Red Wine Varietals and Regions Flashcards
Where is the Côte d’Or?
Bourgogne
What two subregions make up the Côte d’Or?
Côte de Nuits (North), Côte de Beaune (South)
What villages are located in the Côte de Nuits?
Gevrey-Chambertin, Nuits Saint-Georges
What villages are located in the Côte de Beaune?
Beaune, Pommard
Describe the climate of the Bourgogne region
Cool in the north, moderate in the south
Where are Bourgogne’s Premier and Grand Cru vineyards most often located?
Slopes with south- or south-east facing aspects
What parts of California are known for producing Pinot Noir?
Carneros, Sonoma, Santa Barbera County
What moderates the climate of California’s Carneros region?
Morning fog from the San Pablo Bay
What moderates the climate in California’s Sonoma and Santa Barbera County regions?
Pacific sea breezes
Why is Oregon well-suited for growing Pinot Noir?
Northerly latitude and proximity to Pacific ocean
Which region in Chile is known for producing Pinot Noir?
Casablanca Valley
Where is Casablanca Valley located? What moderates the climate there?
Chile; gets sea breeze and morning fog from the Pacific ocean
Which region in South Africa is known for Pinot Noir?
Walker Bay
Where is Walker Bay located? What moderates the climate there?
South Africa; gets strong sea breezes
Which regions in Australia are known for Pinot Noir?
Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula
Where is Yarra Valley located? What moderates the climate there?
Australia; gets ocean breezes
Where is Mornington Peninsula located? What moderates the climate there?
Australia; gets ocean breezes
Which regions in New Zealand are known for Pinot Noir?
Martinborough, Marlborough, Central Otago
Where are Marlborough and Martinborough located?
New Zealand
Where is Central Otago located? What moderates the climate there?
New Zealand; protected from cold sea breezes by a ring of mountains
Where do the best Pinot Noirs from New Zealand come from?
Central Otago
What is the premier black grape varietal in New Zealand?
Pinot Noir
What kind of climate do Pinot Noir grapes prefer?
Cool to moderate
What kind of climate do Zinfandel grapes prefer?
Warm
What Rosé production method is usually used for White Zinfandel?
Short maceration
What is unusual about Zinfandel grapes? Why is this significant?
They ripen unevenly; this leads to some being far riper than others and imparting high sugar levels and flavors of dried prune and raisin
What is Zinfandel known as in Italy?
Primitivo
What region in Italy is most famous for Primitivo?
Puglia
What are Primitivo wines from Puglia like?
Soft, fruity, dry, and high-volume
What type of climate do Merlot grapes prefer?
Moderate to warm
What does Merlot usually add to wines it is blended with?
Red fruit flavors and softness (tannin reduction)
Where did Pinot Noir originate?
Bourgogne
Where did Merlot originate?
Bordeaux
Describe the climate of Bordeaux
Moderate with high levels of rainfall
Which notable AOCs are found in Bordeaux’s left bank?
Médoc, Haut-Médoc, Margaux, Pauillac, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Which part of Bordeaux produces Merlot-dominant blends?
Right bank
Which part of Bordeaux produces Cab Sauv-dominant blends?
Left bank
Which notable AOCs are found in Bordeaux’s right bank?
Pomerol, Saint-Émilion
If you are drinking wine from Bordeaux AOC or Bordeaux Supérieur AOC what type of wine is it most likely?
Merlot-dominant blend
What varietals is Merlot commonly blended with in the South of France?
Cab Sauv, Grenache, Syrah
What regions in California are known for Merlot production?
Sonoma, Napa Valley
What part of Chile is known for Merlot production?
Central Valley
Where is Central Valley (not the California one)?
Chile
What part of South Africa is known for Merlot production?
Stellenbosch
What part of Australia is known for Merlot? What grape is it often blended with here?
Margaret River; Cab Sauv
What part of New Zealand is known for Merlot?
Hawke’s Bay