Switzerland Flashcards
1
Q
What winemaking technique, virtually absent in Germany and Austria, is often utilized in Swiss whites to combat high acidity?
A
Malolactic Fermentation
2
Q
What are bisses?
A
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).
3
Q
What four French-speaking cantons of Switzerland produce wine?
A
Valais
Vaud
Genève
Neuchâtel
4
Q
What are the top four producing cantons in Switzerland?
A
Valais
Vaud
Genève
Ticino
5
Q
What is the specialty of Ticino?
A
Merlot
6
Q
Where is Oeil-de-Perdrix found in Switzerland, and what is it?
A
Neuchâtel.
Sparkling rosé of Pinot Noir
7
Q
What is the Swiss synonym for Sylvaner?
A
Johannisberg
8
Q
The Valais is located along what river?
A
The Rhône (northernmost appellation!)
9
Q
What is Fendant?
A
The local synonym for Chasselas in Valais
10
Q
What is Dôle?
A
A blend of pinot noir and gamay (Min. 51% combined) in Valais
11
Q
What are Vins de Glacier?
A
Maderized wine of Rèze grapes stored in high-altitude soleras, a speciality of the Valais (Vin Jaune-like)
12
Q
What is Gwäss?
A
Gouais Blanc in Valais
13
Q
What are two Valais synonyms for Savagnin?
A
Heida
Païen
14
Q
What is the Valais synonym for Marsanne?
A
Ermitage
15
Q
What is the Valais synonym for Pinot Gris?
A
Malvoisie
16
Q
What does Flétri indicate?
A
Made from raisinated grapes
17
Q
Where is Vin du Glacier aged?
A
The Val d’Annivers (above Sierre)
18
Q
What is Charte Grain Noble ConfidenCiel?
A
A “Seal of Quality” for traditional sweet wines created in 1996
19
Q
What are the requirements for Charte Grain Noble ConfidenCiel?
A
Min. 15 year old vines
Min. 130 Oechsle (no chaptalization)
Min. 1 year in wood
20
Q
What varieties are authorized for Charte Grain Noble ConfidenCiel?
A
Ermitage Petite Arvine Amigne Johannisberg Malvoisie (PG) Paien
21
Q
What are the grand crus of the Valais?
A
(west to east)
Fully
Conthey
Vétroz
Saint-Léonard
Salquenen/Salgesh
22
Q
What are the authorized varieties for Conthey?
A
Fendant, Chardonnay
Pinot Noir, Gamay, Cornalin
23
Q
What are the permitted varieties for Fully?
A
Ermitage, Petite Arvine
Gamay, Syrah
24
Q
What are the permitted varieties for Saint-Léonard?
A
Fendant
Pinot Noir
25
What are the permitted varieties for **Vétroz**?
**Chasselas, Amigne
Pinot Noir, Gamay**
26
What does **1 bee indicate for Amigne de Vétroz**?
**Min. 8 g/l RS (dry)**
27
What does **2 bees indicated for Amigne de Vétroz**?
**9-25 g/L RS (off-dry)**
28
What do **3 bees indicate for Amigne de Vétroz**?
**25+ g/L RS (sweet)**
29
Where is the **Vaud**?
The northern shore of **Lake Geneva**
30
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
31
What are the Grand Crus of the **Vaud**, and what are their soils??
**Calamin**: clay
**Dézelay**: limestone
32
Where is Calamin?
Epesses (Lavaux)
33
Where is Dézelay?
Puidoux (Lavaux)
34
When did the Premier Grand Cru category come into being in the Vaud?
2012
35
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
36
What is **Salvagnin**?
The **traditional red of the Vaud**: pinot noir and gamay, plus gamaret, and/or garanoir
37
What is the **Vaud** synonym for **Chasselas**?
**Dorin**
38
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
39
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).
40
What are the subregions of **Genève**?
**Mandement
Entre Arve et Rhône
Entre Arve et Lac**
41
Authorized grapes in **Genève**
Chasselas, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Gewürztraminer
Pinot Noir, Gamay, Gamaret, Garanoir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
42
What are AO wines?
Part of the cantonal regulations in Genève. May be general (Gamay de Genève) or specific (Pinot Noir de Dardagny).
43
Where and when is **Chasselas produced in an unfiltered, slightly sparkling style**? How is it referred to?
- **Neuchâtel, on the third Wednesday in January**
- **called "Non Filtré"**
44
What is **Perdrix Blanc**?
**Still Blanc de Pinot Noir (Neuchâtel)**
45
What does **La Gerle** indicate?
Quality wine of **Chasselas** that must pass an examination and tasting panel. **Named for the hod that can carry 100L of pressed grapes during harvest. Specific to Neuchatel**.
46
Authorized grapes in **Neuchâtel**
**Chasselas, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Müller-Thurgau, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir**
47
What are the subregions of **Neuchâtel**?
**La Béroche
The Coast
Entre-deux-Lacs**
48
What are the two subregions of **Ticino**?
**Sopraceneri
Sottoceneri**
49
What is **Nostrano del Ticino**?
"Local Wine," usually **Bondola** based
50
What is the **VITI Quality Label**?
**Ticino** A special label introduced in 1948, awarded to **Merlot-based wines** that pass a tasting panel for typiticy and quality of sight, smell, and taste.
51
What Italian-speaking canton border Italy’s Lombardy region in the south? What grape is it known for?
a. Ticino
b. Merlot
52
In what Grand Cru do we find the **Amigne de Vétroz Sweetness Indicators**? What are the RS levels? Is chapitalization allowed?
**Vétroz AOC, Grand Cru of Valais**
* One bee (Sèche/Trocken): 0-8 g/l residual sugar
* Two bees (Légèrement Douce/Halb Süss): 9-25 g/l of residual sugar
* Three bees (Douce/Süss): 25+ g/l of residual sugar
e. Chapitalization is not allowed
53
What is Chasselas known as in the Mandement district of Geneva?
Perlan
54
What grape is *Vins de Glacier* produced with?
a. produced with the Reze grape
b. A rare maderized wine stored in high-altitude soleras
55
Match the grape with its Swiss synonym:
a. Fendant - Chasselas
b. Johannisberg - Silvaner
c. Ermitage - Marianne
d. Heida, Paien - Savagnin
e. Malvoisie - Pinot Gris
56
What are the varietal requirements for Valais’ Dôle?
a. Min. 51% combined Pinot Noir and Gamay, plus Garanoir, Gamaret, Ancellotta, Diolinoir, Carminoir, Merlot, Syrah
b. From 2004-2020 the requirement was 85%
57
What are **Neuchâtel’s “wine specialities”?**
**Oeil-de-Perdrix:** Rosé of Pinot Noir. (Originated here but the Canton failed to protect the name.)
**Non Filtré:** 100% Chasselas. Released on the third Wednesday in January at an official tasting in the city's town hall. Bottled without filtering the yeast.
**Perdrix Blanc:** Still Blanc de Pinot Noir.
58
What is **Vaud’s** cepage for the traditional appellation of **Salvagnin**?
Blend: Min. 10% Pinot Noir, Min. 50% Gamay, Min. 20% Gamaret and/or Garanoir
59
What (relatively) popular term for rosé originated from Switzerland?
Oeil-de-perdrix
60
What pinot noir clone, popular in Oregon, originated from Switzerland?
Wädenswil
61
Many taverns in Ticino grew up around caves where their goods could be kept cool and dry and thus acquired this term to refer to them:
Grottos
62
Name an indigenous Swiss red variety approved for AOC level wines:
Bondola, Diolinoir, Eyholzer Roter, Galotta, Gamaret, Garanoir, Humagne Rouge (Cornalin)
63
If a Vaud regional wine mentions a village what percentage of grapes must come from that village? What percentage must come from a named Grand Cru AOC?
60%, 90%
64
The Grand Cru AOCs of Calamin & Dézaley are nested within what other AOC?
Lavaux
65
What cheese is most commonly melted for Swiss fondue?
Gruyère
66
If you see this on a bottle what grapes can it be made from?
Petite Arvine, Ermitage (Marsanne), Johannisberg (Sylvaner), Amigne, Paien, and/or Malvoisie (Pinot Gris)
67
If you’re in Neuchâtel and someone poured you this from what grape would you expect this to be made?
Chasselas (non-filtré)
68
The Val-de-Travers calls itself the birthplace of a certain herbal spirit. Name that spirit:
Absinthe
69
Dézalay and Calamin are Grand Cru AOCs located within which canton?
Vaud
70
What is the name of the charter for producers in Valais focused on making late-harvest sweet wines?
Charte Grain Noble ConfidenCiel
71
What is the name of the warm, dry wind that blows through **Valais**?
**Foehn**
72
What is Chasselas also known as in Valais? Vaud?
Fendant; Dorin
73
What is the Swiss synonym for Sylvaner?
Johannisberg
74
**Chablais, La Côte, and Lavaux** are regional AOCs located within the _____________ canton.
**Vaud**
75
What cheese is native to Valais and also has AOP status? What is its classic local wine pairing?
Raclette; Fendant (Chasselas)
76
____________ is the **Rhône River's northernmost wine-growing appellation**
**Valais**
77
Which **Swiss canton borders Italy's Lombardy region**? What is the primary grape of the region?
Ticino; Merlot
78
What is Salvagnin, and which canton is it a specialty of?
Blend of Gamay, Pinot Noir, Gamaret, and Garanoir; Vaud
79
What river runs through the Valais?
The second-longest river in France, the Rhône River originates in Switzerland, from the Rhône Glacier in the Swiss Alps (in the canton of Valais).
80
What is the grape of Vin de Glacier?
**Rèze** has been planted in Valais for centuries; its first mention in writing is in 1313. The grape is known for its role as one of the varieties used in the mythical Vin du Glacier from the Val d'Anniviers.
81
Name 2 synonyms for Savagnin in Switzerland:
Heida and Païen
82
What are the 5 Cantons of Switzerland?
Geneva, Neuchâtel, Ticino, Valais, and Vaud
83
Why are Swiss states called cantons?
from a word for "edge, corner", at the time the literal translation of Early Modern High German ort.
84
What are the "Three Lakes" of Neuchatel?
The vineyards of the Three Lakes region lie on the **Lakes Biel, Murten and Neuchâtel** and stretch out over the cantons of Neuchâtel, Bern, Fribourg, Vaud and Jura.
85
Where is Oeil-de-Perdrix found in Switzerland, and what is it?
Neuchâtel.
Sparkling rosé of Pinot Noir
86
What is the Swiss synonym for Sylvaner?
Johannisberg
87
What is Gwäss?
Gouais Blanc in Valais
88
What does Flétri indicate?
Made from raisinated grapes
89
What are Vins de Glacier?
Maderized wine of Rèze grapes stored in high-altitude soleras, a speciality of the Valais (Vin Jaune-like)
90
Where is Vin du Glacier aged?
The Val d'Annivers (above Sierre)
91
What are the requirements for Charte Grain Noble ConfidenCiel?
Min 15 year old vines
Min 130 Oechsle (no chaptalization)
Min 1 year in wood
92
What river feeds into **Lake Constance** in Northern Switzerland?
The Rhein
93
What river feeds into **Lake Geneva** in Southern Switzerland?
The Rhone
94
T/F Varietal Pinot Noir Grand Cru is authorized from Vetroz, Valais
F- Both Pinot Noir and Gamay are authorized for Vetroz Grand Cru to allow Dole, neither authorized for varietal labeled wines
95
What and where: Charte Grain Noble ConfienCiel?
In the Valais, established in 1996 is a seal of quality for traditional sweet wines
96
What is the minimum vine age for Vaud Premier Cru wines?
7 years
97
T/F Premier Cru Vaud wines are based on individual wines, not a standing distinction.
True
98
Which of the following is NOT authorized for Vaud AOC?
Vin Doux Naturel
Vendage Tardive
Selection de Grains Nobles
Vin Doux Liqueur
Vin Doux Naturel
Vendage Tardive
Selection de Grains Nobles
Vin Doux Liqueur $$$
99
Vaud AOC minimum grape percentage for origin:
Regional AOC=
Regional AOC with Commune listed=
Grand Cru AOC=
Regional AOC= 90%
Regional AOC with Commune listed= 60% from commune
Grand Cru AOC= 90%
100
Where is **Dorin** found, and what is the varietal?
Vaud, Chasselas
101
What is the **La Gerle d’Or**?
In **Neuchatel, it is awarded for the best wine** submitted to the tasting panel (assuming annually), established in 1995. The wines must be **100% Chasselas** only.
