Producing Premium White Wines Flashcards
What is production of high quality wines at the expense of?
For PWW is there a precise formula?
Techniques are adopted according to what 3 factors?
Are both aromatic & non-aromatic varieties treated the same?
High production is at the expense of volume.
There is no precise formula.
Vintage conditions, vineyard plot, style of wine desired.
No
Aromatic Grape Varieties: Sauvignon blanc & Riesling
Aromatic grapes have what 2 features in common?
Name three other aromatic varieties?
Whats the two things the winemaker aims to preserve for these wines?
They all have pronounced aromas & flavours.
Muscat, Gewurztraminer, Torrontes
The winemaker aims to maintain the 1er fruit character & aromatic potential of the grapes in the final wine.
Sauvignon Blanc
Is it aromatic? What’s its acidity?
Why is it suited to cool climates? what does the cool help retail?
Yes, its aromatic and its high in acidity.
Its early ripening and so suited to cool climates?
The cooler temp helps retain the refreshing character of the wines.
Most Sauvignon Blanc is made to drink when?
With what flavour?
Young
fresh fruit flavours
What’s the two most famous world regions for Sauvignon Blanc?
What two qualities do Sancerre & Pouilly Fume show?
What flavours do the cool climate exhibit?
The Loire Valley and Marlborough, New Zealand.
They show elegance & restraint.
green apples & asparagus, with a hint of wet pebbles.
Name two new world countries that grow Sauvignon blanc apart from NZ.
Where in Australia makes a high quality, blended Sauvignon Blanc?
What region is this located in?
What’s is it often blended with?
What two effects does this have on the wine?
South Africa & Chile
Margaret River in Western Australia
Semillon
The wine is less aromatic and has a fuller body.
What is the temp zone of Marlborough, New Zealand?
What about the region gives Sauvignon Blanc its vibrant flavour?
What’s the 4+1 aroma’s?
Cool
Long hours of cool intense sunshine.
gooseberry, elderflower, grapefruit, passion fruit.
Maybe herbaceous also.
Which areas make Sauvignon Blanc in a more unusual way (with non-aromatic wine approaches)?
In this region, what is it blended with? What does this give it?
How is it fermented
What does this give the wine body? Flavour?
Pessac-Leognan makes Sauvignon Blanc wines with non-aromatic approaches.
Semillon gives body and richness to the wines
At least a proportion is fermented / matured in Oak
The oak gives it a rounder, fuller body. Toasty & spicy notes.
How do a small amount of new world producers differentiate their Sauvignon Blanc?
Name two countries that do this?
What’s Sauvignon Blanc called in California?
Ferment / mature the wine in Oak
New Zealand & California.
Fume Blanc
Barrel fermenting Sauvignon Blanc in California and Pessac-Leognan creates what style of wine?
What style of yeast is often used & why?
How are they often matured? How long?
During this time, what do they often undergo?
What Oak is used?
Creamy & spicy.
Ambient yeasts are added to add greater complexity to the wines.
They are often matured on their lees for a couple of months.
MLF
Some new Oak is used.
How many styles does Riesling produce?
What’s its winter tolerance like?
When does it bud? What does this avoid?
Where does this make it good for?
Riesling produces many styles in different locations.
It has a good tolerance to cold winters.
It buds late, so it misses spring frosts.
Cooler regions.
What flavours does Riesling exhibit in cooler regions?
What flavours does it express in warmer regions?
Green fruit flavours & floral notes.
Citrus, stone fruits but is less delicate.
When does Riesling ripen?
If its left on the vine what happens to two components?
What styles does this make it perfect for?
What other wine style is it used for?
Riesling is mid to late ripening depending upon the style being produced.
It accumulates more sugar whilst maintaining its naturally high acid.
This makes it perfect for wines across a number of sweetness.
Botrytised desert wines.
What is Rieslings aging profile?
How long can it mature for?
What flavours develop in mature Riesling?
What aroma can develop as Riesling ages?
Riesling is one of the most long lived white wines
It can mature for years and even decades.
Honey and toast and it maintains its acidity.
Petrol-like.
What country is the homeland of Riesling?
What is their sweetness levels? What tends to happen to the grapes of the sweet style?
Discuss the balance of these sweet wines?
So whats the style?
Germany is the homeland of Riesling.
A range of sweetness.
Botrytis grapes
The balance is perfect with high levels of acidity.
Concentrated and refreshing at the same time.
Where else in Europe do they make Premium Rieslings?
What is the wine sweetness style in Austria?
What are the styles in Alsace? When are sweet examples made?
What are the two sweet style?
Alsace & Austria
Whilst Austrian wines can be sweet, most are either dry or very sweet.
Alsace wines are mainly dry, but sweet wines are made when conditions are right.
Botrytis & late harvest
Australian Rieslings.
What are the two well known Australian regions for Riesling?
What is their usual style x 3
Clare & Eden Valley
Bone dry, refreshing high acidity, aroma of lime.
American Rieslings
Where in America are they also made? x2
Washington State
Finger Lakes in New York State
Aromatic Winemaking Choices
How must aromatic grapes & juice be handled to retain primary flavours?
What antioxidant need to be monitored
What’s loaded into the press?
Skin contact amount
What must be removed from the juice before fermentation? Why? How?
Carefully.
SO2
Either full bunches or crushed fruit.
Skin contact of either none or just a little.
Remove solids as they could mask the fruit flavours. Clarification by settling as its gentle
Aromatic Winemaking Choices
What vessels types are usually used for fermentation? Why?
What is the usual material? Why?
Whats used in NZ for the main two aromatics?
What’s often used in Alsace for Riesling? Why?
What are they called?
Inert as the vessel should not interfere with the pure primary flavours.
Stainless as its easy to cool.
Alsace: Large oak vessels. The small O2 amount adds texture & complexity.
foudres
