Wine Labelling Flashcards
List German Prädikatwein levels from driest to sweetest
Kabinet Spätlese Auslese Beerenauslese Eiswein Trockenbeerenauslese
In Germany what is VDP?
How are bottles marked?
What does the acronym VDP mean?
Independent group of self appointed best wine producers in Germany who have classified their vineyards which, by consensus, include most of the best sites in Germany. They apply a strict quality code for their wines.
Generally reserved for dry Qualitätswein from best vineyard sites the wines are called Grosses Gewächs and the bottles are marked with GG and a bunch of grapes embossed on the bottle.
VDP stands for Verband Deutcher Prädikatsweingüter
In Germany what are PGI wines called?
Landwein
In Austria what 2 names are used for PGI wines?
Landwein or Wein
In Germany what does ‘Feinherb’ mean?
An unregulated German term for wines that are off-dry. Feinherb is often used in place of the less popular designation halbtrocken
In Austrian Prädikatswein levels what is Ausbruch?
A level between Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese
In Austrian Prädikatswein levels what is Strohwein or Schilfwein?
Wine made in the Spring from bunches of grapes that were dried on straw mats over the Winter
In Austria what is DAC and what do the letters stand for?
If a region can agree Common grape variety Set of regulations Style of wine They can apply for DAC status If someone, in that region, makes wine not conforming to DAC limits it can only be labelled with the name of one of 4 federal states in which the wine is made Districtus Austriae Controllatus
In the Alsace if a wine is varietally labelled what must the wine contain?
Wine made from 100% of that grape
What two names can be used for Alsace blended wine?
Edelzwicker
Or
Gentil
What is the difference between Alsace wine and Alsace Grand Cru?
What must Grand Cru labels state?
Alsace wines are produced in the Alsace region but Grand Cru wines come from specific vineyards, so the wine comes from a Grand Cru vineyard.
Grand Cru wines must state; Name of the vineyard, the vintage and the grape variety.
In Alsace what does ‘Vendages Tardives’ mean?
Late Harvest grapes which may or may not be affected by Noble Rot, made into wines ranging from dry to medium sweet
In Alsace what does ‘SGN’ stand for and what does it mean.
Sélection de Grains Nobles
Wine made from grapes affected by Noble Rot
Always made in a sweet style
What is Tokaji Szamorodni?
Szamorodni meaning ‘as it comes’
Bunches of grapes containing a mixture of clean and Noble Rot affected grapes. The wine can be dry or sweet depending on the grape’s Noble Rot content.
From 2013 regulations how many Putony can an Aszú wine have?
5 or 6
Prior to 2013 3 and 4 was also possible
What are the three categories of sweet wine in Tokaji?
Late Harvest
Aszú
Eszencia (means essence)
In Burgundy what are Bourgogne Rouge and Bourgogne Blanc?
Regional red and white wines made from grapes from anywhere in Burgundy
What are: Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune Bourgogne Côtes Chalonnaise Macon Macon Villages
Regional appellations limited to the named area
Note:
Mâcon - Red and White wine
Mâcon Villages - White wine only
In Burgundy Appellation Hierarchy what are e.g.
Chablis, Meursault or Gevrey-Chambertin?
These are Commune (village) appellations
Summarise ‘Premier Cru’ in Burgundy
Wines made from grapes from respected vineyards that have produced high quality fruit for centuries.
If 100% of the grapes come from the same vineyard then the wine is labelled with the name of the vineyard.
Summarise requirements for Grand Cru in Burgundy
All grapes must come from a single vineyard and labelled with that name only + Grand Cru
Name 2 Côtes de Nuits and 2 Côtes de Beaune communes.
Côtes de Nuits: Gevrey-Chambertin Vougeot Vosne-Romanée Nuits-Saint-Georges
Côtes de Beaune: Aloxe-Corton Beaune Pommard Volnay Meursault Puligny-Montrachet Chassagne- Montrachet
From lowest to highest list Burgundy Heirarchy
Grand Cru Premier Cru Commune Appellations Regional Appellations Generic Bourgogne Rouge and Blanc
If you were drinking a Cru Classé what would you be drinking?
According to the 1855 Classification one of the best red or sweet wines in Bordeaux
What are the 2 regions plus 4 communes that have Cru Classé wines?
Medoc Haut Medoc Saint Estephe Pauillac Saint-Julian Margaux
For Cru Classé wines does the Cru Classé status apply to the grapes or the Chateau?
Chateau
The appellation applies to the grapes
If you were drinking Cru Bourgeois what would you be drinking?
Red wine from chateau not included in the 1855 class but awarded to individual wines (not chateau) annually once they have been passed by a tasting panel.
If you were drinking Cru Classé white wine what would you be drinking?
Pessac-Leognan from Graves
From bottom to top what is the hierarchy for Beaujolais wines?
Beaujolais Crus
Beaujolais Villages
Beaujolais
What are the 4 most famous Beaujolais Crus?
Moulin à Vent
Fleurie
Morgon
Brouilly
Does Pomerol follow the same hierarchy as Saint Emilion?
No, there is no formal hierarchy for Pomerol, despite some commanding very high prices the wines can only be labelled AOC (AC) or, more generically, Bordeaux or Bordeaux Superior
You are drinking a French xxx Grand Cru Classé, what are you drinking?
Saint Emilion
From top to bottom list the Saint Emilion Appellation hierarchy
How often are the wines evaluated within the hierarchy?
Premier Grand Cru Classé (A)
Premier Grand Cru Classé (B)
Grand Cru Classé
Saint-Emilion
There are reclassifications with the possibility of promotion / demotion at least every 10 years
List the 4 Natural factors of wine
Grapes
Climate
Weather
Soil / Aspect
