WSET Level One Flashcards
Wine preservation: Blanket system
Blanket systems pump another wine-friendly gas (Argon usually) into a bottle which pushes the air out of the bottle
Principal black grape varieties: Pinot Noir
Sugar - Dry, Acidity - High, Tannin - Low to Medium, Body - Light-to-Medium
Principal white grape varieties: Sauvignon Blanc
Sugar - Dry, Acidity - High, Body - Light-to-Medium
Notable structural characteristics of wine: Body
Body describes the overall mouth feel of a wine.
LIGHT: Delicate like skim milk
MEDIUM: Some weight but doesn’t coat the mouth like whole milk
FULL: Viscous and mouth filling like cream
Notable wines made from other grapes (Portugal): Port
Sugar - Sweet, Acidity - Low, Tannin - High, Body - Full, Alcohol - High
Fortified wine
Glassware
The bowl of the glass should narrow at the rim!
Wines made from the principal grape varietals: Bourgogne Blanc and Rouge
Bourgogne Blanc:
Sugar - Dry, Acidity - Medium to High, Body - Medium
Made from Chard
Bourgogne Rouge:
Sugar - Dry, Acidity - High, Tannin - Low to Medium, Body - Light-to-Medium
Made from Pinot Noir
If food is X, wine is Y: Fatty/oily
Wine is less acidic
Climate: Cool
Wines are higher in acidity and lower in sweetness.
Think of places like Germany and Northern France. White grapes are the most common.
Food and wine pairings: Spicy food
Hot and spicy food increases the perception of bitterness, acidity, and alcohol while decreasing the perception of body, richness, sweetness, and fruitiness.
Pair hot wings with fruity wines (unoaked Chard), fruity, low tannin reds (Pinot Noir), or low ABV sweet wines (Moscato).
Wines made from the principal grape varietals: Bordeaux Rouge
Sugar - Dry, Acidity - High, Tannin - High, Body - Medium-to-Full
Blends made from Cab Sauv, Merlot, and other grapes like Cab Franc
Notable wines made from other grapes (France): Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Sugar - Dry, Acidity - Medium to High, Tannin - High, Body - Full, Alcohol - High
Made from a Grenache blend
Principal white grape varieties: Riesling
Sugar - Dry to Medium to Sweet, Acidity - High, Body - Light-to-Medium
Wines made from the principal grape varietals: Champagne
Sugar - Dry, Acidity - High, Body - Medium
Sparkling wine made from Chard and Pinot Noir
Making white wine
- Crushing
- Pressing
- Fermentation
- Maturation
- Bottling
If food is X, wine is Y: Highly flavored
Wine is overwhelmed by the food flavors
Food and wine pairings: Bitter food
Bitterness in food increases bitterness in the wine.
Pair bitter greens with a fruity white (Pinot Grigio) and pair coffee or chocolate with a fruity, low-tannin red (Pinot Noir) wine.
Food and wine pairings: Highly flavored food
Highly flavored food can easily overwhelm a more delicate wine. You want the intensity of the food and wine to be equal.
Pair a goat curry with a full-bodied red (Merlot)
Type of wine: Sparkling
Bubbly wine is caused by the carbon dioxide in the fermentation trapped in the bottle.
Notable wines made from other grapes (California): White Zinfandel
Sugar - Medium, Body - Medium, Alcohol - Low
Rose made from Zinfandel
Type of Wine: Still
Most wine is still and is between 8%-15% ABV, the majority is between 11$-14% ABV.
Notable wines made from other grapes (France): Cotes du Rhone
Sugar - Dry, Acidity - Medium, Tannin - High, Body - Medium
Made from blends of Grenache, Syrah, and other grapes like Carignan and Mouvedre
Alcoholic fermentation
Sugar + Yeast = Alcohol and Carbon Dioxide
*Most color and tannin are extracted during fermentation
Wine preservation: Vacuum system
Vacuum systems rely on a pump to remove the air from inside of the bottle
If food is X, wine is Y: Hot (chili)
The alcohol in the wine is more noticeable