Grape Varieties: Budding, Ripening, Characteristics

Question 1

Chardonnay

Answer 1

Early budding
Early ripening
Retains high acidity
Delicate apple & citrus
Light-full bodied

Question 2

Sauvignon Blanc

Answer 2

Late budding
Early ripening - among first to ripen
High acidity
Tropical / herbaceous
High in thiols

Question 3

Semillon

Answer 3

Mid budding
Late ripening
Oily or Waxy texture, and medium body & medium acidity
Honey, hazelnut, white blossom and acacia flower, citrus & pear
Lanolin

Question 4

Pinot Grigio

Question 5

Pinot Gris

Question 6

Pinot Blanc

Answer 6

Early budding
Late ripening
Medium intense apple & pear
Medium + to high acidity
Light - medium body

Question 7

Riesling

Answer 7

Late budding
Mid-late ripening
Range from green fruit > citrus > tropical | white flower & honeysuckle
High acidity can be retained when fully ripe
Thick wood, relatively frost resistant

Question 8

Muller-Thurgau (Rivaner)

Answer 8

Mid-budding
Mid-ripening
Simple floral and fruity aromas
Medium acid

Question 9

Silvaner

Answer 9

Late ripening
Delicate citrus | can range from green fruit > tropical | subtle floral / earthy
Dry, medium body, medium - medium + acidity
Likes calcareous soils, too heavy in heavy soils
In good years from Franken can ‘plaster’ or coat the palate.
Cross between Traminer & Austrian white

Question 10

Aligote

Question 11

Chenin Blanc

Answer 11

Early budding
Mid-late ripening
Medium intense apple & citrus
High acidity
Lightly toasted with autolysis

Question 12

Muscadet

Question 13

Viognier

Answer 13

Early budding
Mid-late ripening
Moderate acidity
Apricot / dried fruits / textural

Question 14

Marsanne

Question 15

Roussanne

Question 16

Palomino

Question 17

Macabeo

Answer 17

Late budding
Early ripening
High yielding
Light intensity apple & lemon
Susceptible to botrytis bunch rot & bacterial blight

Question 18

Xarel-lo

Answer 18

Mid budding & ripening
Greenage & gooseberry notes
Earthy when overripe
Affinity with oak

Question 19

Parellada

Answer 19

Early budding
Late ripening
Planted at higher altitudes for longer growing seasons to avoid high alcohol, and reacg flavour maturity.
Adds finesse & floral notes

Question 20

Syrah

Answer 20

Late budding
Early Ripening

Question 21

Cabernet Sauvignon

Answer 21

Late budding
Mid-late ripening
High in methoxypyrazines

Question 22

Merlot

Answer 22

Early budding
Early ripening

Question 23

Pinot Noir

Answer 23

Early budding
Early ripening

Question 24

Meunier

Answer 24

Early budding (later than Pinot Noir & Chardonnay)
Early ripening (earlier than Pinot Noir & Chardonnay)

Question 25

Grenache / Cannonau (Sardinia) / Garnacha (Spain)

Answer 25

Early budding
Mid-late ripening

Question 26

Malbec

Question 27

Petit Verdot

Question 28

Cabernet Franc

Question 29

Carignan

Question 30

Carmenere

Answer 30

? budding
Late ripening

Question 31

Nebbiolo

Question 32

Sangiovese

Question 33

Cinsault

Question 34

Mouvedre (French) / Mataro (US & Australia) / Monastrell (Spanish)

Question 35

Zinfandel

Question 36

Tempranillo

Question 37

Dornfelder

Answer 37

Mid budding
Mid-late ripening
Cherry, Blackberry | slight floral
Deeply coloured
High acidity | Medium to Medium + tannin
High vigour, large berries
Best results from leaf thinning / green harvesting
Produced occasionally with residual sugar mainly in Pfalz & Rheinhessen.
Most widely planted black variety head of Spatburgunder.