Wine Basics

Question 1

Viticulture and Vinification

Answer 1

Viticulture is wine growing; the cultivation and harvesting of grapes.

Vinification is wine making; from the selection of the grapes thru fermentation and aging to bottling the finished product.

Question 2

Wine

Answer 2

Wine is an alcoholic beverage (typically) made from fermented grapes.

Fermentation occurs when yeast converts sugar to alcohol and carbon dioxide.

Wine has existed since at least 6000 BC.

Question 3

How Serious Wine Drinkers Taste Wine

Answer 3

1. Look - Opacity, Color (including rim), Viscosity (tears or legs)
2. Smell
   a. Primary Aromas - fruit, flower, herb, derived from the grape variety
   b. Secondary Aromas - butter, cream, brioche, bacon, derived from fermentation
   c. Tertiary Aromas - baking spice, mushroom, cedar, tobacco, smoke, derived from aging
3. Taste
   a. Taste - detect sweet, sour, bitter and even saline notes in wine
   b. Texture - residual sugar, alcohol, body, acid and tannin affect the way the wine feels in your mouth
4. Think - think about what characteristics stood out and what associations came to mind.
   a. Initial Conclusion - If blindtasting, use deductive reasoning to eliminate certain grapes and regions based on the categories above.
   b. Final Conclusion - Varietal, region, vintage

Question 4

Major Wine Styles

Answer 4

1. Sparkling Wine – ex Cava, Moscato d’Asti, Franciacorta, Prosecco, Champagne
2. Aromatic Whites – ex Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Torrontes, Moscato
3. Light Bodied Whites – ex Pinot Grigio, Albarino, Gruner-Veltliner
4. Full Bodied Whites – ex Chardonnay, Viognier
5. Rose Wines – typically made from red grapes; Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault and many others
6. Light Bodied Reds - Gamay, Pinot Noir
7. Medium Bodied Reds - Merlot, Zinfandel, Barbera
8. Full Bodied Reds - Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Malbec, Nebbiolo
9. Sweet, Dessert Wines - Styles include Late Harvest, Ice Wine, Madeira, Sherry, Port; regions include Canada, Tokaji, Sauternes, Duoro, Jerez

Question 5

Wine Climates

Answer 5

Mediterranean - Long, warm growing season with little precip, moderate winters; ex Tuscany, Provence, Napa
Continental - More extreme seasonality, temp fluctuation, ex Piedmont, New York, Burgundy, Columbia Valley
Maritime - In between Med and Cont in terms of extremes but heavily influenced by bodies of water, high humidity ex New Zealand, Bordeaux

Question 6

Major Soil Types

Answer 6

Sand - high drainage, heat retention can make for aromatic wines with pale color and low tannin
Clay - stays cooler and retains moisture (especially lime or calcerous clay) resulting in muscular, bold wines
Silt - retains water and heat so needs a cooler climate to be successful, can produce a smoother, less acidic wine
Loam - a mixture and fertile, resulting in over-production unless blended
Gravel - increases drainage, which can be beneficial to the vines
Slate - retains heat, good in colder climates
Volcanic Soil - retains water, good in dry climates
Marine Sedimentary - reflects light for added ripening

*Limestone provides nutrients to grapes

Question 7

Old World VS New World

Answer 7

Old World is Europe - France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Germany, etc.

New World is Not Europe - US, Canada, South America, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia

Old World generally stresses place and tradition.

New World generally emphasizes grape and/or producer, innovation and technology