Chardonnay

Question 1

What climate does Chardonnay grow well in?

Answer 1

• Cool
• Moderate
• Warm

Question 2

What is the profile of a typical Cool Climate Chardonnay?

Answer 2

• High Acid
• Light-Medium Body
• Green Fruit Flavours (Apple, Pear)
• Citrus Fruits (Lemon, Lime)
• Wet Stones

Question 3

What is the typical profile of a Moderate Climate Chardonnay?

Answer 3

• Medium-High Acid
• Medium-Full Body
• Lemon
• Stone Fruits (Peach)
• Tropical Fruits (Melon)

Question 4

What is the typical profile of a Warm-Climate Chardonnay?

Answer 4

• Full-Bodied
• Medium Acid
• Stone Fruit (Peach)
• Tropical Fruit (Pineapple, Banana)

Question 5

What is Acidification for Chardonnay? Why do it?

Answer 5

Adding extra Acid to Warm-Bodied Chardonnay

To balance alcohol and body of wine

Question 6

What are three methods to change, create secondary flavours in a Chardonnay?

Answer 6

• Malolactic Conversion
• Aging on the Lees
• Oak-Aging

Question 7

What is Malolactic Conversion?

Answer 7

After Alcoholic Fermentation completed

By Bacteria, not Yeast

Question 8

How does Malolactic Conversion change a Chardonnay wine?

Answer 8

• Lowers Acid of Wine
• Softens Harsh Acids
• Adds Dairy Flavours (Butter, Cream)

Question 9

What is Aging on the Lees?

Answer 9

After Alcoholic Fermentation

Yeast Die and fall to bottom of fermentation tank

Dead Cells called Lees

Lees stirred through wine frequently

Adds Biscuit, Bread Flavours

Question 10

What flavours does Aging on the Lees add to Chardonnay?

Answer 10

• Bread
• Biscuit

Question 11

What flavours does Oak-Barrel Aging give Chardonnay?

Answer 11

• Smoke
• Vanilla
• Coconut

Question 12

Why age Chardonnay in Oak?

Answer 12

• Add Body
• Add Flavours

Question 13

Do winemakers always use the three techniques (Malolactic, Oak, Lees) when making Chardonnay?

Answer 13

No

Need the Chardonnay wine to be more robust.

If too light, these techniques will overwhelm the Chardonnay flavours

Question 14

Secondary Flavours in a Chardonnay are added by what three techniques?

Answer 14

• Malolactic Conversion
• Aging on the Lees
• Oak-Aging

Question 15

Certain Chardonnay’s can age in the bottle for years to decades. What Tertiary Flavours are typical of a long-aged Chardonnay?

Answer 15

• Hazelnut
• Mushroom

Question 16

What are important French region for Chardonnay?

Answer 16

Burgundy, France

(South of Chablis, through Cote d’Or, to Maconais in North)

Question 17

What are the important French AOC’s for Chardonnay (there are four)?

Answer 17

• Bourgogne AOC
• Chablis AOC
• Cote d’Or
• Maconnais

Question 18

True or False - The Chardonnay grape is the main white grape variety in Burgundy

Answer 18

True

Question 19

Chardonnays made in Bourgogne AOC can be grown where?

Answer 19

Made from grapes grown anywhere in Burgundy Region

Question 20

Bourgogne AOC Chardonnay’s have what characteristics?

Answer 20

• High Acid
• Apple, Lemon Flavours

Question 21

What is Chablis AOC

Answer 21

Village appellation

Question 22

What kind of climate is in Chablis AOC?

Answer 22

Cool climate

Question 23

What is the profile of a typical Chablis AOC Chardonnay wine?

Answer 23

• Dry
• High Acid
• Apple, Lemon
• Wet Stones

Question 24

What are the best Chablis AOC labelled as?

Answer 24

• Premier Cru
• Grand Cru

Question 25

Where are the Premier Cru and Grand Cru wines in Chablis AOC grown?

Answer 25

South/South-East facing hillsides Produces riper grapes due to more sun exposure Wines more complex and flavourful

Question 26

Is Chablis AOC wines oaked?

Answer 26

No, only rarely Winemakers want to preserve the delicate cool-climate flavours

Question 27

What is the climate of the Cote d'Or?

Answer 27

Moderate

Question 28

What area in the Cote d'Or is focused on Chardonnay production

Answer 28

Cote de Beaune | (South of the town of Beaune)

Question 29

What are the two appellations in the Cote de Beaune that makes outstanding Chardonnay?

Answer 29

* Meursault AOC * Puligny-Montrachet AOC

Question 30

How are Chardonnay's from **Cote de Beaune** made?

Answer 30

* Complexity and Body added by Oak aging * Aging in contact with Lees

Question 31

What tertiary flavours are in Premier Cru and Grand Cru Chardonnay from Cote de Beaune?

Answer 31

* Hazelnut * Mushroom

Question 32

Where is Maconnais located?

Answer 32

Sub-region south of Burgundy

Question 33

What is a typical Maconnais Chardonnay like?

Answer 33

* Fruity * Most unoaked * Simple flavour (lemon, peach melon)

Question 34

What is the two Maconnais appellations called?

Answer 34

* Macon AOC * Pouilly-Fuisse AOC

Question 35

What are the wines from Pouilly-Fuisse like?

Answer 35

* High quality wine * Stone Fruits * Tropical Fruits * Fermented in oak to add complexity and body

Question 36

What climate is in Pouilly-Fuisse AOC?

Answer 36

* Steep slopes * Lots of sun

Question 37

The South of France grows Chardonnay. What is the climate?

Answer 37

Warm

Question 38

What is the typical profile of a South of France Chardonnay?

Answer 38

* Ripe, Fruity * Fruit flavours (Peach, Pineapple, Banana)

Question 39

Are these wines IGP wines?

Answer 39

Yes. Most labelled IGP