Estephe Listrac Moulis
What is the typical Medoc blend?
10-20% cab franc
25-40% merlot
60-80% cab sauve
Name the 5 1st growths
Chateau Lafite-Rothschild Chateau Latour Chateau Margeaux Chateau Haut-Brion Chateau Mouton-Rothschild
Which AOC is Chateau Mouton-Rothschild under?
Pauillac AOC
What is the official classification for Pomerol?
No official classification
Cru Bourgeois classifies wines of the …
Medoc
What is the major grape of Pomerol?
Merlot
the red wines of Pomerol tend to be … compared to Medoc wines
softer, fruitier, ready to drink sooner
Not counting 2010 + 2015, list 3 great recent vintages of Bordeaux
2016 2018 2019
When does Beaujolais Nouveau release?
3rd thursday of november
Name 3 most important villages of Cote Chalonnaise
Mercurey
Givry
Rully
What would you expect from Ventoux?
Southern Rhone AOC. GSM blend. good value
What is the longest lived of the Rhone wines?
Hermitage
t/f: rose accounts for 90% of all provencal wines
true
this herb is one of the distinct aromas of Provencal rose
garrigue
Are Provence rose wines more pale or more dark?
Pale
Style of Provencal Rose
pale pink + dry, minerality, delicatetly fruity
Paler vs Darker rose wine difference
pale rose - greater mineral focus + light fruit like peaches
dark rose - more fruit-driven w/ berry flavors
What % of of whtie Burgundy sees new oak for Village, Premier Cru, & GC
Village - 25%
Premier - 40-70%
Grand Cru - 80-100%
t/f: Chablis is typically unoaked
true
Spain’s most famous winery
Bodegas Vega Sicilia
