Wine Folly Flashcards
Albariño: Profile
Light Body - Medium Acidity - Lemon, Grapefruit, Nectarine, Melon, Wet Gravel
Albariño: Deep Dive
The melon and grapefruit aromas found in Albariño come from a group of aroma compounds called thiols. Thiols are commonly found in light white wines from cooler-climate growing regions, such as Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand and France and Pinot Grigio from northern Italy.
Albariño: Pairing
Albariño is particularly well suited to Thai, Moroccan, and Indian cuisine.
Grüner Veltliner: Profile
Light Body - High Acidity - Yellow Apple, Green Pear, Green Bean, Chervil, White Pepper
Grüner Veltliner: Pairing
Grüner Veltliner pairs particularly well with aromatic vegetables, tofu, and Japanese cuisine
Muscadet: Profile
Light Body - High Acidity - Lime, Lemon, Green Apple, Pear, Seashell
Muscadet: Deep Dive
Melon de Bourgogne or just Melon is the grape of the Muscadet region in France. Two regions make up over 90% of Muscadet wine
Muscadet: Pairing
Muscadet is a classic match with shellfish, and fish and chips. Due to its high acidity, Muscadet pairs with pickled ingredients and vinegar-based sauces.
Pinot Gris: Profile
Medium-light Body - Medium-high Acidity - White Peach, Lemon Zest, Cantaloupe, Green Almond, Crushed Gravel.
Pinot Gris: Pairing
Try pairing Pinot Gris with light flaky fish dishes, crab, and softer cow’s milk cheeses such as a triple-cream cheese.
Sauvignon Blanc: Profile
Medium-light Body - High Acidity - Gooseberry, Honeydew, Grapefruit, White Peach, Passion Fruit.
Sauvignon Blanc: Deep Dive
BARREL-AGED: A style made famous by Robert Mondavi in the 1970s when he renamed his barrel-aged Sauvignon Blanc to Fumé Blanc (“foom-aye blonk”). Barrel-aged Sauvignon Blanc tastes creamy while still exhibiting the variety’s trademark “green” notes.
Sauvignon Blanc: Pairing
Sauvignon Blanc makes a wonderful choice with herb-driven sauces over chicken, tofu, or fish dishes. matched with feta or chèvre, or paired with herb-driven asian flavors such as Thai or Vietnamese cuisine.
Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé: Profile
Typically characterized by high acidity and minerality, with flavors of lime, green apple, gooseberry, and sometimes flinty or smoky notes.
Bordeaux Blanc: Profile
Often blended with Sémillon, these wines can exhibit richer textures with flavors of lemon, grapefruit, and hints of honey and nuts, particularly when aged in oak.
Marlborough (New Zealand): Profile
Known for its bold and vibrant flavors, with pronounced notes of tropical fruits (like passion fruit and guava), green bell pepper, gooseberry, and a crisp, zesty acidity.
Napa Valley and Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc: Profile
These wines can range from light and fresh with citrus and herbal notes to richer, more full-bodied styles with tropical fruit flavors and a touch of oak, adding complexity and texture.
Casablanca Valley (Chile) Sauvignon Blanc: Profile
Often aromatic and fruit-forward with notes of citrus, melon, and herbal elements, along with a refreshing acidity.
Friuli-Venezia Giulia (Italy) Sauvignon Blanc: Profile
Typically offers a more restrained style, with crisp acidity and flavors of green apple, citrus, and herbs, sometimes with a subtle, nutty character.
Soave / Garganega: Profile
Medium-light Body - Medium-high Acidity - Peach, Honeydew, Tangerine, Marjoram, Salt.
Soave / Garganega: Pairing
Soave pairs very well with shellfish, chicken, tofu, and hard-to-pair foods including split peas, lentils, and asparagus.
Vermentino: Profile
Medium-light Body - Medium-high Acidity - Lime, Grapefruit, Green Apple, Almond, Daffodil
Vermentino: Deep Dive
Vermentino is often noted for having a bitter note on the finish that tastes similar to grapefruit pith. This type of flavor is referred to as phenolic bitterness, which is a common feature in several Italian white wines, including Verdicchio, Grechetto di Orvieto, and Vernaccia di San Gimignano.
Carricante: Profile
Light Body - High Acidity - Yellow Apple, Bergamot, Saline, White Peach, Crushed Rocks
Carricante: Deep Dive
On the nose, Carricante delivers aromas of citrus, crunchy green apple, orange blossom, and just-ripe peach. The aromatic undertones give it a strong mineral note like crushed rocks and salty air.
Full Bodied Whites: General Characteristics
Full-bodied white wines are known for their rich, bold flavors. These wines are often aged on their lees or in oak barrels to add unctuous flavors of cream, vanilla, and butter.
Chardonay: Profile
Medium Body - Medium Acidity - Lemon, Yellow Apple, Butter, Vanilla, Pineapple
Chardonay - Oaked Rich & Creamy
Found in California, Chile, Australia, Argentina, Spain, & Côte de Beaune, Burgundy.
Chardonay - Unoaked Light & Zesty
“Unoaked styles can be found in Mâconnais, Chablis, and western Australia.
Chardonay - Sparkling
“Blanc de Blancs” labeled sparkling wines are made with Chardonnay.
Marsanne: Profile
Medium Body - Medium-low Acidity - Quince, Mandarin Orange, Apricot, Acacia, Beeswax
Marsanne: Deeper Dive
Rich and fruity Marsanne pairs excellently with rich shellfish (think shrimp) and the citrus notes make it a great counterpoint to south Asian cuisine (e.g. Thai or Viet).
Sémillon: Profile
Medium Body - Medium Acidity - Lemon, Beeswax, Peach, Chamomile, Saline
Sémillon: Deep Dive
Sémillon is known for its high levels of aroma compounds, such as terpenes, which give it an alluring bouquet of beeswax, lanolin, and floral notes. The flavors range from fresh apple and citrus when young, evolving into richer flavors of honey, figs, and toasted nuts with age, somewhat reminiscent of Chardonnay.