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CMS Certified Exam > Tasting > Flashcards

Tasting Flashcards

1
Q

A vertical tasting is one where:

A

Several vintages of the same wines are tasted

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2
Q

A horizontal tasting in one where:

A

Several different wines from the same region and vintage are tasted

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3
Q

An industry tasting is one where:

A

Several wines are shown by a winery, broker, or retail establishment

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4
Q

Purple hints in a red wine are signs of:

A

Youth

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5
Q

Sediments in a wine is typically a sign of:

A

Age

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6
Q

As white wines age, they get ____________ in color

A

Darker

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7
Q

As red wines age, they get ______________ in color?

A

Lighter

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8
Q

The amount of pigmentation a red wine has is an indicator:

A

Grape skin thickness

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9
Q

5 thick-skinned red grapes to know:

A

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tempranillo, Syrah, Zinfandel

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10
Q

6 thin-skinned red grapes to know:

A

Gamay, Grenache, Malbec, Nebbiolo, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese

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11
Q

9 white grapes to know:

A

Albarino, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Torrontes, Viognier

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12
Q

Describe the acidity and alcohol of warm climate grapes

A

Less acid and more alcohol

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13
Q

Describe the acidity and alcohol of cool climate grapes

A

More acid and less alcohol

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14
Q

Describe age ranges and the corresponding wine colors

A

When it comes to Age range the rule of thumb:

  • 1 to 3 years
  • white: Clear to light straw
  • red: Purple
  • 3 to 5 years
  • White: Yellow
  • Red: Red
  • 5 or More years
  • White: Golden
  • Red: Amber / Brick
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15
Q

Describe the difference between an old world and new world wine

A

Old world wines typically come from a cooler climate, tend to be more earthy and mineral-driven, and the fruit becomes less prominent on the palette

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16
Q

Describe a new world wine

A

Typically made in warmer climates, more fruit-forward, reds aged more in oak

17
Q

How do you determine the quality of a wine?

A
  • the intensity of aroma and flavor
  • complexity of aroma and flavor
  • the finish
18
Q

What is LED Tasting?

A

When you already know something about a wine or its origins before you taste it.

19
Q

What can alter the color of a wine?

A

Bottle Aging
Slow oxidation and color change can occur over time as wines interact with a small amount of dissolved oxygen

  • Barrel Aging
    Oak barrels are watertight but large amounts of oxygen cause rapid oxidation and color change
  • Residual Sugar
    Sweet wines tend to be darker in color because of the residual sugar in them
20
Q

Describe Riesling: Where it’s planted, growing conditions, body, acidity, aging regime and characteristics

A

Regions: Germany, Mosel, Rhein; France, Alsace, Australia, South AUS, Clare Valley, Eden Valley

Preferred Growing Conditions: Does best in cool to cold climates

Body: Ranges from very light when made in a dry style, to think and syrupy when made into a superripe dessert wine

Acidity: Very High

Aging Regime: Stainless Steel

Varietal Characteristics: A Chameleon, translates to the terroir and changes characteristics based on where it is grown. lime, green apple, jasmine, beeswax, petroleum

21
Q

Describe Sauvignon Blanc: Where it’s planted, growing conditions, body, acidity, aging regime and characteristics

A

Regions:
Sancerre, Loire Valley France, Marlborough New Zealand

Growing Conditions: Temperate to Cool Climate

Acidity: Medium to High

Style: Dry

Aging Regime: Either Stainless Steel or Oak, depends on the wine maker. Most French winemakers don’t use Oak, but if used it is a neutral oak

Varietal Characteristics: Grapefruit, tropical fruits, lime, gooseberries, grapefruit, freshly cut green grass, herbs, and cat urine

22
Q

Describe Pinot Gris / Pinot Grigio: Regions, growing conditions, body, acidity, aging regime and characteristics

A

Regions: France, Alsace; Italy, Friuli, Trentino-Alto Adige

Growing Conditions: Temperate to Cool Climates

Body: Light to Medium

Style: Dry

Aging Regime: One type (Pinot Gris)is were usually aged in oak barrels, while the other type (Pinot Grigio) is are usually aged in Stainless Steel

Varietal Characteristics:
-ripe apples, white peaches, lemon zest, cantaloupe, raw almond, cream, crushed gravel

23
Q

Describe Chardonnay: Regions, growing conditions, body, acidity, aging regime and characteristics

A

Regions: France, Burgundy, Chablis/Cote D’or/Maconnais, USA, California, Napa/Sonoma/Central Coast

Growing Conditions: grown in any condition but the best wines are grown in temperate to cool climates

Body: Medium to Full

Acidity: Low to Medium

Style: Dry

Aging Regime: Almost always aged in Oak

Varietal Characteristics:

Old World: Citrus, Green Apple, Olives, Nuts, Minerals

New World: Pears, Apple Pie, Pineapples, Toffee, Butter, Vanilla, Spice

24
Q

Describe Pinot Noir: Regions, growing conditions, body, acidity, aging regime and characteristics

A

Regions: Cote D’or, Burgundy France, Willamette Valley Oregon, Napa Sonoma Central Coast California, Central Otago South Island NZ, Martinborough North Island NZ

Growing Conditions: Temperate to Cool Climates

Body: Light to Medium

Acidity: Medium to High

Thin-skinned grape

Tannins: Low

Style: Dry

Varietal Characteristics:
Cranberries, cherries, hibiscus, rose petal, wet earth, potting soil, mushroom, tobacco, leather, smoke, spice, and barnyard

25
Describe Syrah (France) / Shiraz (Australia) : Regions, growing conditions, body, acidity, aging regime and characteristics
Regions: Northern Rhone France, South, Western, Victoria Australia, Napa, Sonoma, Central Coast California Growing Conditions: Warm to Hot Climates Body: Medium Acidity: Medium to Low Medium to thick skinned grape Tannins: Moderate Style:Dry Varietals: French Style: Blackberries, blueberries, black plum, milk chocolate, tobacco, leather, black pepper, smoke, and meaty/gamey
26
Merlot: Regions, growing conditions, body, acidity, aging regime and characteristics
Regions: France (Bordeaux right bank) Pomerol, St Emilion, Napa/Sonoma California Climate: Does best in temperate to warm climates Body: Medium to Full Acidity: Low Thick skinned grape Tannins: Moderate to High Style: Dry Varietal Characteristics: France: Blueberries, black cherries, plum, chocolate, bay leaf, spice, cedar, and Vanilla
27
Cabernet Sauvignon: Regions, growing conditions, body, acidity, aging regime and characteristics
Regions: Bordeaux France, left bank, Napa/Sonoma California, Central Valley Chile, South/Western Australia Growing Conditions: best grown in temperate to warm climates Body: Full Acidity: Low to Medium Thick skinned grape Tannins: High Style: Dry Varietal Characteristics: French Style: Black Currants, Plum, black cherries, mint, bell pepper, cedar, vanilla, and musty/wet dog, Anise, Tobacco Leaf, Pencil Lead Parents are Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc
28
Albariño: Regions, growing conditions, body, acidity, aging regime and characteristics
Alias: Alvarinho (Portugal) Regions: Spain, Rias Baxias Color: Pale straw Aged: Stainless Steel Body: light Style: Dry Acidity: High Varietal Characteristics: lemon zest, grapefruit, honeydew, nectarine, saline, grassy notes, sometimes a subtle bitter note of green almonds/citrus pith
29
Chenin Blanc: Regions, growing conditions, body, acidity, aging regime and characteristics
Alias: Steen (South Africa) Regions: France, Loire Valley, Savennières/Vouvray, Loire Valley - aged in oak (minimum amount of time) - quince, yellow apple, pear, chamomile, honey
30
Gamay: Regions, growing conditions, body, acidity, aging regime and characteristics
Regions: Beajoulais, France Thin-skinned grape Produces light, fruity red wines that often exhibit floral notes. Pomegranate, blackberry, violet, peony, potting soil - produces a wine call Beaujolais Nouveau, which is a short lived wine, extremely soft and is released once a year to celebrate the French harvest season
31
Gewürztraminer: Regions, growing conditions, body, acidity, aging regime and characteristics
Regions: France, Alsace Highly aromatic, intensely floral, rose, lychee, grapefruit, tangerine, ginger, cantalope, pineapple, peach Style: Dry, slightly sweet table wines, or sweet desert wines
32
Grenache: Regions, growing conditions, body, acidity, aging regime and characteristics
Regions: Rhone Valley (Gigondas, Chateneuf du Pape) France, South Australia Thin-skinned grape Stewed Strawberry, grilled plum, leather, dried herbs, blood orange
33
Malbec: Regions, growing conditions, body, acidity, aging regime and characteristics
Regions: Mendoza Argentina Medium-thin skinned grape that produces deeply, colored, dense, structures red wines with flavors of dark fruits. red plum, blackberry, vanilla, sweet tobacco, cocoa bright magenta rim and opaque purple color.
34
Nebbiolo: Regions, growing conditions, body, acidity, aging regime and characteristics
Meaning: Little Fog Regions: Barolo, Barbaresco, Piedmont Italy Medium skinned grape tar, cherry, rose, licorice, violets, prunes, figs, leather, anise, clay pot
35
Sangiovese: Regions, growing conditions, body, acidity, aging regime and characteristics
Alias: - Brunello: used in production of Brunello di Montalcino Regions: Tuscany, Italy: Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino Meaning: Blood of Jupiter Thin to medium skinned grape - Main grape used in Chianti and Chianti Classico - Also the base wine for the Super Tuscans - Tend to be more acidic than they are tannic Varietal Characteristics: red fruit flavors, clay and wet earth
36
Tempranillo: Regions, growing conditions, body, acidity, aging regime and characteristics
Alias: - Tinto de Toro - Rueda, Spain - Tinto Fino - Ribera del Duero, Spain Regions: Spain, Rioja, Ribera del Duero Thick skinned grape - Top producing red grape in Spain - Long Lived, with intense structure Aging: Oak Varietal: cherry, earth, dried fig, cedar, tobacco, dill
37
Torrontès: Regions, growing conditions, body, acidity, aging regime and characteristics
Torronetès Riojano - Salta Regions: Argentina, Salta/Catamarca, Mendoza - Aromatic, perfumed white grape - Rarely aged in Oak - Meyer lemon, peach, rose petal, geranium, citrus zest
38
Viognier: Regions, growing conditions, body, acidity, aging regime and characteristics
Main region: France, Rhone Valley, Condrieu Body: Full and Powerful. Oily! Alcohol: High Varietal Characteristics: aromatic when fully ripened, peach flavor, apricot, and honeysuckle aromas, floral, stone fruits, tangerine, mango, honeysuckle, rose
39
Zinfandel: Regions, growing conditions, body, acidity, aging regime and characteristics
Main Regions: Napa/Sonoma/Paso Robles CA Acidity: Medium - Medium High Tannins: Medium - Medium High Thick skinned grape Fruit Flavors: Raspberry, Black Cherry, Blueberry, Black Currant, Black Plum, Raisin, Fig, Apricot, Cranberry Jam, Jammy / Brambly Fruit Other Aromas: Licorice, Star Anise, Smoke, Black Pepper, Black Cardamom, Vanilla, Coconut, Nutmeg, Peach Yogurt, Mocha, Burnt Sugar, Coffee, Cinnamon, Clove, Tobacco, Fresh Sawdust

CMS Certified Exam (45 decks)

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