Grape Varieties

Question 1

Aligoté

1. Description
2. Region(s)

Answer 1

1. A natural cross between Pinot x Gouais Blanc - aromatic fruit w/ high acidity, medium body, and ‘jasmine and vanilla perfume’
2. Beaujolais, Bourgogne, Rhône (Diosis), and Savoie.

Question 2

Altesse

1. Description
2. Region(s)

Answer 2

1. Considered a bumper crop. Very resistant to rot and delivers uncompromised clusters despite long hang time.

Genetics linked to Chasselas (native to Lake Geneva), theorized to be indigenous to Savoie.

Lively acidity, hints of honey/almond. Full bodied w/ spicy aromatics and long lived.

2. L-R IGP, Savoie

Question 3

Auxerrois

1. Description
2. Region(s)

Answer 3

1. Ripens to high sugar and low acid levels, makes a fairly neutral white.

Natural cross of Pinot x Gouais and thought to originated in Alsace-Lorraine.

2. Alsace

Question 4

Chardonnay

1. Description
2. Region(s)

Answer 4

1. Natural cross of Pinot x Gouais Blanc and indigenous to Bourgogne. High sugar, high extract levels, can run risk of low acid.

Primary fruit = apple and citrus w/ secondary/tertiary aromas of butter, bnuts, ginger, and nutmeg.

Pale white to yellow gold depending on age, winemaking, and terroir.

2. Alsace, Beaujolais, Bourgogne, Champagne, Corsica IGP, Jura, L-R, Loire, Provence, Rhône, Savoie, South-West

Question 5

Bourboulenc

1. Description
2. Region(s)

Answer 5

1. Requires high temperatures to ripen in clusters. Produces wines w/ moderate alcohol and high acidity. Citrus and smoke aromas. Unknown origin, but grown in Southern France for centuries.
2. L-R, Provence, Rhône

Question 6

Synonym(s) for Chardonnay

Answer 6

(Bourgogne) Beaunois

(Jura) Gamay Blanc, Melon d’Arbois, Melon à Queue Rouge

(Loire) Auvernat

Question 7

Chasselas

1. Description
2. Region(s)

Answer 7

1. Ancient grape variety native to Lake Geneva (Switzerland). Abundant, but inconsistent yields and is a fairly neutral grape. Hints of flint or smoke, also hay and flowers.

Used by French ampelographer Victor Pulliat (1827-1896) as the ‘standard’ in categorizing grapes based on ripening because of how widely planted it was in Western Europe.

2. Alsace, Loire, Savoie

Question 8

Victor Pulliat (1827-1896) and this grape

Answer 8

French ampelographer used Chasselas Doré as the ‘baseline/standard’ to in his categorization system of grape varieties and their ripening time due to the fact that it was one of the most widely planted grapes and considered a reference point throughout out Western Europe.

Question 9

Chenin Blanc

1. Description
2. Region(s)

Answer 9

1. Related to Savagnin Blanc and thought to be native to Northern part of France. DNA proves that Agudelo (native to Galicia, Spain) is a direct match.

High-vigor variety, adaptable to different climates/soils. Cold hardy vines, wind and disease resistant. Crafts high acid and high extract wines.

Often used to make sweet wines because of rot resistant qualities. High acidity/extract = ability to be aged for decades.

Primary fruits of peach, quince, apricot, apple, and pair. Secondary of clotted cream, créme frâiche, and buttermilk. Tertiary = ripe grain, fresh straw, marzipan, toasted nuts.

2. L-R, Loire, South=West

Question 10

Synonym(s) for Chenin Blanc

Answer 10

(Loire) Gros Pineau, Pineau de la Loire

(SW) Rouchelein

Question 11

Clairette

1. Description
2. Region(s)

Answer 11

1. Believed to originated in Hérault département of Languedoc.

Prefers warm, rocky, dry sites and crafts wines w/ high alcohol and low acidity. Hints of apricot, apple, peach, fennel, and lime. Aromas of of acacia and hawthorn.

Prone to oxidation.

2. L-R, Provence, Rhône, South-West

Question 12

Colombard

1. Description
2. Region(s)

Answer 12

1. Natural cross of Chenin Blanc x Gouais and native to Charente départment in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

“Prolific producer” delivering fruit w/ floral notes, high acidity, and high sugar levels.

2. Bordeaux, L-R IGP, Loire, South-West

Question 13

Courbu Blanc

1. Description
2. Region(s)

Answer 13

1. Matures to high sugar levels and made into dry and sweet wines. Only moderately acidic despite pronounced grapefruit aromas.

Unrelated to Courbu Noir and Petit Courbu.

2. South-West

Question 14

Synonym(s) for Courbu Blanc

Answer 14

Hondarrabi Zuri (Spain)

Question 15

Folle Blanche

1. Description
2. Region(s)

Answer 15

1. Believed to be native to South-West France. Delicately flavored, hgh-acid wines w/ refreshing notes of citrus and green apple.

It is referred to as Picpoul n Armagnac, but is not the same grape as Picpoul of Languedoc. DNA = Gouais Blanc is one of its parents.

2. Loire, South-West

Question 16

Synonym(s) for Folle Blanche

Answer 16

(Loire) Gros Plant

Question 17

Gouais Blanc

1. Description
2. Region(s)

Answer 17

1. Produces big clusters w/ big berries. Dominant grape of the Middle Ages, but not commercially grown today.
2. Champagne

Question 18

Famous offspring of Gouais Blanc

Answer 18

Aligoté
Auxerrois
Chardonnay
Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc
Melon de Bourgogne
Romorantin
Sacy
Colombard
Folle Blanche
Grolleau Noir
Arbois
Riesling

Question 19

Grenache Blanc

1. Description
2. Region(s)

Answer 19

1. Produces fairly full-bodied white wines w/ low to moderate acidity and good extract. Prone to oxidation.

Green apple and pear w/ white flower aromatics.

Shares DNA w/ grenache blanc, gris, and noir.

2. L-R, Provence, Rhône

Question 20

Synonym(s) for Grenache Blanc

Answer 20

Garnacha Blanca (Spain)

Question 21

Gringet

1. Description
2. Region(s)

Answer 21

1. Legend says it was brought to Savoie by bishops from Cyprus and could very well be native.

Mid ripening w/ floral aromatics, bright acidity, and yellow plum fruit.

2. Savoie

Question 22

Gros Manseng

1. Description
2. Region(s)

Answer 22

1. Larger berried, thinner skinned offspring of Petit Manseng. High-acid, high-sugar grapes crafted into wines accented with citrus and spice. Less intense aromatics than Petit Manseng.
2. L-R IGP, South-West

Question 23

Jacquère

1. Description
2. Region(s)

Answer 23

1. “Prolific producer’ can easily deliver a crop of 6 tons/ac (100 hl/ha) each year.

Produces lightly perfumed, high-acid wines with hints of wildflower and citrus.

2. Savoie

Question 24

Marsanne

1. Description
2. Region(s)

Answer 24

1. Vigorous and hardy vine and generous producer. Clusters are large, but berries are small. Believed to be native to Rhône.

Prefers warm, stony soils and does well on less fertile sites. Produces powerful wines with moderate acidity, high alcohol, and high extract.

Aromas of melon and honeysuckle w/ marzipan and hazelnut.

2. L-R, Provence, Rhône, Savoie

Question 25

Mauzac Blanc 1. Description 2. Region(s)

Answer 25

1. Fairly aromatic, high-acid wines with notes of bruised apple. Believed to be native to South-West France. 2. Bordeaux, L-R, South-West

Question 26

Melon de Bourgogne 1. Description 2. Region(s)

Answer 26

1. Also known as "Muscadet" or "Melon" for short. It's hardy, frost resistant, and productive. Pinot x Gouais cross. Wines with subtle accents of sea and citrus. It is not related to the Muscat family and is not similar in nose/palate. 2. Beaujolais, Bourgogne, Loire

Question 27

Molette 1. Description 2. Region(s)

Answer 27

1. High yielding and fairly neutral grape. Ripens w. high sugar and high acid. Traditionally incorporated into Savoie sparkling wines and is native to Savoie. 2. Savoie

Question 28

Mondeuse Blanche 1. Description 2. Region(s)

Answer 28

1. High alcohol, low-acid, fairly neutral white grape. Best known for its offspring - crossed with Dureza to make Syrah. Shares a kinship with Viognier. 2. Savoie