Grape Varieties Rose

Question 1

Fromenteau

Answer 1

Fromenteau was one of two principal grapes grown in Champagne from the 9th-16th centuries; the grape has gray-pink skin. It is believed to be Pinot Gris.

Regions: Champagne

Question 2

Gewurztraminer

Answer 2

This is the pink-skinned, aromatic mutation of Savagnin Blanc; it ripens with high sugar levels, high extract levels and low acidity. Look for aromas of nutmeg, ginger, cardamom, allspice, sandalwood, mace, rose and lychee. “Gewurz” is German for spice, but Gewurztraminer is correctly spelled without the umlaut in Alsace.

Synonyms: (L-R) Gewurztraminer Rose

Regions: Alsace, L-R IGP

Question 3

Grenache Gris

Answer 3

Grenache Gris produces a rich, round wine with profound “minerality,” stone fruit flavors, moderate to low acidity and high alcohol with a honeyed almonst lanolin-like undercurrent. Like all members of the Grenache family, it is prone to oxidation.

Regions: Corsica IGP, L-R, Rhone

Question 4

Grolleau Gris

Answer 4

Grolleau Gris is a color variant of Grolleau Noir; it is pink-skinned.

Regions: Loire

Question 5

Klevener (de Heiligenstein)

Answer 5

see Savagnin Rose

Question 6

Mauzac Rose

Answer 6

Mauzac Rose is a pink-skinned mutation of Mauzac Blanc; all other attributes are the same.

Regions: South-West

Question 7

Pinot Gris

Answer 7

Pinot Gris ripens to high extract levels, high sugar levels and moderate to low acidity. This grape has two distinct styles. When cropped at high levels, it produces a relatively neutral, light-bodied wine with meidum acidity. When crop levels are low, however, the wine takes on richness and opulence with a high degree of viscosity. In the best examples, look for flavors of apple, pear, honey and dried fruit that are sometimes accented by a light touch of smoke, beeswax or mushroom. The grape is a color mutation of Pinot Noir.

Synonym: (Alsace) formerly, Toay d’Alsace; (Bourgogne) Pinot Beurot; (Loire) Malvoisie

Regions: Alsace, Beaujolais, Bourgogne, Champagne, Corsica IGP, Jura, L-R IGP, Loire, South-West IGP

Question 8

Sauvignon Gris

Answer 8

Sauvignon Gris is a pink-skinned color mutation of Sauvignon Blanc. It is slightly more perfumed and fuller in body than Sauvignon Blanc.

Synonyms: (Loire) Fie Gris

Regions: Bordeaux, Bourgogne, Corsica IGP, Loire, South-West

Question 9

Savagnin Rose

Answer 9

Savagnin Rose is the pink-skinned ono-aromatic mutation of Sagnin Blanc. It is similar inflavor and stracture to Savagnin Blanc. It is similar in flavor and structure to Savagnin Blanc. In Alsace, it is known as Klevener (de Heiligenstein).

Regions: Alsace