Wines of Principal Regions - New World Flashcards

1
Q

Williamette Valley AVA: character and wine styles

A
  • West of Cascades
  • Pinot Noir with ripe red fruit, hint of cinnamon, high acid
  • Pinot Gris that is fruity, dry
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2
Q

Columbia Valley AVA
(and subarea Yakima Valley AVA): character and wine styles

A
  • East of the Cascades in rain shadow–irrigation needed
  • Long daylight hours; sunny days and cool nights
  • Winter freeze
  • Merlot: plummy, full-bodied
  • Cab Sauv: elegant, age-worthy
  • Chardonnay: fruity, often toasty oak
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3
Q

Finger Lakes AVA: character and wine styles

A
  • Deep glacial lakes moderate temps and extend growing season
  • Riesling: perfumed
  • Also Pinot Noir, Cab Franc, Chard
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4
Q

Niagra Peninsula: character and wine styles

A
  • Lake Ontario extends growing season and improves air flow
  • Riesling: fresh, fruity dry and off-dry whites, and finest icewine
  • Vidal: also used for icewine (not as acidic or as complex)
  • Cab Franc: red plum and herbal (sometimes in Bordeaux blends with Cab Sauv and Merlot)
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5
Q

Okanagan Valley: character and wine styles

A
  • Rain shadow between two mountain ranges
  • Very long growing days due to high latitude
  • Merlot, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
  • Icewine from Chard or Vidal
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6
Q

Coquimbo: character and wine styles

A
  • High altitude, dry (irrigation)
  • Elqui Valley: Sauv Blanc (high acid, intense apple/citrus) and Syrah (light/pepper)
  • Limarí Valley: Chile’s best Chard (med to high acid, citrus/stone, with lees and oak)
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7
Q

Aconcagua Valley: character and wine styles

A
  • Valley floor some of warmest in Chile
  • Cab Sauv, Syrah, Camenere
  • Traditionally: very ripe flavors, high alc and tannin
  • Now: Some trying to create more freshness and complexity, focusing on valley slopes or towards coast
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8
Q

Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley: character and wine styles

A
  • Between coastal range and Pacific
  • Very varied soils and aspects
  • Whites dominate
  • Sauv Blanc (esp in cool Leyda Valley, in San Antonio), Chard
  • Pinot Noir (red berry, herbal), Syrah (structured, peppery)
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9
Q

Maipo Valley: character and wine styles

A
  • Central Valley, surrounded by mountains
  • Close to Santiago
  • Many premium sites are in Andean foothills, cooled by descending air
  • Cab Sauv (minty)
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10
Q

Cachapoal Valley: character and wine styles

A
  • Warm, cut off from ocean breezes
  • Valley floor: Carmenere
  • Cooler eastern end: Cab Sauv and Syrah
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11
Q

Colchagua Valley: character and wine styles

A
  • Central (warm and open to some ocean influence): Cab Sauv, and also Syrah and Carmenere
  • West (cooler): High quality whites
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12
Q

Curicó Valley and Maule Valley: character and wine styles

A
  • Warm, so used for inexpensive red and white blends
  • Maule: Dry-farmed, old vines; Carignan (full-bodied, intense)
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13
Q

Southern Region: character and wine styles

A
  • Cooler and wetter the further south
  • Pais and Muscat of Alexandria, mostly consumed locally (but some old bush vines)
  • Chard, Pinot Noir, aromatic varieties
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14
Q

Cafayate, in Salta Province: character and wine styles

A
  • Some of highest vineyards in the world (some over 3k m)
  • Torrontés: highly aromatic
  • Malbec and Cab Sauv
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15
Q

San Juan Province: character and wine styles

A
  • 450 - 1400 m vineyards
  • Noted for Syrah
  • Also: Malbec, Cab Sauv, Bonarda, Torrontés, Chard
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16
Q

Uco Valley: character and wine styles

A
  • SW of Mendoza, highest vineyards in Mendoza (900-1500m)
  • Cool nights: Acidity, fresh fruit flavors, sometimes floral
  • Chard, Torrontés, Sauv Blanc, Cab Sauv, Merlot, Tempranillo (and some Pinot Noir)
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17
Q

Luján de Cuyo: character and wine styles

A
  • SW of Mendoza, 900-1100m
  • Malbec (from old vines): concentrated, complex
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18
Q

Maipú: character and wine styles

A
  • East of Luján de Cuyo, lower altitude
  • Syrah and Cab Sauv
  • Eastern end produces high volume, but also old vine Bonarda and Tempranillo
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19
Q

Patagonia: character and wine styles

A
  • Cooled by latitude
  • Strong desert winds, but dry with wide diurnal range
  • Concentrated but fresh fruit w/ med to high acid
  • Malbec, Cab Sauv, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chard, Sauv Blanc
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20
Q

Stellenbosch District: character and wine styles

A
  • From ocean to mountains. Very varied.
  • Cool winds from ocean
  • Top class reds: Cab Sauv and Merlot, Syrah, and Cape red blends
  • Also Sauv Blanc and Chard
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21
Q

Paarl District: character and wine styles

A
  • North of and hotter than Stellenbosch
  • Very varied
  • Cab Sauv, Syrah, Pinotage
  • Chenin Blanc, Chard
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22
Q

Constantia Ward: character and wine styles

A
  • In Cape Town District
  • Cooled by Cape Doctor
  • Known for Sauv Blanc
  • Some Shiraz and Cab Sauv in warmest sites
  • Vin de Constance (sweet wine from late-harvest Muscat)
  • South of Table Mountain: Sauv Blanc and Semillon
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23
Q

Durbanville Ward: character and wine styles

A
  • In Cape Town District
  • Cooled by sea breezes
  • Known for Sauv Blanc
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24
Q

Swartland District: character and wine styles

A
  • North of Cape Town District
  • Was inexpensive, now old vine Chenin Blanc and premium Syrah, both dry-farmed
  • Some premium Cape blends (red and white) too
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25
Q

Worcester District: character and wine styles

A
  • Hot, dry, irrigation
  • Chenin Blanc and Colombard, most for distillation
  • Well-made reds and whites for high volume brands
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26
Q

Robertson District: character and wine styles

A
  • East of Worcester, slightly cooler due to winds
  • High volume brands
  • Can make excellent Syrahs and Chards on less fertile soil
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27
Q

Hemel-en-Aarde Wards (in Walker Bay District): character and wine styles

A
  • Relatively cool b/c of ocean
  • High-quality Chard and Pinot Noir
  • Also: Sauv Blanc, Merlot, Syrah
28
Q

Elgin District: character and wine styles

A
  • Cooled by altitude
  • Known for Sauv Blanc (intense, fresh)
  • Also high-quality Pinot Noir, Chard, Syrah
29
Q

Elim Ward: character and wine styles

A
  • Known for pungent, herbaceous Sauv Blanc
  • Also Syrah
30
Q

Riverland (South Australia)
Murray-Darling (Victoria)
Riverina (New South Wales)
: character and wine styles

A
  • Fertile, irrigated, high-volume
  • Wines may be blended with wines from better areas
  • Riverina also produces botrytized wines from Semillion (due to Autumn morning mists and fogs)
31
Q

Barossa Valley region: character and wine styles

A
  • Warm, dry
  • Old bush vines of outstanding Shiraz, Cab Sauv, and Grenache
  • Shiraz: full body, soft tannins, ripe black fruit, American oak, developing leather and spice
  • Semillion: increasingly fresh, unoaked
32
Q

Eden Valley region: character and wine styles

A
  • In Barossa zone, in hills to east of Barossa Valley
  • Rieslings: intense lime and grapefruit, steely, developing marmalade and toasty after 10 years
  • Also: Shiraz, Chard, Cab Sauv
33
Q

Clare Valley region: character and wine styles

A
  • NW of Barossa Valley
  • Warm, but cold nights. Many at altitude
  • Riesling: dry, intense citrus and lime, high acid, developing honey and toast
  • Shiraz: fragrant, powerful, structured
  • Cab Sauv: varying styles
34
Q

Adelaide Hills region: character and wine styles

A
  • Moderate climate; all vineyards above 400m
  • Irrigation often necessary (as soils retain little water, and it rains mainly in winter)
  • Sauv Blanc: refreshing
  • Chard: elegant, high acid, pronounced citrus, peach
  • Also: Pinot Noir, for red wines and blending with Chard for sparkling
35
Q

McLaren Vale region: character and wine styles

A
  • On coast south of Adelaide
  • Afternoon ocean breezes temper warm climate
  • Shiraz (old vines), Cab Sauv, Merlot, Grenache (old vines): intense, dark fruit aromas, soft/ripe tannins
36
Q

Coonawarra region: character and wine styles

A
  • terra rosa over limestone
  • Moderate maritime, due to cold currents from Antarctic and summer cloud clover
  • Cab Sauv: concentrated, structure, with cassis and eucalyptus/menthol
  • Also: Shiraz, Merlot, Chard
37
Q

Yarra Valley region: character and wine styles

A
  • NE of Melbourne
  • Cool to mod maritime, but very varied
  • Pinot Noir: rich fruit (strawberries, plums, dark cherries), ripe/soft tannins, careful oak
  • Also: Chard, Shiraz, Cab Sauv
38
Q

Mornington Peninsula region: character and wine styles

A
  • Cool to mod maritime
  • Pinot Noir: very pure fruit, and ranges from light/delicate to structured
  • Chard: citrus, pear, apple, high acid, MLF
39
Q

Geelong region: character and wine styles

A
  • W of Melbourne
  • Chard: quality, complex, concentrated, full body
  • Pinot Noir: earthy
  • Shiraz: fresh and peppery
  • Chard/Pinot Noir also make sparkling
40
Q

Heathcote region: character and wine styles

A
  • Inland in Victoria; moderate because of altitude
  • Shiraz: more structured and fresher fruit than in warmer regions
  • Also: Chard, Cab Sauv. And Med grapes like Sangiovese and Tempranillo
41
Q

Goulburn Valley region: character and wine styles

A
  • East of Heathcote, inland
  • Marsanne: speciality, citrus developing honey
  • Shiraz: most planted
42
Q

Hunter Valley region: character and wine styles

A
  • Hot, humid; moderated by cloud cover and ocean breezes at peak summer
  • Canopy management essential to avoid rot
  • Semillion: light bodied, low alc, high acid, neutral, developing toast, nut, honey
  • Chard: both oaked and unoaked
  • Shiraz: blackberry and black cherry, soft tannins, med body, earthy
43
Q

Margaret River region: character and wine styles

A
  • Coastal, warm Med climate
  • Cab Sauv: Bordeaux blends with Merlot
  • Chard: intense stone fruit and tropical, high acid, range of oak barrel and MLC use
  • Sauv Blanc: gooseberry, tropical fruit with high acid
44
Q

Great Southern region: character and wine styles

A
  • Includes Mount Barker and Frankland River
  • Cab Sauv: deep color
  • Shiraz: peppery
  • Riesling: floral
45
Q

Tasmania: character and wine styles

A
  • Cool maritime
  • Prime source of base wine for sparkling
  • Pinot Noir, Chard, Sauv Blanc, Pinot Gris
  • Also: Cab Sauv in warmest/driest
46
Q

Gisborne: character and wine styles

A
  • Rainfall, temps, sun all high
  • Chard: ripe tropical fruit
  • Also: Gewurz and full-bodied Pinot Gris
47
Q

Hawke’s Bay: character and wine styles

A
  • Diverse soils, aspects, altitudes
  • Gimblett Gravels: gravelly, warm, black varieties
  • Known for Bordeaux blends of Cab Sauv and Merlot
  • Also Syrah
48
Q

Martinborough: character and wine styles

A
  • In Wairarapa
  • Pinot Noir: med to full body, ripe dark plum and spice
49
Q

Marlborough: character and wine styles

A
  • Wairau (large, long sunny days, varied): Sauv Blanc: tropical fruit
  • Awatere (smaller, cooler): Sauv Blanc: higher acid, more herbaceous
  • Pinot Noir: med body, fine tannins, cherry and cranberry
  • Also: Chard, Pinot Noir (for sparkling), Riesling, Pinot Gris
50
Q

Nelson: character and wine styles

A
  • Cooler, wetter than Marlborough
  • Sauv Blanc, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris
51
Q

Canterbury: character and wine styles

A
  • Plains west of Christchurch (cooled by Pacific) and Waipara Valley
  • Sauv Blanc, Pinot Noir, Riesling
52
Q

Central Otago: character and wine styles

A
  • Foothills of Southern Alps, very varied, large diurnal range
  • Continental, frost
  • Pinot Noir: full body, high alc, vibrant/intense red fruit
  • Also: Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chard
53
Q

Los Carneros AVA: character and wine styles

A
  • Southern Napa and Sonoma
  • Pinot Noir and Chard, for still and sparkling
54
Q

Stags Leap District, Oakville, Rutherford: character and wine styles

A
  • Napa Valley floor
  • Rutherford warmest during day, wines with most power and structure
  • Cab Sauv most respected
  • Also: Merlot
  • Also: Chard, Sauv Blanc - tropical fruit
55
Q

Saint Helena and Calistoga: character and wine styles

A
  • Warmest in Napa Valley floor
  • Some of most concentrated, full body wines in Napa Valley
  • Cool air through Chalk Hill gap in Mayacamas, and cooler night temps
  • Cab Sauv, Zinfandel, Syrah
56
Q

Howell Mountain
Mount Veeder: character and wine styles

A
  • Both on sides of Napa Valley, above fog layer
  • Howell Mountain: east side, facing west, so hot afternoon sun
  • Mount Veeder: west side, facing east, so cooler
  • More tannins, less richness
  • Can Sauv
  • Also: Merlot, Cab Franc, Zinfandel
  • Also: Chard - citrus, stone fruit, higher acidity than valley floor
57
Q

Russian River Valley: character and wine styles

A
  • Very cool, foggy
  • Pinot Noir and Chard: very high-quality, elegant (still and sparkling)
58
Q

Dry Creek Valley: character and wine styles

A
  • Sonoma, warmer than Russian River Valley
  • Above fog: old vine Zinfandel
  • Valley floor: Sauv Blanc
  • Also: Rhone varieties and Cab Sauv
59
Q

Alexander Valley: character and wine styles

A
  • Sonoma, warmer than Russian River Valley and Dry Creek Valley
  • Fleshy, fuller-bodied wines
  • Cab Sauv: soft, full-bodied
60
Q

Sonoma Coast: character and wine styles

A
  • South-facing slopes, to compensate for cool ocean exposure
61
Q

Sonoma Valley: character and wine styles

A
  • Chards
  • Old vine Zins
62
Q

Mendocino County: character and wine styles

A
  • Andersen Valley: Cool, sparkling and Riesling/Gewurz
  • Otherwise warmer: Cab Sauv, Zin, Syrah - full body, soft tannins
63
Q

Santa Cruz Mountains: character and wine styles

A
  • Hillsides with infertile soils; mod climate
  • Cab Sauv: elegant
  • Chard, Pinot Noir: high-quality
64
Q

Paso Robles: character and wine styles

A
  • East (hot): high-volume, fruity
  • West: Zin, Rhone - high quality
65
Q

Santa Maria Valley: character and wine styles

A
  • Cool fog
  • Pinot Noir, Chard - concentrated fruit, high acid
66
Q

Lodi: character and wine styles

A
  • Some of the oldest and best old Zin vineyards