Test Failures Flashcards
Corvina, Rodinella and Molinara are all grape varieties found in:
1 Bardolino
2 Valpolicella
3 Valpolicella Ripasso
4 Amarone della Valpolicella
Dark, full-bodied red wines with powerful tannins produced almost exclusively from the Mourvedre grape are produced where?
Bandol (Provence)
For which one of the following areas in California have new crossings been developed such as Ruby Cabernet?
Central Valley
From which sub-region of the Loire does Chinon come from?
Touraine
How many growers are there approximately in Champagne?
19,000
In which country is the grape variety St Laurent important?
Austria
The Taunus Hills protect which region?
Rheingau
What are Vinos de Pagos:
Wines from a single estate with a high reputation
What does the word ‘Quinta’ mean on a bottle of Port?
winery
What is the principal grape variety in the Rose d’Anjou blend?
Grolleau
What is the principle grape of Hermitage Blanc and Saint-Peray?
Marsanne
Where are ‘Llicorella’ soils are found?
Priorat
Where is Tavel AC?
South Rhone
Which Australian district is known for Terra Rossa soils?
Coonawarra
Which grape variety is used to make Gavi DOCG?
Cortese
Which one of the following grape varieties is known for production of powerful dry white wines in Hungary?
Furmint
Which one of the following grape varieties is most likely to be used in good quality Frascati DOC?
Malvasia
What is the climate in Vinho Verde?
Maritime
Which region in Austria produces the greatest volume of wine
Niederosterreich
Which region in California produces the most wine?
Central Valley
Which regions are known for Pinot Noir?
- Nuit-Saint-Georges
- Gevrey-Chambertin
- Pommard
- Beaune
1, 2, 3 & 4
Xarel-lo is a white grape variety grown in
Spain
High-quality Malbec from Mendoza - two regions
Uco Valley, and
Luyan de Cuyo
Torrontes Grape Variety - where is it from and what is it like?
Argentine white grape originally from Spain, floral, perfume, melon, peach, pear - good fruit, but aromatic floral notes
What is Parral and why is it used?
Pergola system used in Argentina trained high off the ground with wooden or stone supports producing a thicker and dense canopy
Purpose: 1) avoid ground heat, and 2) create a shady canopy to avoid sunburn. Especially used with Torrontes
What is the process for handling aromatic grapes?
1) Handle grapes carefully
2) Use SO2 carefully and monitor it
3) skin-contact uncommon to ensure pure clean juice
4) Gentle methods for clarification
5) Inert vessels are mostly used
6) cool and long temperatures enable more primary flavors
7) Avoid MLF/Lees aging
8) Uncommon for oak maturation
Why is Salta region good for Torrontes?
One of the most northernly parts of Argentina on the boarder of Bolivia with alittudes exceeding 2000m. High altitude means wines gain more purity and concentration with markedly higher acidities.
What current affects Chile?
Humbolt current
What happens in Chile during El Niño or El Niña
El Niño (More Rain) or El Niña (Severe Drought)
What are the four regions in Chile
Coquimbo - Northern-most
Aconcagua
Central Valley
Southern
What are the wine law terms in Chile?
Costa - near the coast
Entre Cordilleras - between mountain ranges
Andes - in the mountains
What are the characteristics of Carmenere?
Coffee, GBP, black fruit, red fruit (sometimes), mint, vanilla, chocolate.
Late ripening, most success in warmest and sunniest sites
Overtly herbaceous when underripe
Full body, high tannin
What are the characteristics of Syrah
Blackberry, chocolate, black pepper, black currant, liquorice
What are the characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc
Asparagus, passion fruit, lime, lemon, wet stone,
lighter body, acidity
What are the characteristics of Chardonnay
Pineapple, buttered toast, green apple, peach, vanilla
What is a common hazard in Mendoza Argentina, and state two ways to combat it
Hail - 1) Plant in a broader area so only a small number of vines are affected, and 2) net the vines, though time-consuming and expensive, can provide some defense against hail.
What AOC in France has Malbec?
Cahors
What four regions in Chile produce premium Carmenere?
1) Aconcagua
2) Colchagua
3) Cachapoal
4) Limari
What regions in Chile are known for cooler climates?
Casablanca, San Antonio, Leyda
What are the characteristics of Semillon
Petrol, grass, lemon, almond, honey, pineapple, pear, wet wool
What Australian region produces fuller-bodied, soft Semillon?
Barossa Valley
What Australian region produces Herbaceous and aromatic Semillon?
Western Australia (often blended with Sauv Blanc
What Australian region produces honeyed and toasty with age Semillon?
Hunter Valley
What are the characteristics of Shiraz
Earthy, spicy, leathery, blackberry, chocolate, licorice (warmer areas), black pepper (cooler areas), softer tannins. Small, thick-skinned, dark-colored - struggle to ripen in cooler weather.
Two styles:
1) Vigorous cap management from ripe/over-ripe grapes, create full-bodied, colorful, ripe, and alcohol
2) Earlier picked grapes, with careful cap management, whole bunch pressing with neutral oak create elegant, more restrained styles
What are the characteristics of Grenach
Red fruits, white pepper spice, leather, game, meaty
Late ripening, requiring warm/hot climates
High drought tolerance
Sweet, thin-skinned (whole cluster fermentation possible, careful cap management
Some post-fermentation skin contact
Cold soaking is common
Australian areas that produce premium Syrah
Hunter Valley, McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Clare Valley
What are the characteristics of Pinot Noir
Red fruits, mushrooms, lighter-bodied
Cool to moderate climate, early budding and ripening with thin skins. Very site-sensitive (i.e. limestone terroir makes it very acidic whereas granite makes it more round and smooth). Susceptible to coulure (shedding of blossom), downy mildew, botrytis, virus diseases.
What are the characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc
Early ripening, early picking increases pyrazines (herbaceous flavors)
Highly aromatic, tropical fruits, high acids, lime, lemon, passion fruit, wet stones, elderflower
State and describe the climate of Marlborough
Cool Maritime - rainfall year-round, especially at harvest. Long sunshine hours and nights cooled by sea breezes.
What are the two key sub-regions in Marlborough
1) Awatere Valley - cooler, rainier and windier producing wines that are lighter, with brighter acidity and more minerality
2) Wairau Valley - Warmer and drier - more pronounced aromatics and tropical notes.
What natural aspects affect South Africa?
Benguela Current (from antartic) and the Cape Doctor from indian ocean) as well as expansive mountain ranges to add elevation
State and Explain 4 climatic influences of the Western Cape in South Africa that make grape production possible
1) Vineyard Location between 27 and 35 degrees S ensure sunlight and warmth
2) Benguela Current brings cool air up from antartic
3) Cape Doctor, a south-easterly wind often added to this current cooling areas inland by a few degrees balancing the heat
4) Expansive mountain ranges across the western cape are a source of cooler mountain air, in addition to creating cooler higher-altitude sites and creating shadowed areas creating cooler temps
What are the characteristics of Chenin Blanc
Notes of green apple, lemon, pineapple, honey
Thin skins, high acidity, can be floral, sometimes oaked or put through malo or lees contact
Name two areas in South Africa that are well-known for quality sauv blanc - and what makes them well-suited to sauv blanc production?
Constantia, Durbanville, Elgin, Elim, Walker Bay
1) Coastal areas cooling sea breezes such as the 2) Benguela current and the 3) Cape Doctor
What South African regions are known for Chenin Blanc?
Swartland (Old Vine, highest quality),
Paarl (bigger, more robust),
Worcester (mass production)
What are the primary styles of Pinotage in South Africa?
1) Cape Blends - blended with Cab Sauv and/or Shiraz
2) Light varietal wines
3) Fuller bodied old-vine varietal wines
4) Coffee/Chocolate wines - aging in/with heavily toasted oak
What are the characteristics of Gruner Veltliner?
Most widely planted in Austria
High yields - fresh, light wines often in S/S
Low Yields - Full-bodied, concentrated with high acidity, oak/lees
What is Austrian “Klassik”?
Light, fresh and simple with high acidity with citrus/stone fruits and a hint of white pepper. LIkely to be unoaked. If in Weinviertel DAC, it is Gruner Veltliner
What is the name of the river that flows through Austria?
River Danube
What is the name of the lake in Burgenland Austria and what’s so special about it?
Deusiedlersee - this lake provides consistent botrytis conditions almost every year.
What six winemaking conditions are important to produce a clean/fresh wine, especially with aromatic varieties?
1) Grapes are handled carefully with heavy selection to eliminate any problem fruit/foreign bodies
2) SO2 will be carefully used/monitored as an anti-oxidant/anti-septic
3) Whole bunch pressing will be used to ensure cleaner juice
4) Skin contact is avoided to ensure cleaner juice
5) Inert vessels mostly used for reductive winemaking
6) cool and long temperatures enable more primary flavors
What is the primary varietal in Franken?
Silvaner
What are the primary varieties in Baden, Germany?
Spatburgunder (PN)
Weissburgunder (PBlanc)
Grauburgunder (PGris)
What is Muller-Thurgau a crossing of?
Riesling & Madeleine Royale
What is the German word for “Dry”?
Trocken
What is the German word for “off dry”?
Halbtrocken (official) OR Feinherb (not official)
What is the group in Germany that indicates specific high-quality wines and what is their symbol?
Verband Deutscher Pradikatsweinguter (VDP)
German eagle with grapes inside
What is the designation for high-quality german wine by a VDP group member?
Grosses Gewach “First Growth” - dry premium of a high quality.
In Rheingau - it’s PN or Riesling
In Mosel - it’s only Riesling
What are the six designations of Pradikatswein in order of dryness?
Kabinett Spatslese Auslese Beerenauslese (BA) Eiswein Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
Describe a Kabinett wine
Lightest, most acidic, off-dry to medium dry. Can be medium and medium sweet.
Typically 8-9% abv, Kabinett Trocken will be 11-12% abv
Describe a Spatlese wine
Translates to “Late Harvest” - tends to be harvested 1-2 weeks after kabinett
7-8% abv, Spatlese Trocken will be 13% abv
Describe Auslese wine
Translates to “Selected Harvest” - hand-harvested selected berries (same as passerage in France)
7-8% abv, quite sweet
Describe a Beerenauslese wine
Translates to “Berries of a selected harvest”
Highest % of Noble Rot, plus very ripe berries,
typical 6% abv
Describe a Trockenbeerenauslese wine
Translates to “Dried Berries Selected Harvest”
Very high % of noble rot, heavy selection of the best of the best
Very very sweet and age-worthy, 6%
How is Northern Italy pinot grigio made stylistically?
Dry, clonal selection same as Germany/Alsace, typically made seductively in SS or concrete with some MLF, lees and oak in premium examples.
What are the typical characteristics of Pinot Grigio?
Dry with light to medium body with high acidity.
Lemon, apple, pear, floral, and minerality
How long does Barolo DOCG need to be aged?
Minimum of 36 months total aging
Minimum of 18 months in oak (can be either Botti or smaller barrique)
How long does Barbaresco DOCG need to be aged?
Minimum of 24 months total aging
Minimum of 9 months in oak (can be either Botti or smaller barrique)
What are the characteristics of Nebbiolo
Red fruit, sour cherry, floral purfume/rose when young, herbal (lavender/fennel), secondary oak notes, and truffle, meaty, mushroom, earthy/tar
Early budding, late ripening, needs wawrm site - site sensitive
Thick “foggy” skins (hence the name)
High in tannin, high in acidity
Low in Anthocyanin (color) - ends up being pale garnet due to aging length requirements
Ages very well
What is the name of the river that runs through Piedmont close to Barbaresco?
Tanaro River
What are the characteristics of Sangiovese?
Plum, cherry, blackberry, herbal, mushroom, meaty, leather
Late to ripen, needs warmth - also drought tolerant. Frequently oaked due to high tannins, high acidity
What varieties make up a Bordeaux blend?
A combination of two or more of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and to a lesser extent Carmenère and Malbec.
How long does Chianti Classico DOCG need to be aged?
Minimum 12 months total aging either in Botti or smaller
How long does Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG need to be aged?
Minimum 24 months total aging
Minimum of 2 months in the bottle
Either Botti or smaller barrels
What are the aging and other rules for Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG?
Minimum 30 months total aging; either in botti or smaller barrels; single estate only.
What does “classico” mean in italian wine regions?
Over time, wine regions have expanded outside the original zone. The term Classico indicates it has been made solely from the original classified land and include the best wines of the area.
What does higher altitude growing give to a wine?
Slows the ripening resulting in wines of higher acidity and more herbal aromas
What are some attributes of Corvina?
Red fruit, plum, dried cherries, tobacco, mint, raisins, prunes, oak, chocolate - well suited to Pasito method
Describe the topography and geology of the classic zone in Valpolicella and the effect it has on the wines produced here (6 marks)
Located in the north district in the foothills of the Monti Lessini made of limestone, clay, and some volcanic rocks. This slows down the ripening due to the soil/altitude producing wines of mire intensity and acidity.
What are the requirements for Brunello di Montalcino
minimum of 5 years aging, 2 years in oak
MUST be 100% Sangiovese
Describe the climate of Tuscany
Warm Mediterranean with coastal maritime breezes, with low amounts of rainfall, Montalcino is one of the warmest parts of Tuscany.
Primary grape varietal in Southern Rhone
Grenache (also for white is Viognier/Marsanne/Roussanne)
