Grape Varietals Flashcards
(25 cards)
Aglianico
Full bodied, high tannin, medium plus tannin and acidity
White pepper, game, black cherry, smoke, spiced plum
Also try: Nebbiolo Monastery Negroamaro Tempranillo
Albariño
Light body, high acidity, subtle sweetness
Lemon zest, grapefruit, honeydew, nectarine, saline
Also try: Loureiro Riesling Furmint Verdejo Vinho Verde
Barbera
Medium plus body, high acidity, low tannin, medium plus alcohol
Tart cherry, licorice, blackberry, dried herbs, black pepper
Pair with roasted and vegetable driven dishes
Also try: Agiorgitiko Mencía Dolcetto Blaufränkisch Montepulciano
Cabernet Franc
Medium bodied, medium tannin, medium acidity, medium plus alcohol
Raspberry, strawberry, green bell pepper, chili pepper, crushed gravel
Also try: Carmenere Sangiovese Tempranillo Zinfandel
Cabernet Sauvignon
Full bodied, high tannin, medium acidity, medium plus alcohol
Black cherry, black currant, graphite, baking spices, cedar
Also try: Bordeaux Blend Merlot Car Franc Carmenere Nero d’Avola
Carignan
Medium bodied, light sweetness, medium tannin, medium plus acidity, medium plus alcohol
Dried cranberry, raspberry, baking spices, tobacco leaf, cured meat
Pairs with cinnamon dishes, berry based sauces, and smoked meat (Thanksgiving dishes)
Also try: Grenache Sangiovese Rhone (GSM blend) Zinfandel
Carmenere
Medium body, medium acidity, medium tannin, medium alcohol
Raspberry, bell pepper, black plum, vanilla, paprika
Also try: Cab Franc Cab Sauv Bordeaux Blend Merlot
Cava
Slight sweetness, high acidity, low alcohol
Quince, lime, yellow apple, chamomile, almond
Grapes: macabre, Xarello, Parellada
Aged 9 months
Reserva: aged 15 months
Gran Reserva: aged 30 months
Chardonnay
Medium body, medium acidity, medium plus alcohol
Yellow apples, pineapple, vanilla, butter
Also try:
Marsanne
Roussane,
Viognier
Bordeaux Blend
Full bodied, high tannin, medium acidity, medium plus alcohol
Black currant, black cherry, graphite, chocolate, dried herbs
Also try: Cab Sauv Merlot Cab Franc Malbec Petit Verdot
Chenin Blanc
Light body, varying levels of sweetness, high acidity, medium alcohol
Quince, yellow apple, pear, chamomile, honey
Pair with Thai or Vietnamese food
Also try:
Garganega
Grechetto
Chardonnay
Cinsault
Low tannin, medium acidity, medium alcohol, medium low body
Raspberry, red currant, tart cherry, violet, black tea
Try with well-spiced, vegetarian Indian food
Also try:
Pinot Noir
Zweigelt
Gamay
Cortese (Gavi DOC in Piemonte)
Light bodied, medium alcohol, medium plus acidity
Meyer lemon, gala apple, honeydew, seashell, almond
Pair with fragrant pesto pastas, seafood dishes with basil and lemon
Also try: Grechetto Garganega Arneis Grillo Falanghina
Crémant
Lemon, white peach, white cherry, almond, toast
Cremant d’Alsace: Pinot noir, Pinot Blanc, Pinot gris, Chardonnay, etc
Cremant de Limoux: Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Mauzac, etc
Cremant de Bourgogne: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, etc
Cremant de Loire: Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir
Cremant de Bordeaux: Merlot, etc
Cremant de Die: Clairette
Cremant de Savoie: Jacquere, Altesse, Chasselas, etc
Cremant du Jura: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Poulsard, etc
Dolcetto
Medium plus body, medium plus tannin, medium low acidity, medium alcohol
Plum, blackberry, cocoa, black pepper, violet
Pair with richer, darker meats and vegetables with roasted tomatoes, eggplant, and garlic
Also try: Blaufränkisch Bonarda Merlot Montepulciano Malbec
Franciacorta
Lemon, peach, white cherry, almond, toast
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Blanc
Riserva: vintage dated, aged 67 months
Millesimato: vintage dated, aged 37 months
Frappato
Light bodied, low tannin, medium acidity, medium alcohol
Dried strawberry, pomegranate, white pepper, tobacco, clove
Pair with roasted red pepper and sun dried tomato, toast turkey and cranberry sauce
Also try: Schiava Zinfandel Pinot Noir Brachetto
Friulano (Sauvignonasse)
Light bodied, high acidity, medium alcohol
Grapefruit, green pear, white peach, tarragon, crushed gravel
Pair with: salad, roasted green vegetables, green beans, artichokes, cabbage, Brussels sprouts
Also try: Sauvignon Blanc Muscadet Verdejo Albariño Furmint
Furmint
Light bodied, high acidity, medium alcohol
Meyer lemon, green apple, smoke, ginger, pepperocini
Pair with herb crusted poultry or fish, sushi, Chinese dumplings
Also try: Riesling Assyrtiko Loureiro Albariño
Gamay
Light bodied, low tannin, medium plus acidity, low alcohol
Pomegranate, blackberry bramble, violet, potting soil, banana
Pair with: sweet and sour salmon, beef stroganoff, sesame tempeh
Also try: Zweigelt Schiava Pinot Noir Valpicella Frappato
Garganega (Soave DOC)
Medium plus acidity
Peach, honeydew, tangerine, marjoram, saline
Pair with lighter meats, tofu, or fish and season with citrus tarragon dressing
Also try: Chenin Blanc Albariño Friulano Arneis
Gewürztraminer
Medium body, Low acidity, medium plus alcohol
Lychee, rose, grapefruit, tangerine, ginger
Also try:
Muscat Blanc
Torrontés
Müller-Thurgau
Grenache, Garnacha, Cannonau
Medium plus body, high alcohol, medium tannin, medium acidity
Stewed strawberry, grilled plum, leather, dried herbs, blood orange
Pair with roasted meats and vegetables that include exotic spices like cumin, allspice, and Asian five-spice
Also try: Carignan Zinfandel Merlot Valpolicella blend
Grüner Veltliner
High acidity, medium alcohol
Yellow apple, pear, asparagus, white pepper, flint
Pair with light meats and seafood such as tarragon chicken and sashimi
Also try: Sauvignon Blanc Vinho Verde Vermentino Friulano Verdejo
