White Varieties Flashcards
Most common grape varieties in NE France during the middle ages
Pinot, Savagnin, Gouais Blanc
Aligoté is a natural cross of…
Pinot and Gouais Blanc
Is Aligote aromatic?
Yes, pretty jasmine and vanilla perfume. It’s also vigorous w high acid, medium body.
Altesse is a very shy producer and related to Chasselas. Anything good about it?
Yes. It’s very resistant to rot and can deliver uncompromised clusters despite a long hang time.
Where’s Altesse from?
Savoie. Also has livery acidity, hunts of honey and almond. Spicy aromatics and long lived.
Auxerrois is a natural cross of
Pinot and GB. Believed to originate in Alsace-Lorraine.
T of F? Auxerrois ripens to high sugar and low acid. Makes a fairly neutral wine.
True
What variety requires high temps to ripen its clusters?
Bourboulenc
What variety produces wines of moderate alcohol and high acid w aromas of citrus and smoke?
Bourboulenc (L-R, Provence, Rhone). Unknown origin.
Chardonnay is a natural cross of …
Pinot and GB. Native to Bourgogne.
Chard synonym in Bourgogne
Beaunois
Chard synonym in Jura
Gamay Blanc
Chard synonym in Loire
Auvernat
Melon d’Arbois and Melon a Queue Rouge are synonyms of
Chardonnay
This grape is the standard for other varieties bc it was one of the most widely planted in mid 1800s. Used to classify ripening times.
Chasselas
Who was Victor Pulliat?
French ampelographer who categorized grape ripening based on Chasselas (1827-1896)
T or F? Chasselas is a newer grape variety native to France.
False. It’s an ancient grape variety native to Lake Geneva in Switzerland.
Describe Chasselas
Abundant but inconsistent yields. Fairly neutral. On good sites it’s got flint or smoke, hay and flowers.
DNA evidence has determined that Chenin blanc is an exact match for what grape?
Agudelo, a grape said to be native to Galicia Spain. CB is also related to Savagnin blanc. Origin is still TBd.
This high-vigor variety is adaptable to different climates and soils. Cold hardy, wind and disease resistant. High acid and high extract. Susceptible to botrytis, ages for a long time
Chenin blanc.
Primary aromas of Chenin blanc are
peach, quince, apricot, apple and pear.
secondary of dairy, tertiary of ripe grain, straw, marzipan and toasted nuts.
Clairette’s origin…
Herault department of Languedoc. extremely vigorous. prefers warm, rocky, dry sites. high alc, low acid, apricot, apple, peach, fennel and lime. prone to oxidation.
Colombard is a natural cross of
Chenin blanc and Gouais blanc.
Native to Charente department in Nouvelle-Aquitane
Characteristicsc of Colombard
Prolific producer. Floral Notes. High Acid and high sugar.
Is Courbu blanc related to Courbu noir or Petit Courbu?
NO. and probably no.
T or F? Courbu blanc is only made into sweet wines?
False. It’s made into dry and sweet wines. Moderately acidic. Grapefruit.
What’s a synonym for courbu blanc?
Hondarrabi Zuri in Spain
What are two synonyms for Chenin blanc in the Loire?
Gros Pineau
Pineau de la Loire.
(Also Rouchelein in SW)
Is Folle Blanche (aka Picpoul in Armagnac) related to Picpoul?
No. GB is one of its parents.
What’s a synonym for Folle Blanche in Loire?
Gros Plant
This productive vine is believed to be native to SW France. Delicately flavored, high acid wine with notes of citrus and green apple.
Folle Blanche (Loire, SW)
What are some offspring of GB?
Aligote, Auxerrois, Chardonnay, Gamay, Melon, Romorantin, Sacy, Colombard, Folle Blanche, Grolleau Noir, Arbois, Riesling (these all have GB as a parent)
GB isn’t grown commericially, but where is it listed as being grown?
Champagne.
Big clusters w big berries
T or F? Grenache blanc is a vigorous variety w full bodied whites with low to mod acidity and good extract. Prone to oxidation. Green apple and pear and white flowers.
True
T or F? Grenache blanc, gris and noir share the same DNA fingerprint w different phenotypes or outward expressions of those genes?
True
What grape has been grown in Savoie for centuries and legend says it was brought by bishops from Cyprus?
Gringet. It could be native… tbd.
mid-ripening w floral, bright acid, yellow plum
what’s the larger-berried, thinner skinned offspring of Petit Manseng?
Gros Manseng. it has less intense aromaticcs.
high acid, high sugar, citrus and spice
This prolific producer from Savoie could easily delivery a huge crop of 6 tons/ac. wines are lightly perfumed, high acid w wildflower and citrus aromas
Jacquere
This Rhone native is v vigorous, hardy, large clusters w small berries. Prefers warm, stony soils on less fertile sites. Wines are powerful a mod acid, high alc and high extract.
Marsanne
Mouzac blanc
fairly aromatic, high acid w notes of bruised apple. native to SW france.
(bdx, L-R, SW)
T or F? Melon de Bourgogne hails from the western part of the Loire?
False! It’s from Bourgogne
Grows in Beaujolais, Bourgogne, Loire
T or F? Muscadet (aka Melon or Melon de Bourgogne) is NOT related to Muscat family of grapes.
True.
T or F? Melon is delicate in the vineyard and a shy producer.
False. It’s hardy, frost-resistant and productive.
This grape is native to Savoie and traditionally used in sparkling wine production. High yielding and fairly neutral. Ripens w high sugar and high acid.
Molette
Mondeuse blanche x Dureza
Syrah
T or F? Mondeuse blanche is native to Savoie and makes a high alc, low acid, fairly neutral white.
True
Native region of Muscadelle is…
Gironde/Dordogne area
What grape expresse exuberant grapiness w some musk?
Muscadelle
T or F? Muscadelle is NOT related to Muscat
True
What 3 types of Muscat grow in France?
Muscat a Petits Grains blanc
Muscat d’Alexandrie
Muscat Ottonel
What’s most likely the origin of Muscat a petits grains blanc?
Greece
T or F? There are pink, red and black skinned versions of Muscat a petits grains blanc.
True. All ripen w high sugar, high extract, good acid.
Is Muscat a petits grains blanc aromatic?
Yes. with raisin, honey, peach, apricot, mango, orange blossom, and musk.
This muscat isn’t as delicate as Muscat a petits grains blanc. It’s more powerful. x with Myscat a petits grains blanc and axina de tres biax (A black skinned table grape)
Muscat d’Alexandrie
chasselas x muscat d’eisenstadt cross
muscat ottonel
which muscat variety has less acid, aroma and flavor than others, but is an early ripener which makes it good for cool climates?
Muscat Ottonel
T or F? Petit Courbu is a shy producer with small clusters, small berries, wines w honey and lemon.
True
grown in Southwest.
Clusters of this grape are often left on the vine to partially raisin (passerillage) to craft sweet wines. Flavors of ripe peaches, honey and cinnamon.
Petit Manseng. It’s an exotic grape w high sugar and acid. bunches are loose, berries are thick skinned. Savagnin was one of its parents.
T or F? Pinot blanc, gris and noir share eh same DNA fingerprint w different phenotypes or outward expressions of those genes.
True
Synonym of Pinot Blanc in Alsace
Klevener
Pinot Vrai is a synonym for what grape?
Pinot blanc
T or F? Pinot blanc is native to france and produces small berried fruit. Wines are fairly neutral w mod acid. apple and almond.
true
Picpoul blanc is native to
Southern France
This grape means lip stinger, thrives in hot climates, high accid, aromatic wines w mod alcohol. Green apple and citrus.
Picpoul blanc
(also blanc, gris and noir share the same DNA fingerprint w different expressions)
This grape is indigenous to the Rhine and is an offspring of GB. Winter hardy and late budding, it ripens w high sugar and acid. Peach, apricot, pineapple, citrus, linden, jasmine. High acid.
Riseling
This grape is grown exclusively in the Cour-Cheverny. It’s a Pinot Teinturier x GB cross
Romorantin
T or F? Although Romorantin buds early, if often has trouble ripening its fruit.
True.
Optimally it’s mineral w honey and beeswax.. Grown in the Loire.
The more elegant and aromatic version of Marsanne, although it suffers from irregular yields and is sensitive to rot and mildew.
Roussanne
T or F? Roussanne crats complex, age worthy wines w floral, high alc, moderate high acid. Honeysuckle, quince, apricot, acacia, white peach. Genetically linked to Marsanne and both native to the Rhone.
True
Pinot x Gouais cross
Sacy. It’s native to Bourgogne or NW France.
high acid, low alc wines that taste of pear.
Bergeron is a synonym of what grape in Savoie?
Roussanne
Tressallier is a synonym of what grape in the Loire?
Sacy
What word is taken from the french word “Sauvage” meaning wild?
Sauvignon (SB section)
T or F? Sauvignon blanc shares a kinship with Savignin blanc
True
T or F? Sauvignon blanc is native to the Loire.
True
Descriptors for Sauvignon blanc include…
Gunflint, herb, hay, boxwood, gooseberry, lemongrass, grapefruit, pineapple and blacckcurrant.
What’s the homeland of Savagnin blanc?
northeastern France and southwestern Germany Now grown in Jura.
T or F? Savagnin blanc is low acid, low alcohol and needs to be drunk early.
False. High acid, high alc, capable of aging.
T or F? Savagnin rose and Gewurztraminer are separte and distinct grape varieties.
False. They are variants of Savagnin blanc.
Like GB, Savagnin blanc was widely grown during the Middle Ages and is parent of…
Petit Meslier, Sauvignon blanc, Chenin blanc, Petit Manseng, Sylvaner.
Semillon is native to
Sauternes
What makes Semillon susceptible to botrytis
its thin skins
Characteristics of semillon
mod aroma, high alc, high extract, mod to low acidity. can be deeply pigmented and oxidized. in youth, pear, apricot, citrus, nut skin, w age, spice, caramel, lanolin, beeswax
Sylvaner/Silvaner is native to
eastern Austria. Fairly neutral.
Savagnin blanc x Osterreichisch Weiss (which is an offspring of GB)
Sylvaner
Synonym of Ugni Blanc
Trebbiano Toscano
Ugni blanc is native to
Italy
What’s a synonym of Ugni Blanc in Corsica?
Rossala
What’s a synonym of Ugni Blanc in Provence?
Roussan
T or F? Ugni Blanc is easy to grow, vigorous and high yielding. Good acid and delicate, neutral white wines. Hints of citrus and almond.
True
Vermentino is native of
Italy. Made its way to Corsica and south of France.
Vermentino likes coastal sites and has two styles:
- lively and aromatic w lots of citrus OR
fat and round style w ripe apple, pear apricot and sweetgrass
Viognier is a native of
the Rhone
T or F? Viognier is a vigorous and hardy vine that thrives in poor, dry, stony soil
True
T or F? Viognier produces wines that are low alc and high acid
False
T or F? Viognier wines have aromas of peach, apricot, nectarine, honey, musk, ginger and white flowers. The vine is related to Mondeuse blanche.
True
