WSET grapes 2 Flashcards
Cabernet Sauvignon
Wine Style: Red
Body Level: Medium/High
Tannin Level: High
Acid Level: Medium/High
Budding Time: Late
Ripening Time: Late
Common flavour characteristics: Black currant, black cherry, cedar, tobacco, mint
Common regions: Bordeaux, Napa Valley, Coonawarra, Maipo Valley
Cabernet Franc
Wine Style: Red
Tannin Level: Medium/High
Acid Level: Medium/High
Budding Time: Early
Ripening Time: Early
Common flavour characteristics: Raspberry, strawberry, bell pepper, tobacco
Common regions: Loire Valley, Bordeaux, Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Merlot
Wine Style: Red
Budding Time: Early
Ripening Time: Early
Common flavour characteristics: Plum, cherry, chocolate, herbs
Common regions: Bordeaux, Tuscany, Napa Valley
Sauvignon Blanc
Wine Style: White
Sugar Level: Low
Acid Level: High
Budding Time: Early
Ripening Time: Early
Common flavour characteristics: Gooseberry, green apple, grass, green bell pepper
Common regions: Loire Valley, Marlborough, Sancerre
Sémillon
Wine Style: White
Body Level: Medium/High
Acid Level: Low/Medium
Budding Time: Early
Ripening Time: Early
Common flavour characteristics: Lemon, beeswax, lanolin
Common regions: Bordeaux, Hunter Valley
Muscadelle
Wine Style: White
Sugar Level: Low/Medium to High (depending on style)
Body Level: Low/Medium
Acid Level: Low/Medium
Common flavour characteristics: Floral, grape, citrus
Common regions: Bordeaux, Bergerac
Chardonnay
Wine Style: White
Body Level: Medium/High
Acid Level: Medium/High
Budding Time: Early
Ripening Time: Early
Common flavour characteristics: Apple, lemon, peach, butter (if oaked)
Common regions: Burgundy, Champagne, California, Australia
Pinot Noir
Wine Style: Red
Body Level: Low/Medium
Tannin Level: Low/Medium
Acid Level: High
Budding Time: Early
Ripening Time: Early
Common flavour characteristics: Red cherry, strawberry, raspberry, mushroom
Common regions: Burgundy, Oregon, New Zealand
Gamay
Wine Style: Red
Body Level: Low/Medium
Tannin Level: Low
Acid Level: High
Budding Time: Late
Ripening Time: Early
Common flavour characteristics: Red cherry, strawberry, banana
Common regions: Beaujolais, Loire Valley
Riesling
Wine Style: White
Sugar Level: Low to High (depending on style)
Body Level: Low/Medium
Acid Level: High
Budding Time: Late
Ripening Time: Late
Common flavour characteristics: Lime, green apple, peach, petrol
Common regions: Mosel, Rheingau, Alsace, Clare Valley
Pinot Gris
Wine Style: White
Sugar Level: Low to Medium (depending on style)
Acid Level: Low/Medium
Common flavour characteristics: Pear, apple, stone fruits
Common regions: Alsace, Italy (as Pinot Grigio), Oregon
Gewurztraminer
Wine Style: White
Sugar Level: Low to High (depending on style)
Body Level: Medium/High
Acid Level: Low
Common flavour characteristics: Lychee, rose petal, ginger
Common regions: Alsace, Germany, New Zealand
Muscat
Wine Style: White (primarily)
Sugar Level: Low to High (depending on style)
Body Level: Low/Medium
Acid Level: Low/Medium
Common flavour characteristics: Grape, orange blossom, floral
Common regions: Alsace, Piedmont, Greece
Melon Blanc
Wine Style: White
Sugar Level: Low
Body Level: Low/Medium
Acid Level: Medium/High
Common flavour characteristics: Lemon, green apple, mineral
Common regions: Loire Valley (Muscadet)
Chenin Blanc
Wine Style: White
Sugar Level: Low to High (depending on style)
Acid Level: High
Common flavour characteristics: Green apple, honey, chamomile
Common regions: Loire Valley, South Africa
Syrah (Shiraz)
Wine Style: Red
Body Level: Medium/High
Tannin Level: Medium/High
Acid Level: Medium/High
Budding Time: Late
Ripening Time: Late
Common flavour characteristics: Blackberry, black pepper, violet (cool climate), plum, chocolate (warm climate)
Common regions: Northern Rhône, Australia (as Shiraz), Washington State
Grenache
Wine Style: Red
Tannin Level: Low/Medium
Alcohol: High
Budding Time: Early
Ripening Time: Late
Common flavour characteristics: Red cherry, strawberry, white pepper
Common regions: Southern Rhône, Spain (as Garnacha), Australia
Mourvèdre
Wine Style: Red
Body Level: Medium/High
Tannin Level: High
Acid Level: Medium/High
Budding Time: Late
Ripening Time: Late
Common flavour characteristics: Blackberry, game, leather
Common regions: Southern Rhône, Spain (as Monastrell), Australia
Viognier
Wine Style: White
Body Level: Medium/High
Acid Level: Low/Medium
Alcohol: High
Common flavour characteristics: Apricot, peach, honeysuckle
Common regions: Northern Rhône, California, Australia
Carignan
Wine Style: Red
Tannin Level: High
Acid Level: High
Common flavour characteristics: Red cherry, cranberry, herbs
Common regions: Southern France, Spain, Sardinia
Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir)
Wine Style: Red
Body Level: Low/Medium
Tannin Level: Low/Medium
Acid Level: High
Common flavour characteristics: Red cherry, strawberry, earthy
Common regions: Germany (especially Baden and Ahr)
Grüner Veltliner
Wine Style: White
Acid Level: Medium/High
Common flavour characteristics: Green apple, white pepper, lentil
Common regions: Austria, Czech Republic
Pinot Grigio
Wine Style: White
Body Level: Low/Medium
Acid Level: Medium/High
Common flavour characteristics: Lemon, green apple, mineral
Common regions: Italy (especially Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia)
Corvina
Wine Style: Red
Acid Level: Medium/High
Common flavour characteristics: Sour cherry, almond, herbs
Common regions: Veneto (used in Valpolicella and Amarone)
Garganega
Wine Style: White
Common flavour characteristics: Almond, peach, honeysuckle
Common regions: Veneto (used in Soave)
Trebbiano
Wine Style: White
Body Level: Low/Medium
Acid Level: High
Common flavour characteristics: Lemon, apple, herbs
Common regions: Italy (various regions)
Nebbiolo
Wine Style: Red
Body Level: Medium/High
Tannin Level: High
Acid Level: High
Budding Time: Early
Ripening Time: Late
Common flavour characteristics: Tar, roses, cherry, truffle
Common regions: Piedmont (Barolo and Barbaresco)
Dolcetto
Wine Style: Red
Tannin Level: Medium/High
Acid Level: Low/Medium
Common flavour characteristics: Black cherry, licorice, almond
Common regions: Piedmont
Barbera
Wine Style: Red
Tannin Level: Low/Medium
Acid Level: High
Common flavour characteristics: Sour cherry, plum, herbs
Common regions: Piedmont
Cortese
Wine Style: White
Body Level: Low/Medium
Acid Level: High
Common flavour characteristics: Green apple, lime, mineral
Common regions: Piedmont (used in Gavi)
Sangiovese
Wine Style: Red
Tannin Level: Medium/High
Acid Level: High
Common flavour characteristics: Sour cherry, plum, tea leaf
Common regions: Tuscany (used in Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino)
Montepulciano
Wine Style: Red
Body Level: Medium/High
Common flavour characteristics: Black cherry, plum, herbs
Common regions: Abruzzo, Marche
Aglianico
Wine Style: Red
Body Level: Full
Tannin Level: High
Acid Level: High
Common flavour characteristics: Black fruit, smoke, earth
Common regions: Campania, Basilicata
Negroamaro
Wine Style: Red
Body Level: Medium/High
Tannin Level: Medium/High
Common flavour characteristics: Black cherry, tobacco, herbs
Common regions: Puglia
Primitivo
Wine Style: Red
Body Level: Medium/High
Alcohol: High
Common flavour characteristics: Black cherry, plum, black pepper
Common regions: Puglia
Nero d’Avola
Wine Style: Red
Body Level: Medium/High
Common flavour characteristics: Black cherry, plum, herbs
Common regions: Sicily
Tempranillo
Wine Style: Red
Tannin Level: Medium/High
Common flavour characteristics: Red cherry, leather, tobacco
Common regions: Rioja, Ribera del Duero
Garnacha (Grenache)
Wine Style: Red
Tannin Level: Low/Medium
Alcohol: High
Common flavour characteristics: Red cherry, strawberry, white pepper
Common regions: Spain (various regions), Southern Rhône
Graciano
Wine Style: Red
Tannin Level: Medium/High
Acid Level: High
Common flavour characteristics: Black fruit, spice, floral
Common regions: Rioja
Cariñena (Carignan)
Wine Style: Red
Tannin Level: High
Acid Level: High
Common flavour characteristics: Red fruit, herbs, spice
Common regions: Spain (various regions), Southern France
Verdejo
Wine Style: White
Acid Level: Medium/High
Common flavour characteristics: Citrus, fennel, grass
Common regions: Rueda
Albariño
Wine Style: White
Acid Level: High
Common flavour characteristics: Peach, apricot, saline
Common regions: Rías Baixas
Zinfandel
Wine Style: Red
Body Level: Medium/High
Alcohol: High
Common flavour characteristics: Blackberry, black pepper, jam
Common regions: California
Vidal
Wine Style: White
Sugar Level: Low to High (depending on style)
Acid Level: High
Common flavour characteristics: Grapefruit, pineapple, floral
Common regions: Canada (used in ice wine), New York
Carmenère
Wine Style: Red
Common flavour characteristics: Black fruit, green pepper, spice
Common regions: Chile
Malbec
Wine Style: Red
Body Level: Medium/High
Common flavour characteristics: Plum, blackberry, violet
Common regions: Argentina, Cahors (France)
Torrontés
Wine Style: White
Acid Level: Medium/High
Common flavour characteristics: Floral, peach, citrus
Common regions: Argentina
Pinotage
Wine Style: Red
Body Level: Medium/High
Tannin Level: Medium/High
Common flavour characteristics: Red berry, banana, smoky
Common regions: South Africa
Fiano
Wine Style: White
Acid Level: Medium/High
Common flavour characteristics: Pear, honey, nuts
Common regions: Campania
Greco
Wine Style: White
Acid Level: Medium/High
Common flavour characteristics: Apple, pear, almond
Common regions: Campania