WSET2 - White Grape Variety Flashcards
Chardonnay taste
(Bonus: Cool, Moderate, Hot)
Acidity Medium Low (oaked warm climate)
Acidity Medium High (unoaked cool climate)
Cool (Chablis): green fruit (apple, pear), citrus and vegetable notes (cucumber) – due to less ripe
Moderate (Burgundy, premium New World): stone fruit (peach) and citrus and melon
Hot (new World): tropical fruit notes (peach, banana, pineapple, mango) – due to very ripe
- Malolactic fermentation can result in creamy and buttery textures and flavours.
- Prolonged lees contact can bring savoury flavours (bread, yeast) and creamy texture
- Oak contact can attribute the smell of vanilla, butter and coconut.
- Aging can develop honey, nutty tones, as well as savoury complexity.
Chardonnay regions
(Bonus: where in USA, South America, SA)
France: Chablis, Burgundy
Australia: Yarra Valley, SA (Adelaide Hills), Margaret River and Tasmania
New Zealand: Marlborough
USA: California (Russian River, Sonoma, Carneros)
Chile (Central Valley, Casablanca Valley)
Argentina (Mendoza)
South Africa (Walker Bay)
Sauvignon Blanc taste
Usually displays strong aromas of green fruit and vegetables (gooseberry, elderflower, green bell pepper, asparagus). In order to show its intense pungent herbaceous-aromatic character, SB needs a cool climate (though it can tolerate a moderate one).
Warmer region also passionfruit, guava, white peach.
Usually High in acidity, medium bodied, almost always dry.
Sauvignon Blanc regions
France: Loire, Bordeaux
Australia: Adelaide Hills, but also Margaret River
New Zealand: Marlborough
USA: California (Napa Valley)
Chile (Casablanca Valley, San Antonio)
South Africa (Constantia, Elgin)
Riesling taste
(Bonus: cool vs moderate vs late harvest)
Pronounced fruity and floral.
Cool climate: green fruit (apple, grape), lemon, lime
Moderate climate: citrus and stone fruit – lime and white peach
Late harvest: stone fruit, tropical fruit, peach, apricot, mango, pineapple
ACIDITY Usually High in acidity, medium bodied.
Riesling regions
Germany: Pfalz, Rheingau, Mosel, Rheinhessen
Austria
France: Alsace
Australia: esp. Clare Valley, Eden Valley
New Zealand: e.g. Waipara Valley, Central Otago
USA: Washington State
PINOT GRIS taste
Full body, dry to off-dry, medium and sweet.
Tropical fruit, ginger, banana, melon, honey.
PINOT GRIS regions
Alsace
PINOT GRIGIO taste
Medium or light body, medium acidity, neutral character.
PINOT GRIGIO regions
Italy
VERDICCHIO taste
Medium body, high acidity.
Lemon, fennel, bitter almond.
VERDICCHIO regions
Marche; Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC
TREBBIANO taste
High acidity.
TREBBIANO regions
South Italy
Inexpensive neutral wine
GARGANEGA taste
Medium body, unoaked.
Floral, chamomile. Green fruit, pear, red apple, white pepper.
GARGANEGA regions
North-east Italy, Veneto;
Soave DOC
CORTESE taste
Light body, high acidity.
Green apple, citrus.
CORTESE regions
Piemonte;
Gavi DOCG
CHENIN BLANC (Loire) taste
Medium body, medium sweetness, high acidity, unoaked.
Citrus, green and tropical fruit, lemon, apple, pineapple.
Herbaceous notes, green leaf.
CHENIN BLANC (Loire) regions
Loire, Touraine;
Vouvray AC.
CHENIN BLANC (SA) taste
Medium body, dry or off-dry, medium to high acidity (large volume inexpensive)
Citrus and tropical fruit.
CHENIN BLANC (SA) regions
South Africa (blend including Chardonnay-CheninBlanc)
MELON BLANC taste
Medium body, dry, medium or high acidity, unoaked.
Neutral fruit (Sur Lie adds body and complexity)
MELON BLANC regions
Loire;
Muscadet AC
VIOGNIER taste
Low in acidity, high in alcohol.
Delicate fruit and floral, peach, pear, apricot, violet, spicy notes.
VIOGNIER regions
Northern Rhone.
South of France.
(Chile, Argentina, Australia, California)
ALBARINO taste
Medium body, high acidity, unoaked.
Fresh green and citrus fruit, apple, pear, grapefruit.
ALBARINO regions
Spain, Rais Baixas
SEMILLON taste
Dry, light body and alcohol, high acidity.
Delicate citrus, close to neutral.
Age: complex toast, honey, nut. (Hunter Valley)
SEMILLON regions
Bordeaux (Blend with SavBlanc, Sweet).
NSW, Hunter Valley.
GEWURZTRAMINER taste
Dry to medium sweetness, full body, high alcohol, low acidity.
Rose, orange blossom, lychee, peach, grape, musky spices, ginger.
GEWURZTRAMINER regions
Alsace.
New Zealand
TORRENTES taste
Medium body, high alcohol, medium acidity.
Aromatic, pronounced fruity, floral: perfume, grapes, peach.
TORRENTES regions
Argentina, Cafayete
