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WSET Level 2 Award in Wines > Red Wine Varietals and Regions > Flashcards

Red Wine Varietals and Regions Flashcards

1
Q

Where is the Côte d’Or?

A

Bourgogne

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2
Q

What two subregions make up the Côte d’Or?

A

Côte de Nuits (North), Côte de Beaune (South)

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3
Q

What villages are located in the Côte de Nuits?

A

Gevrey-Chambertin, Nuits Saint-Georges

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4
Q

What villages are located in the Côte de Beaune?

A

Beaune, Pommard

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5
Q

Describe the climate of the Bourgogne region

A

Cool in the north, moderate in the south

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6
Q

Where are Bourgogne’s Premier and Grand Cru vineyards most often located?

A

Slopes with south- or south-east facing aspects

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7
Q

What parts of California are known for producing Pinot Noir?

A

Carneros, Sonoma, Santa Barbera County

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8
Q

What moderates the climate of California’s Carneros region?

A

Morning fog from the San Pablo Bay

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9
Q

What moderates the climate in California’s Sonoma and Santa Barbera County regions?

A

Pacific sea breezes

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10
Q

Why is Oregon well-suited for growing Pinot Noir?

A

Northerly latitude and proximity to Pacific ocean

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11
Q

Which region in Chile is known for producing Pinot Noir?

A

Casablanca Valley

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12
Q

Where is Casablanca Valley located? What moderates the climate there?

A

Chile; gets sea breeze and morning fog from the Pacific ocean

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13
Q

Which region in South Africa is known for Pinot Noir?

A

Walker Bay

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14
Q

Where is Walker Bay located? What moderates the climate there?

A

South Africa; gets strong sea breezes

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15
Q

Which regions in Australia are known for Pinot Noir?

A

Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula

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16
Q

Where is Yarra Valley located? What moderates the climate there?

A

Australia; gets ocean breezes

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17
Q

Where is Mornington Peninsula located? What moderates the climate there?

A

Australia; gets ocean breezes

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18
Q

Which regions in New Zealand are known for Pinot Noir?

A

Martinborough, Marlborough, Central Otago

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19
Q

Where are Marlborough and Martinborough located?

A

New Zealand

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20
Q

Where is Central Otago located? What moderates the climate there?

A

New Zealand; protected from cold sea breezes by a ring of mountains

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21
Q

Where do the best Pinot Noirs from New Zealand come from?

A

Central Otago

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22
Q

What is the premier black grape varietal in New Zealand?

A

Pinot Noir

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23
Q

What kind of climate do Pinot Noir grapes prefer?

A

Cool to moderate

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24
Q

What kind of climate do Zinfandel grapes prefer?

A

Warm

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25
Q

What Rosé production method is usually used for White Zinfandel?

A

Short maceration

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26
Q

What is unusual about Zinfandel grapes? Why is this significant?

A

They ripen unevenly; this leads to some being far riper than others and imparting high sugar levels and flavors of dried prune and raisin

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27
Q

What is Zinfandel known as in Italy?

A

Primitivo

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28
Q

What region in Italy is most famous for Primitivo?

A

Puglia

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29
Q

What are Primitivo wines from Puglia like?

A

Soft, fruity, dry, and high-volume

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30
Q

What type of climate do Merlot grapes prefer?

A

Moderate to warm

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31
Q

What does Merlot usually add to wines it is blended with?

A

Red fruit flavors and softness (tannin reduction)

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32
Q

Where did Pinot Noir originate?

A

Bourgogne

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33
Q

Where did Merlot originate?

A

Bordeaux

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34
Q

Describe the climate of Bordeaux

A

Moderate with high levels of rainfall

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35
Q

Which notable AOCs are found in Bordeaux’s left bank?

A

Médoc, Haut-Médoc, Margaux, Pauillac, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

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36
Q

Which part of Bordeaux produces Merlot-dominant blends?

A

Right bank

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37
Q

Which part of Bordeaux produces Cab Sauv-dominant blends?

A

Left bank

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38
Q

Which notable AOCs are found in Bordeaux’s right bank?

A

Pomerol, Saint-Émilion

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39
Q

If you are drinking wine from Bordeaux AOC or Bordeaux Supérieur AOC what type of wine is it most likely?

A

Merlot-dominant blend

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40
Q

What varietals is Merlot commonly blended with in the South of France?

A

Cab Sauv, Grenache, Syrah

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41
Q

What regions in California are known for Merlot production?

A

Sonoma, Napa Valley

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42
Q

What part of Chile is known for Merlot production?

A

Central Valley

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43
Q

Where is Central Valley (not the California one)?

A

Chile

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44
Q

What part of South Africa is known for Merlot production?

A

Stellenbosch

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45
Q

What part of Australia is known for Merlot? What grape is it often blended with here?

A

Margaret River; Cab Sauv

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46
Q

What part of New Zealand is known for Merlot?

A

Hawke’s Bay

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47
Q

Where is Hawke’s Bay? What moderates the climate there?

A

New Zealand; gets lots of rainfall

48
Q

What type of climate does Cab Sauv prefer?

A

Moderate to warm but needs warm to ripen fully

49
Q

Why is Bordeaux’s left bank particularly well suited for growing Cab Sauv?

A

Soil contains lots of large rocks that store and radiate heat and also allow for good drainage

50
Q

What parts of California are known for producing Cab Sauv?

A

Napa Valley, Sonoma, Calistoga, Oakville, Rutherford

51
Q

Which part of California is known for producing the ripest Cab Sauv? Why is this?

A

Calistoga; it is very warm there

52
Q

What parts of Chile are known for Cab Sauv?

A

Maipo Valley, Colchagua Valley, Central Valley

53
Q

What is Chile’s most widely planted grape?

54
Q

What grape varietal is considered to be Chile’s local specialty?

A

Carmenère

55
Q

What varietals are often blended with Cab Sauv in Chile?

A

Merlot, Carmenère

56
Q

What part of South Africa is known for Cab Sauv?

A

Stellenbosch

57
Q

Which grape is South Africa’s local specialty?

58
Q

What varietals are found in South Africa’s Cape Blend?

A

Cab Sauv, Merlot, Pinotage

59
Q

What parts of Australia are known for Cab Sauv?

A

Margaret River, Coonawarra

60
Q

Where is Margaret River located? What moderates the climate there?

A

Australia; gets coastal breezes and plentiful rainfall

61
Q

Where is Coonawarra located? What moderates the climate there?

A

Australia; gets cloud cover and cooling breezes

62
Q

What part of New Zealand is known for Cab Sauv?

A

Hawke’s Bay

63
Q

What type of climate does Syrah/Shiraz prefer?

A

Syrah likes moderate, Shiraz likes warm

64
Q

Which varietals are permitted in Northern Rhône AOC wines?

A

Only Syrah

65
Q

Which factors moderate Norther Rhône’s climate and allow for Syrah to be grown successfully?

A

River proximity, steep slopes with favorable aspect

66
Q

Which AOCs are located within Northern Rhône?

A

Côte Rôtie, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage

67
Q

Between Hermitage AOC and Crozes-Hermitage AOC, which produces higher quality wines? Why?

A

Hermitage; entire AOC lies on a steep south-facing hill

68
Q

Which AOC in the South of France is known for Syrah and Syrah blends?

69
Q

Which IGP in the South of France is known for Syrah and Syrah blends?

A

Pays d’Oc

70
Q

Where is Minervois AOC? What is it known for?

A

South of France; Syrah

71
Q

Where is Pays d’Oc IGP? What is it known for?

A

South of France; Syrah

72
Q

What parts of Australia are known for Shiraz?

A

Barossa Valley, Hunter Valley

73
Q

Where is Barossa Valley? What varietal is it known for and why is it special?

A

Australia; known for Shiraz that comes from some of the oldest vines in the world

74
Q

Where is Hunter Valley? What moderate the climate there?

A

Australia; gets cloud cover and sea breezes

75
Q

What varietal is famously grown in Beaujolais?

76
Q

What kind of climate does Beaujolais have?

77
Q

What winemaking technique is often used with Gamay to maximize color extraction and minimize tannin extraction? What flavors does the technique impart?

A

Carbonic maceration; imparts candy, bubblegum, and banana notes

78
Q

Where is the Fleurie AOC found?

A

Beaujolais

79
Q

Name one of Beaujolais’ most famous Grand Crus:

A

Fleurie AOC

80
Q

What makes Beaujolais Villages AOC wines more complex and concentrated than those of Beaujolais AOC?

A

Soil is stonier and less fertile leading to smaller yields

81
Q

What type of climate does Grenache/Garnacha prefer?

82
Q

In Spanish wines, which varietals are often blended with Garnacha? Why?

A

Syrah and Tempranillo to add acidity and tannin

83
Q

Which part of France is most famous for Grenache-based wines?

A

Southern Rhône

84
Q

Which AOC in Southern Rhône is known for producing the highest quality Grenache-based wines?

A

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

85
Q

Where is Châteauneuf-du-Pape located and what varietal is it famous for?

A

Southern Rhône; Grenache

86
Q

What makes Châteauneuf-du-Pape ideal for Grenache cultivation?

A

Vineyards are covered in large round stones which store and radiate heat

87
Q

Which part of the South of France is famous for Grenache?

A

Minervois AOC

88
Q

What does Grenache/Garnacha contribute to blends it shows up in?

A

Body via alcohol content and red fruit flavors

89
Q

Which regions in Spain are famous for Garnacha wines?

A

Rioja DOCa, Navarra DO, Priorat DOCa

90
Q

Of the Spanish Garnacha producing regions, which is known for producing the most powerful wines? Why?

A

Priorat DOCa; home to very old vines

91
Q

What parts of Australia are known for Grenache?

A

Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale

92
Q

Which parts of Spain are famous for Tempranillo?

A

Catalunya DO, Rioja DOCa, Ribera del Duero DO

93
Q

What moderates the climate in Ribera del Duero?

94
Q

Which part of Spain is known for producing the highest quality Tempranillo wines?

A

Rioja DOCa

95
Q

Which indicates a younger wine - Joven or Crianza?

96
Q

How do Crianza wines differ from Joven wines?

A

Joven does not imply any aging requirements and as a result wines are simpler and fruitier; Crianza adds minimum oak aging time to add complex secondary flavors

97
Q

Where is Carmenère native to? Where is it most widely grown?

A

Native to Bordeaux; grown in Chile

98
Q

Where is most Carmenère grown in Chile? Why?

A

Central Valley because it contains the only areas warm enough for the grape to fully ripen

99
Q

What is Argentina’s most important grape varietal?

100
Q

Where is Malbec native to?

101
Q

What region in Argentina is best known for Malbec?

102
Q

Where is Mendoza? What moderates the climate there?

A

Argentina; high-altitude

103
Q

What part of South Africa is most famous for Pinotage wines?

A

Western Cape

104
Q

How does Pinotage differ from Pinot Noir?

A

Pinotage has more tannin on average

105
Q

If you are drinking wine from the Barolo DOCG, what is the only varietal allowed in it?

106
Q

What regions in Italy are most famous for Nebbiolo wines?

A

Barolo DOCG, Barbaresco DOCG

107
Q

Which region in Italy is best known for high quality Barbera wines?

A

Barbera d’Asti

108
Q

What is the primary grape varietal used in Valpolicella wines?

109
Q

What does ‘Classico’ indicate on an Italian wine label?

A

The village the wine was produced on is located in a historic hillside area

110
Q

What is appassimento?

A

A method of picking grapes and drying them indoors to concentrate the flavors and sugars

111
Q

What famous Italian wines are made using the appassimento method? Which of them is sweeter?

A

Amarone della Valpolicella, Recioto della Valpolicella; Recioto is sweeter

112
Q

What flavor notes would you expect from a red wine made using the appassimento method?

A

Prune, raisin, fig (dried fruit)

113
Q

What type of grape is found in wines from the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG?

A

Sangiovese

114
Q

What region in Italy is most famous for Montepulciano wines?

A

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC

115
Q

Which Italian varietals have the highest tannin?

A

Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Montepulciano

116
Q

If you are looking for a fruitier and more easy-drinking Italian red wine, what varietals might you choose?

A

Barbera, Valpolicella (Corvina)

WSET Level 2 Award in Wines (8 decks)

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