Switzerland Flashcards
What winemaking technique, virtually absent in Germany and Austria, is often utilized in Swiss whites to combat high acidity?
Malolactic Fermentation
What are bisses?
Steep channels to funnel mountain water for irrigation, built in Switzerland since the middle ages (the climate is very dry - in some areas, expecting 1/3 the rainfall of Bordeaux).
What four French-speaking cantons of Switzerland produce wine?
Valais
Vaud
Genève
Neuchâtel
What are the top four producing cantons in Switzerland?
Valais
Vaud
Genève
Ticino
What is the specialty of Ticino?
Merlot
Where is Oeil-de-Perdrix found in Switzerland, and what is it?
Neuchâtel.
Sparkling rosé of Pinot Noir
What is the Swiss synonym for Sylvaner?
Johannisberg
The Valais is located along what river?
The Rhône (northernmost appellation!)
What is Fendant?
The local synonym for Chasselas in Valais
What is Dôle?
A blend of pinot noir and gamay (Min. 51% combined) in Valais
What are Vins de Glacier?
Maderized wine of Rèze grapes stored in high-altitude soleras, a speciality of the Valais (Vin Jaune-like)
What is Gwäss?
Gouais Blanc in Valais
What are two Valais synonyms for Savagnin?
Heida
Païen
What is the Valais synonym for Marsanne?
Ermitage
What is the Valais synonym for Pinot Gris?
Malvoisie
What does Flétri indicate?
Made from raisinated grapes
Where is Vin du Glacier aged?
The Val d’Annivers (above Sierre)
What is Charte Grain Noble ConfidenCiel?
A “Seal of Quality” for traditional sweet wines created in 1996
What are the requirements for Charte Grain Noble ConfidenCiel?
Min. 15 year old vines
Min. 130 Oechsle (no chaptalization)
Min. 1 year in wood
What varieties are authorized for Charte Grain Noble ConfidenCiel?
Ermitage Petite Arvine Amigne Johannisberg Malvoisie (PG) Paien
What are the grand crus of the Valais?
(west to east)
Fully
Conthey
Vétroz
Saint-Léonard
Salquenen/Salgesh
What are the authorized varieties for Conthey?
Fendant, Chardonnay
Pinot Noir, Gamay, Cornalin
What are the permitted varieties for Fully?
Ermitage, Petite Arvine
Gamay, Syrah
What are the permitted varieties for Saint-Léonard?
Fendant
Pinot Noir
What are the permitted varieties for Vétroz?
Chasselas, Amigne
Pinot Noir, Gamay
What does 1 bee indicate for Amigne de Vétroz?
Min. 8 g/l RS (dry)
What does 2 bees indicated for Amigne de Vétroz?
9-25 g/L RS (off-dry)
What do 3 bees indicate for Amigne de Vétroz?
25+ g/L RS (sweet)
Where is the Vaud?
The northern shore of Lake Geneva
What are the regional appellations of the Vaud?
- La Côte, Lavaux, Chablais (northern shore of Lake Geneva and east)
- Côtes de L’Orbe
- Bonvillars
- Vully
What are the Grand Crus of the Vaud, and what are their soils??
Calamin: clay
Dézelay: limestone
Where is Calamin?
Epesses (Lavaux)
Where is Dézelay?
Puidoux (Lavaux)
When did the Premier Grand Cru category come into being in the Vaud?
2012
How are the Premiers Grands Crus of the Vaud determined?
Wines must meet a range of criteria (varietal, vintage-dated, density, must weight, yield, hand harvesting, vine age), and qualified wines must be submitted annually to a tasting panel
What is Salvagnin?
The traditional red of the Vaud: pinot noir and gamay, plus gamaret, and/or garanoir
What is the Vaud synonym for Chasselas?
Dorin
Vaud AOC’s - %’s
Regional AOC: 90% of grapes from the AOC
Regional AOC with commune: 60% of grapes from said commune
Grand Cru AOC: 90% of grapes from the AOC; must be vintage dated
SGN, VT, VDN also authorized
Vaud Premier Grand Crus: what are they, since when, and what are the requirements?
- Status awarded to individual wines by the Commission des Premiers Grands Crus; first vintage 2012.
- Wines must be vintage dated, hand harvested, produced and bottled in the Vaud, and must be from the same “terroir.”
-
Based on Chasselas, Gamay, Pinot Noir, Merlot
Also must meet minimum must weight (75-85 Ochsle), vine age (7 years), max yield (.64-.8L per square meter), max vineyard density (6,000 vines/ha).
What are the subregions of Genève?
Mandement
Entre Arve et Rhône
Entre Arve et Lac