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Bartending > BAR (1) General Alcohol Facts > Wine Basics and Identification > Flashcards

Wine Basics and Identification Flashcards

Learn the basic characteristics of reds, whites, and rosés and how to properly describe a Merlot, a Chardonnay, a Zinfandel, or any other common variety of wine.

1
Q

What are the three major types of wine?

A
  1. Red
  2. White
  3. Rosé
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2
Q

What are some of the top wine producing countries?

A
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • United States
  • Argentina
  • Australia
  • Chile
  • Germany
  • South Africa
  • Portugal
  • China
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3
Q

Why is red wine red?

A

It is a result of the grape skin’s contact with the grape’s juice during fermentation

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4
Q

What characteristics should the ideal red wine glass have?

A
  • Holds 10 to 22 ounces of liquid
  • Allows room to swirl your wine
  • Has enough surface area to allow the wine to breathe
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5
Q

At what temperature is red wine best served?

A

60-65 degrees Fahrenheit
(warmer than white wines)

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6
Q

What are the main varieties of red wine?

A
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Malbec
  • Merlot
  • Petit Sirah
  • Pinot Noir
  • Sangiovese
  • Shiraz/Syrah
  • Zinfandel
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7
Q

What are some common berry and fruit flavors used
to describe red wines?

A
  • blackberry
  • boysenberry
  • cherry
  • currant
  • fig
  • gooseberry
  • plum
  • raisin
  • raspberry
  • strawberry
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8
Q

What are some non-fruit flavors often detected in red wine?

A
  • cinnamon
  • clove
  • cocoa
  • coffee
  • mocha
  • pepper (black, white)
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9
Q

Where does white wine get its color?

A
  • From the grape juice and grape skin of green, gold, or yellowish colored grapes, or
  • From just the juice (not the skin) of select red grapes (as in some Champagnes)
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10
Q

What characteristics should the ideal white wine glass have?

A
  • Narrow
  • A sharp taper at the top of the glass to allow the drinker to enjoy the full aroma of the wine
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11
Q

At what temperature is white wine best served?

A

45-50 degrees Fahrenheit
(cooler than reds)

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12
Q

What are the “Big Eight” white wines?

A
  1. Chardonnay
  2. Chenin Blanc
  3. Gewürztraminer
  4. Pinot Gris/Grigio
  5. Riesling
  6. Sauvignon Blanc
  7. Semillon
  8. Viognier
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13
Q

What are some common fruit flavors used to describe white wines?

A
  • apple
  • citrus
  • grapefruit
  • lemon
  • lime
  • melon
  • pear
  • pineapple
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14
Q

What are some non-fruit flavors often detected in white wine?

A
  • butter
  • earthy
  • floral
  • honey
  • herb
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15
Q

What is a varietal wine?

A
  • Must have at least 75% of one grape variety
  • The wine is then named after this grape with a capital initial
  • E.g., Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer
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16
Q

What is a non-varietal wine?

A

A blend of several types of grapes

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17
Q

Which white wines tend to be full bodied?

A
  • Oaked Chardonnay
  • Gewürztraminer*
  • Dry white wines
  • Wines aged either fully or partly in wood

*Can be vinified in a range of styles, depending on region/producer.

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18
Q

Which white wines tend to be medium bodied?

A
  • Sauvignon Blanc*
  • Riesling

*Can be vinified in a range of styles, depending on region/producer.

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19
Q

Which white wines tend to be lighter bodied?

A
  • Chablis (unoaked Chardonnay)
  • Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris
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20
Q

Which red wines tend to be full bodied?

A
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Malbec*

*Can be vinified in a range of styles, depending on region/producer.

21
Q

Which red wines tend to be medium bodied?

A
  • Merlot
  • Shiraz*

*Can be vinified in a range of styles, depending on region/producer.

22
Q

Which red wines tend to be lighter bodied?

A
  • Chianti
  • Pinot Noir*

*Can be vinified in a range of styles, depending on region/producer.

23
Q

Why is rosé blush-colored?

A
  • Red-skinned grapes are used
  • The skins are discarded in the middle of fermentation, rather than remaining throughout
24
Q

What is tannin?

A
  • Naturally occurring preservative from grape skins, stems and seeds
  • Provides structure to the wine: not a taste, “puckering” sensation
  • More dominant in young red wines, often mellows over time
25
Q

Name some common types of red wine.

A
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Merlot
  • Shiraz
  • Pinot Noir
26
Q

Name some common types of white wine.

A
  • Chardonnay
  • Pinot Grigio
  • Riesling
  • Sauvignon Blanc
27
Q

Name 3 common types of fortified wines.

A
  1. Sherry
  2. Port
  3. Madeira
28
Q

Name some common wine regions in France.

A
  • Bordeaux
  • Alsace
  • Champagne
  • Savoy
  • Bourgogne
29
Q

What are some common champagne brands?

A
  • Dom Perignon
  • Moet and Chandon
  • Veuve Clicquot
30
Q

What should you taste for in a Shiraz?

A
  • blackberries and black plum
  • gamey meat
  • black pepper
31
Q

What should you taste for in a Merlot?

A
  • dryness
  • plum black cherry
  • leather
  • currant
  • bell pepper
32
Q

What should you taste for in a Cabernet Sauvignon?

A
  • full body
  • dark cherry
  • cedar
  • tobacco
  • chocolate
  • black currant
  • green pepper
  • olive
33
Q

What should you taste for in a Malbec?

A
  • plums
  • berries
  • spice
  • however, varies greatly
34
Q

What should you taste for in a Pinot Noir?

A
  • cherries
  • raspberries
  • earthiness
35
Q

What should you taste for in a Chardonnay?

A
  • lemon or grapefruit
  • pear or apple
  • buttery tone
  • vanilla
  • toast
  • coconut
  • toffee
36
Q

What should you taste for in a Barbera?

A
  • black cherry
  • plum
  • silky texture
  • acidity
37
Q

What should you taste for in a Sauvignon Blanc?

A
  • herbal character
  • bell peppers
  • freshly mown grass
  • apples
  • pears
  • tropical fruits
  • smoky quality
38
Q

What should you taste for in a Sémillon?

A
  • fig-like character
  • often blended with Sauvignon Blanc to dilute its strong berry flavors
39
Q

What should you taste for in a Muscat?

A
  • sometimes sweet
  • always fruity
  • reminiscent of grapefruit
  • musky aroma
40
Q

What should you taste for in a Sangiovese?

A
  • medium body
  • fresh berry
  • plum
41
Q

What should you taste for in a Riesling?

A
  • fresh apples, peaches, and/or limes
  • florals
  • kerosene
  • ranges from dry to sweet
42
Q

What should you taste for in a Gewürztraminer?

A
  • fruity flavors
  • aroma of rose petals, peaches, lychees, and allspice
  • not as refreshing as other whites
43
Q

What should you taste for in a Zinfandel?

A
  • berries
  • jam-like flavors
  • mild spiciness
  • varies depending on whether white or red
44
Q

What grape variety would you most likely find in a white Bordeaux?
(bor-doh)

A

Sauvignon Blanc

Some Bordeaux blends are also made with the Sémillon grape

45
Q

What grape varieties can be found in a red Bordeaux?
(bor-doh)

A
  • Merlot
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Cabernet Franc
46
Q

What are some popular types of sparkling wines?

A
  • Prosecco
  • Champagne
  • Sekt
  • Cava
  • Crémant
47
Q

What is sake?

A
  • Japanese alcohol
  • Made from fermented wine
  • Can be served warm, room temperature, or chilled
  • Not aged for fresher flavor
48
Q

What drink is mentioned in the Kojiki, the first written history of Japan (712)?

A

Sake

BAR (1) General Alcohol Facts (5 decks)

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