Somm Flashcards
What does a cool climate mean for wine?
-Grapes ripen slowly and moderately, therefore less sugar is produced
-Acidity remains high
-Less alcohol potential, because there is less sugar in the wine for yeast to eat away at
-Flavors are more tart and lean, less ripe and juicy
What does a warm climate mean for wine?
-Grapes ripen fully
-More sugar is produced
-Acidity is lower
-Higher alcohol potential
-Flavors are more ripe, lush and juicy
What are aspects of vineyard management?
-Canopy management
-Irrigation
-Managing pests and Vine Disease
-Fertilizers
-Anti-Fungal Treatments
What are aspects of harvesting?
-timing of picking, which includes how ripe the grapes are in terms of sugar which will determine alcohol content as well as the ripeness specifically associated with tannins in the grape skins and seeds
-some wineries harvest grapes by hand, and some harvest them mechanically. harvesting grapes by hand allows for more selectivity around the grapes that are chosen, and while mechanical harvesting is faster, which can help in a crop is being grown in a hot region or is threatened by an incoming storm, mechanical harvesting often results in grapes arriving at the winery along with leaves, pests, and even animals
-wineries using big bins might have bursting berries or clusters at the bottom, while those using smaller bins and harvesting by hand will usually not have this problem
Where are most wines grown?
between the 30 and 50 latitudes in the northern and Southern Hemispheres
What is the difference between a macroclimate and a microclimate?
A macroclimate might be a region, but a microclimate is when we are talking about a specific vineyard or even a vine
what are the zones of climate?
-continental climates are characterized by strong annual variation in temperature
-maritime climates are influenced by a large body of water such as a sea or ocean, marked by mild temperatures that can fluctuate from year to year, causing vintage variation
-Mediterranean climates have hot and dry summers, aside from the immediate coastal areas. Along the coasts, summers are mild due to proximity to cold water currents, but storms can also result as a consequence.
-High desert climates have hot and dry summers, daytime temperatures are high but dramatic drops are often experienced overnight
How can climates affect wines?
-The difference between daytime high and nighttime low temperatures can affect the ripening of grapes and the balancing of acidity and sugar
-the amount of sunshine a vineyard or wine region receives can affect how the grapes ripen
-Frost can kill vines in the winter, or kill buds or flowers in the spring, preventing the vine from setting grape clusters
-Hail can shatter grapes on the vine
-Strong winds can blow vines over or blow buds and flowers off the vine, preventing grapes from growing
What are climate moderators?
-Bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers, and oceans can warm or cool a wine region
-Mountains can protect a wine region from surrounding weather or climate influences
-Rain shadows are dry areas on one side of a mountain opposite the wind, rain, and generally poor weather. There are many important wine regions in the world that exist in rain shadows.
-Altitude/elevation will change the temperature of a wine region, as temperature drops as the elevation increases, which will slow grape ripening and produce more balanced wines
-Wind can cool a region if it originates from over cool ocean waters, or lend warmth and drier air, if originating from a desert, helping prevent mold or rot
What are the aromatic whites?
-Gewurtztraminer
-Muscat
-Torrontes
-Muscat
-Albarino
-Loureiro
-Muller-Thurgau
-Riesling
-Vidal Blanc
-Sauvignon Blanc
What effects does the topography of a region have on its wines?
-Steeper hillsides provide better drainage of soil, are often less fertile due to erosion and lower chance of frost, as cool air will fall from the upper slopes. They are harder to maintain during the growing season, and to harvest
-Valley floors pool air, are susceptible to frost and sometimes have overly fertile soil
What are the different ways soil can affect a wine?
-Drainage of water
-Water retention
-Sun reflection
What are the different soil types?
-Granite
-Limestone/chalk
-Marl
-Schist
-Clay
-Sand
-Silt
-Gravel
Grapes
Skins
-Tannins lend structure, but also astringency in red wines
-Color provides an intensity and hue from molecules located in the skins of grapes that are different fro each grape variety
-The most important aromas and flavors are located in the skins of the grapes and are unique to each variety
Pulp
-Water resides in the pulp
-Sugar increases as grapes ripen
-Acids decrease as grapes ripen
-Seeds can produce bitter flavors if pressed
Pre-Fermentation Factors
-Sorting
-Destemming, which sometimes doesn’t happen because the stems can change the flavor in different ways
-Crushing
What does barrel aging do?
-Evaporates excess water
-Oxidizes and causes color change in wine, white wines darken from pale yellow to gold, and red wines tend to lighten in color
-Aging in oak softens the wine
-Flavors are imparted to wine from the barrel, such as vanilla, oak, toast, spice, and coconut
What is the difference between new and old oak barrels?
Newer oak barrels impart the most flavor to a wine, and older oak barrels impart less flavor, but newer oak barrels are extremely expensive
What does the size of a barrel do to a wine?
A larger barrel will impart less flavor to the wine, because a lower percentage of liquid is in contact with the barrel’s wood, and small barrels will impart more flavor to the wine because a higher percentage of liquid is in contact with the barrel
What flavors does American oak impart?
Bold, more intense flavors of vanilla, toast, and spice
What flavors does French oak impart?
Subtler aromas of vanilla, toast, and spice
What is malolactic fermentation?
Tart malic acid, which occurs naturally in grapes, is converted to softer-tasting lactic acid. this process almost always occurs in red wines, but only sometimes in white wines. This process is said to give white wines a buttery, and creamy taste
