Grape Varietals Flashcards

1
Q

Principal white grapes

A

Chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, riesling

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2
Q

Principal red grapes

A

Pinot Noir, Cab Sauv, Merlot, Shiraz (Syrah)

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3
Q
Chardonnay characteristics
(cool climate vs. warm)
A

Acidity: High or medium (higher in cooler)

Cool climate: notes of lemon/lime/apple. Starting to get tropical fruits like pineapple, mango, banana
Warm: More of those tropical flavors + stone fruits like peach and apricot

If in oak, look for vanilla and spices like cloves

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4
Q

Burgundy Chardonnay vs. Chablis

A

Burgundy: Medium body, maybe vanilla from oak

Chablis: Light to medium body, high acidity

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5
Q

Sauvignon Blanc

Dry? Acid? Body? Aroma? Oak? Wines from the variety?

A

Dry

High acid

Light to medium body
Green fruit (apple), citrus (lemon, grapefruit), tropical (passionfruit), herbaceous notes (asparagus, bell pepper, cut grass)

Usually fermented in stainless steel and not matured in oak

Popular wines: New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and Sancere (FR)

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6
Q

Pinot Grigio

Dry? Acid? Body? Aroma? Oak? Other notes

A

Dry

Medium to high acidity

Light body

Simple flavors of pear and lemon

Usually fermented in stainless steel and not matured in oak

Mostly associated with Italy

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7
Q

Riesling Dry? Acid? Body? Aroma? Oak? Wines from the variety?

A

Dry to sweet

High acid to balance sweetness

Light to medium bodied

Aromas ranging from floral and green fruits (apple), citrus (lemon/lime) , stone fruits (peach, apricot)

Often fermented in stainless steel and not matured in oak

Classic grape of Germany. Alsace (FR) and Australia also produce a dry style of resiling

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8
Q

Cab Sauv

Dry? Tannins? Acid? Body? Aroma? Oak? Other notes

A

Dry

High Tannins

High Acid

Medium to full bodied

Aromas of black fruits (blackcurrant, black cherry). Herbaceous notes (green bell pepper, mint

Often matured in oak, adding flavors of cedar and vanilla

Due to high tannins, often blended with other varieties

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9
Q

What is Cab. often blended with and why?

A

Often blended with Merlot due to high tannins, adding softness and body to the blend

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10
Q

Where is cab often grown?

A

California, Australia, Chile, South Africa

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11
Q

Merlot

Dry? Tannin? Acid? Body? Aroma? Oak? Other notes

A

Dry

Medium acid and tannin

Full bodied

Flavors range from red fruit (strawberry, plum) to black fruits (blackberry, black plum)

Often matured in oak (think vanilla)

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12
Q

Where is Merlot often grown? Where is it most famously blended with cab?

A

Widely grown in California and Chile, producing soft and fruity wines

Bordeaux is most famous region for merlot-cab blends

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13
Q

Pinot Noir

Dry? Acid? Tannin? Body? Aroma? Oak? Other notes

A

Dry

High acidity

Low to medium tannins

Light to medium body

Flavors of red fruit (strawberry, red cherry, raspberry)

Often matured in oak, creating vanilla and smoke aromas. More likely used oak than new to impart the flavors more delicately.

Usually grown in cooler regions

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14
Q

What is the principal and only grape used for red Burgundy?

A

Pinot Noir

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15
Q

What two grapes are commonly blended to make champagne?

A

Chard and Pinot noir

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16
Q

Shiraz (AU) Syrah (FR)

Dry? Tannin? Acid? Body? Aroma? Oak? Other notes

A

Dry

Medium to high tannins and body

Medium acid

Flavors of black fruit (blackberry, black cherry) and spice (black pepper, licorice)

Many matured in oak to give flavors of vanilla or coconut to the wine

17
Q

Norther Rhone Syrah compared to Australia?

A

Cooler in Rhone, more medium bodied and fresh black fruit flavor and pepper compared to jammy black fruit and licorice in AU.

18
Q

Champagne

Dry? Acid? Body? Aroma? Oak? Other notes

A

Sparkling wine made from chardonnay and pinot noir

Dry, high acidity

Aromas of green fruit (apples) and citrus (lemon) and bread notes

19
Q

Sancerre

Grape? Dry? Acid? Body? Aroma? Oak? Other notes

A

Made from Sauvignon Blanc

Dry

High acid

Medium body

Typically unoaked

Green fruit (apple) and herbaceous (grass) aromas

20
Q

Chablis

Grape? Dry? Acid? Body? Aroma? Oak? Other notes

A

French wine from Chardonnay

Dry, light body, high acid

Unoaked

Green fruit (apple) and citrus (lemon) aromas

21
Q

Burgundy (white)

Grape? Dry? Acid? Body? Aroma? Oak? Other notes

A

Made from chardonnay

Dry, medium body

Often show riper fruit than Chablis such as citrus and stone fruit (peach)

Can be oaked or unoaked

22
Q

Red Burgundy

Grape? Dry? Tannin? Acid? Body? Aroma? Oak? Other notes

A

Dry wines made from Pinot Noir

Low in tannins

Light body, high acid

Flavors of red fruits (raspberry and cherry). Sometimes vanilla and cloves from oak

23
Q

Bordeaux

Grape? Dry? Tannin? Acid? Body? Aroma? Oak? Other notes

A

Typically a blend of Cab Sauv. and Merlot

Dry, High acid and tannin. Medium to full body

Aromas of black fruits (black cherry, black currant) and cedar notes from oak.

24
Q

Beaujolais

Dry? Acid? Tannin? Body? Aroma? Oak? Other notes

A

(FR)
Dry, light bodied, low tannin

Fresh red fruit flavors (raspberry, red cherry)

Unoaked

25
Q

Cotes du Rhone

Dry? Acid? Tannin? Body? Aroma? Oak? Other notes

A

(FR)

Dry, medium body

Can be oaked or unoaked

26
Q

Chateauneuf-du-Pape

A

Dry, full bodied, high alcohol

Red fruit (strawberry) and clove flavors from oak

26
Q

Chateauneuf-du-Pape

A

Dry, full bodied, high alcohol

Red fruit (strawberry) and clove flavors from oak

27
Q

Sauternes

A

Sweet white wine from Bordeaux

Full bodied

Flavors of stone fruits (apricot), honey and vanilla from oak.

High acidity to balance

28
Q

Prosecco

A

Light bodied sparkling wine

Green fruit (pear) and floral aromas)

Dry to medium sweetness

29
Q

Chianti

A

Dry, medium bodied

High tannin and acidity

Red fruit flavors (red cherry, plum) aromas of clove from oak

30
Q

Cava

A

Dry sparkling wine from Spain

Flavors of green fruit (pear) and citrus (lemon)

31
Q

Rioja

A

Dry

Medium to full body

Typically red fruit (strawberry) and vanilla from oak

32
Q

Sherry

A

Spanish fortified sweet wine

High in alcohol

Typically red, full bodied, high tannin

Black fruit (blackberry)

33
Q

White Zin

A

Rose from California

Unoaked, low alcohol, medium sweet and flavors of red fruit (strawberry and raspberry)