Variety Info Flashcards
Airen
Most widely planted grape in Spain. Can cope with extreme heat and drought. In Castilla La Mancha DO in the central Meseta. Neutral. Mostly used as the base in Brandy de Jerez. Stainless steel. Low intensity, medium to low acidity, light body, medium alcohol wine for early consumption. Simple wines.
Aglianico
The barolo of the south. One of the most prestigious grapes in Italy. High everything. Deep color and longer maceration times. Campania is very intense and complex. In the Taurasi DOCG. In Basilicata it’s planted on the vast plain on the slopes of an extinct volcano vulture and is called Aglianico de Vulture at altitudes of 900m. Likes oak. Key flavors, black fruit, red plum and dried fruit. Matured in bottles after oak and gets earth and Forest floor.
Agiorgitiko
High smooth tannins and low to moderate acidity. Medium body and medium to high alcohol. Deep color. Likes oak. Red fruits, sour Cherry, cranberry, strawberry, raspberry, spices like clove, cinnamon and white pepper. Violet found in younger fruit forward styles. Ages well. Planted in Nemea PDO on the Peloponnesus peninsula. Vineyards can go up to 900m. High altitude is often blended with lower slope wine or used for pink wines. Best wines are mid slope. Exclusive to this region.
Albariño
Aromatic grape. High acidity with medium to medium - body and medium alcohol. Typical in stainless steel. Some opt for lees aging to increase mouthfeel and texture. Oak is rare. Thick skinned grapes protects from fungus common with high rainfall in this region. Key flavors are apple, lemon, grapefruit, peach and honeysuckle, white blossom. Grown in NW Iberia in Spain and Portugal. In Spain, Rias Baixas DO usually a single varietal. But also in the Vinho Verde in north Portugal. Vines are trained on pergolas, called parral in Spain, which creates good air circulation and protects against fungus.
Assyrtiko
White grape. High acidity. Highly concentrated. Very ripe. Medium to full body. Moderate to high alcohol. Can be oaked. Can be made as a sweet wine. Perfumed aromas and flavors of ripe citrus and stone fruit, lemon, grapefruit and peach. Wet stones from high acidity. Grown in Santorini. Windy volcanic island. Unique vine training. Trained low to the grown and vines are braided into a basket which protects it from sun and wind. Luscious Sweet wine is called VinSanto and late harvested grapes are dried in the sun and aged in old oak for minimum of 2 years.
Marked oxidative character of caramel and nuts.
Dolcetto
Widely planted in Piemonte. Earlier ripening than Barbera and Nebbiolo so planted in the cooler spots. Medium acidity and medium to high tannin. Medium body and medium alcohol. Black plum, red cherry, dried herbs, almond and licquirice.
