white grape varieties Flashcards
what is the history of Vigonier grape varietal?
Vigonier first mention in 1781 in Northen Rhone
Parent to Mondeuse Blanche - half sibling of Syrah
what is the characteristic of Vigornier in the Vinyard?
Vigonier good in moderate and warm climate
Early budding (can suffer spring frost), mid ripening (full body wine but lacking acidity)
Age of Vine important (30+ northen, 15-20 southern)
Vigonier is very low yieling
Compact bunches, Thick skined (intense flavor), resistant to rot.
Susceptible to colure (wind mistral), often trellised.
Vigonier susceptible to water stress
Vigonier high in sugar and low in acidity
what are the characteristics of the Vigonier in the winery?
Viognier need to be full ripe
Vigonier often as a varietal, but can be blended
Traditionally blende into Syrah (Cote Rotie 20%)
Avoiding MLC/MLF because of low acidity
Vigonier can use Lee
Oak (old) is common
Viognier has residual sugar.
What is the key location of Vigonier?
Viognier in France 4.400ha
AOC Condrieu (CHateau Grillet), Cote Rotie
AOC Cote de Rhone/village, Languedoc
Vigonier in Australia 4.400ha
Califonia 1300ha
South Africa 900ha
Argentina 750ha
what Vigonier tastes like?
Jasmine, rose and perfumes
Mandarine, peach, nectarine
Clove, cinemon, vanilla
Low acidity, M to high alcohal
what is the history of Chenin Blanc?
Chenin Blanc first mention in 1496 from Chateau Chenin Coaux
Originally called Plant d’ Anjou then Pineau de La Loire (Gros Pineau)
Likely named after Mont Chenin
Related to Savagnin, siblings of Trousseau and Sauvignon Blanc
Identical to Agudelo, in Galicia in Spain
Jan VAn Riebeeck plants CB in Cape Colony in 1655
Originally called “Steen” in South Africa.
What are the characteristics of Chenin Blanc in the vineyard?
Chenin Blanc is Vigorous and vertile
Best found on cascareous soil (limestone, tufo) fresh mineral style
Chenin Blanc is very high in Acidity
Early Budding (suffer spring frost), Mid ripening
Old vines provide more texture
Susceptible to botrytis bunch rot and powdery Mildow
What are the characteristics of Chenin Blanc in the Winery?
Chenin Blanc is very versatile, dry to sweet, still to sparling
Maceration styles possible - add weight, texture, skin contact
Has an affinity Lee aging and MLC/MLF- add creaminess, roudness complex
Has an affinity to well intergrated oak
Chenin Blanc is often a varietal, but can be blended
Great ability to age
What are the key places for Chenin Blanc?
South africa 18.000ha - Swartland, Paarl, Stellenbosh
Warmer and drier country, stone fruit and tropical, honey, oak classic used, high acidity but less direct mineral like Loire
.Sparling MCC method Cape CLassique
.Blended CCC Chenin blanc- Colombard- Chardonay
.Oaky Chenin Blanc copied like Chardonay in Australia creamy, butter 14%
.Balance Chenin Blanc: low acidity, aroung 12%alc green fruits, stone fruits
FRANCE 9.500ha
Anjou Saumur and Tourain are the home of Chenin Blanc
MOre fresh, acidity, mineral, green fruit and honey
Ability to age
ARGENTINA 2.900HA
CALIFORNIA 2.800HA
What Chenin Blanc tastes like?
Dry to sweet
High acidity
Ability to age
Floral jasmine, honey suckle
Green fruits apple, lemon, pineapple.
What is Riesling’s history?
Riesling likely to come from Rheingau
Has a parent-offspring relationship with Gouias Blanc
Therefore related to Chardonnay, Gamay, Furmint,…
Not related to Welsch riesling or Riesling Italico
Used to breed Muller-Thurgau
What are the characteristics of Riesling in the Vineyard?
Riesling into very cold hardy (hardwood)
Best in cool climates, good in warm
Late budding (not suffer spring frost)
Needs to be planted on the best sites to ripen
Site-specific found on a variety of soil, famous on slate/schist
Clonally diverse in Germany (around 80 diffs in G, 10 in F)
Susceptible to noble rot (botrytis cinerea)
What are the characteristics of Riesling in the Winery?
Riesling is mostly reductive winemaking (stainless steel -fresh, don’t tend to have secondary as no MLF, will tertiary as aging)
Inoculated or wild yeast fermentations
Often only found as a varietal
Dry to sweet wine produced (called fruity wine in G, not Sweet)
Reductive notes can be found on Geman premium quality wines
What is the key location for Riesling?
Germany 23.000 ha (Mosel, Rheingau)
France 3.500ha (Alsace, quite often dry, some premium sweet style)
Austalia 4.500ha
Washington State 3000ha
Austria 2000ha
New York 300ha
What does Riesling taste like?
Riesling is lemon, apple, lime
Peach, tropical mango, passionfruit
Younger wine with floral Jasmine, camomile
Mature wine with tertiary, no secondary aromas like honey, petrol, pinenuts, pistachio.
