Wine Foundation - FWS Flashcards
What are the vines nutritional demands (macro and micro nutrients)? How does this compare to other crops?
Unique in how low its nutritional demands are; requires nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium; micro- boron, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, and zinc
What is the purpose of green harvesting, pulling leaves, or hedging growing tips?
Green harvest: Reduce yield
Pull leaves: Facilitate ripening
Hedge growing tips: curb vigor
What is next year’s cluster primordia?
Next year’s crop
What was Smart’s premise in “Sunlight into Wine”?
That it didn’t matter whether vine was small or small yield, as long as canopy was balanced with no shaded fruit and no shaded leaves
What is the original Old World definition of terroir?
Site, soil, and climate impact flavors in the glass, more recently added “hand of man” into definition
How does climate change the physiology of the vine in cool climates?
In cool growing areas vine struggles to ripen, but wiht long time hanging on vine it pulls many minerals from the soil and builds these into flavor compounds; maturity of flavor, lack ripeness
How does the climate change the physiology of the vine in warm climates?
In warm growing areas grapes ripen every year to high sugar level, but grape spends time on vine, amasses less complexity in flavor profile; ripe but lack maturity/depth of flavor
What is the difference between wines grown in cool and warm climates?
Cool areas produce wines that are less fruit forward, more mineral and spice with lower alcohol and high acid; warm produce wines that are fruit forward with lower acid and high alcohol
What was the first wine region to delineate the zone of production and set production standards? When?
Chateauneuf-du-Pape in 1924
When was the first Appellation d’Origine Controlee (AOC) developed? By who? What did it do? What did he cofound with same intention?
In 1935 by same Baron as delineated zone of production for Chateauneuf-du-Pape, it guaranteed authenticity of product. He cofounded Institut National des Appellations d’Origine (INAO)
Why was the AOC system enacted? What was the focus?
To combat fraud and boost customer confidence. Focus was on origin (French notoriously focuses on ‘place’ vs. ‘grape’)
What did the European Union do in 2009?
standardized the various wine quality pyramids that existed within its member nations
What was the original French wine quality pyramid and what is the new pyramid after EU standardization? What change was made?
AOC-VDQS-Vin de Pays-Vin de table to AOC/AOP-IGP-Vins sans IG; with change VDQS either upgraded to AOC or downgraded to IGP
What does a wine have to have in order to be awarded AOC/AOP status?
- Come from delineated area of origin
- Be made form authorized grapes
- Adhere to maximum yield
- Adhere to strict regulations regarding pruning, harvesting, winemaking, and aging
What is the Vin de Pays/IGP category?
Offers more flexibility with regard to grape growing and winemaking regulations than AOC; regulated by INAO together with AOC/AOP
What is the Vins de table/Vins sans IG category?
No links to origin, can come from anywhere in France, no max yields; can mention grape variety and vintage (previously disallowed)
What is the role of the INAO?
It polices and protects wine and spirit AOCs from wrongful marketing or misleading labeling internally and externally
What were the most commonly grown grape varieties in northeast France during the Middle Ages?
Gouais Blanc, Savagnin, and Pinot
What is Gouais Blanc also known as?
Weisser Heunisch
Where did Gouais Blanc originate from?
Most evidence links Gouais to northeast France and Southwest Germany
What modern day grapes are offspring of Gouais Blanc crosses?
Gouais Blanc x Pinot: Aligote, Auxerrois, Chardonnay, Gamay Blanc, Gamay Noir, Melon, Romorantin and Sacy
Gouais Blanc x Chenin Blanc: Colombard
Gouais Blanc x unknown: Furmint
Gouais Blanc x various: Elbling, Balufrankisch, Folle Blnach, Grolleau Noir, Jacquere, Menu Pineau (Arbois), Muscadelle, Riesling, Saint-Come
What is Savagnin’s origin?
Originated in Northeast France and southwest Germany, either descended from wild grape vines (sauvage means wild in French) or cross between two unknown/extinct varieties
What three grape varieties related to Savagnin are almost genetically identical?
Savagnin Blanc, Savagnin Rose, and Gewurztraminer
What modern day grapes are offspring of Savagnin crosses?
Savagnin x Gouais Blanc: Petit Meslier and Aubin
Savagnin x unknown: Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, petit Manseng (parent of Gros Manseng), Verdelho
Savagnin x Osterreichisch Weiss: Sylvaner
Savagnin x St Georgener: Gruner Vetliner
What is the link between Savagnin and Pinot
Related, but undetermined which is parent and which is offspring
How long has Pinot been around and what are its ancient monikers?
Approx. 2000 years called Morillon, Noirien, and Avernat
How many clonal variations of Pinot are there?
Over 1000 including Pinot Meunier, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Blanc; few genetic variations to core genome
Where is Pinot thought to have originated from?
Officially undetermined, evidence hints at Jura