Regions And Winemaking

Question 1

Bordeaux

Answer 1

• moderate maritime
• *GULF STREAM from Atlantic brings warm air that extends growing season
• high levels of rainfall and humidity Can disrupt flowering/fruit set and promote rot and dilute flavors
• Landes forest and coastal dunes block out most stormy weather

-Cab Sauv relies on high stone content of left bank to raise vineyard temperatures

Question 2

Burgundy

Answer 2

• Climate from cool continental in north to moderate continental in south
• Rain can frequently disrupt flowering
• Pinot particularly susceptible to grey rot
• Spring frosts in Chablis
• *Vineyard location=extremely important
• Lesser vineyards on bottom of slope
• Premier and Grand often mid slope With south-south East exposure there protects them from prevailing westerly winds

Question 3

Burgundy white wine making

Answer 3

• Barrel fermentation
• Barrel aging (6-9 months)
• mlf
• Use of Lees

Question 4

Chablis

Answer 4

Major climatic problem: Frost
-sprinklers and heaters used as protective measures

• Basic Chablis grown on north facing slopes and flatter land
• Premier and grand cru grown in south facing slopes giving greater concentration and ripeness (old oak for these, or stainless steel/concrete)

Question 5

Cote D’or

Answer 5

-Massif Central provides favorable East and SE facing hillside vineyards

Question 6

Cote CHALLONAISE

Answer 6

• Higher altitude vineyards= later and less reliable ripening
• Aspect less consistently towards the East = lighter, tend to mature earlier

Question 7

Roche De Solutre

Answer 7

• Limestone slopes in Pouilly-Fuisse and Saint-Veran
• East and south east facing exposure
• amphitheater like slopes act as natural sun traps helping to produce some of the ripest Chardonnay’s in Burgundy it

Question 8

Alsace

Answer 8

• Cool to moderate CONTINENTAL climate
• Vosges mountains = rain shadow = very dry
• Sunny summers and dry autumns
• Best vineyards = East and south east aspects.
• HUGE variety of soil = geological complexity contributes to the wide variety of wines produced
• *Vines trained low on slopes to benefit from radiated heat and rows oriented to maximize the vine’s exposure to the sun. Hand harvested
• *Wines on plain are trained high to prevent frost damage

Question 9

Alsace winemaking

Answer 9

• traditional producers ferment their wines in large, old oak barrels, often more then 100 years old.
• Thick tartrate deposit prevents wood from having any influence on wine
• Stainless steel for more modern producers with temperature control
• *MLF not encouraged since it would mask varietal pure flavors
• *bottling usually takes place in the spring following vintage

Question 10

Vouvray

Answer 10

• Cool climate and clay produces a light to medium body with fresh fruity and floral notes
• Rarely fermented or matured in new oak

Question 11

Savennieres

Answer 11

• Relatively warm and dry climate (compared to Touraine) leads to wines that are full bodied and less floral
• well exposes vineyards= riper fruit

Question 12

Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne)

Answer 12

• Dry w/ medium alcohol (max permitted strength is 12%)

- traditionally fermented in large old oak vessels but now concrete or stainless is more common

Question 13

The Northern Rhône

Answer 13

• Here, Rhône valley is narrow and steep
• vineyards planted close to river where best sites occupy steep slopes with south facing aspect
• Sites often lie in lateral valleys that protect them from the cold north winds known as MISTRAL
• Vines are supported by stakes

**Moderate continental (like Beaujolais)

Question 14

Southern Rhône

Answer 14

• Much flatter
• Mediterranean
• most of best sites have stony soil to aid in warming vineyard
• Drought can be problem
• fewer slopes to protect grapes from wind
• Grenache bush trained low to ground to protect from wine and to benefit from warmth
• Syrah more easily damaged and is trellised

Question 15

Southern France

Answer 15

• Warm Mediterranean with low rainfall
• region not uniform at all
• drought can be a problem
• fungal disease def not problem though

Question 16

Germany

Answer 16

• Most of Germany has cool continental climate
• (Baden noticeably warmer)
• Long, cool ripening period
• Best sites are found in steep, often stony slopes with southerly aspect, which maximize available heat and sunlight
• *****On the slopes, vines are head pruned, individually staked and the canes tied in at the top of the stake to maximize grape exposure to light and circulation of air
  * **When vineyards are near river, reflected sunlight also helps grapes ripen and air movement from flowing water protects against frosts

Question 17

Austria

Answer 17

• Continental climate
• Majority of producers ferment and store Gruner in stainless steel Or old oak casks.

In Wachau
-Steep, often terraced, south facing vineyards next to Danube maximize exposure and sun, allowing Gruner and Riesling to develop highly concentrated flavors

Question 18

Tokaj

Answer 18

• Moderate climate
• Best vineyards on hillside slopes with southerly aspects
• *BODROG and TISZA rivers help generate early morning humidity necessary for noble rot

Question 19

Tokaj Winemaking

Answer 19

Tokaji Szamorodni - grapes harvested as Szamorodni (as it comes.) this involves bunches that are partially affected by noble rot.

• Can be made dry (szaraz) it sweet (edes)
• Dry wines will show noble rot character
• Must be aged for minimum of one year and must be two years old before release
• ***Casks for dry wines not completely filled to enable flor like yeast to form and the wine develops character similar to FINO. Flor does not play a role in sweet style, which may have oxidative quality

Question 20

Tokaji Aszu

Answer 20

• bass wine made with healthy grapes
• before, during, or after fermentation, the Aszu grapes are macerated in the base wine. (Traditionally Aszu wines were made into late but maceration avoids bitter flavors)
• Mixture is presses and matured for period of time in oak

*amount of Aszu berries used will determine sweetness of final wine

Question 21

Tokaji Esszencia (Essence)

Answer 21

-made from free run juice of Aszu berries

Question 22

Greece

Answer 22

• Hot Mediterranean climate
• coastal areas can be moderated by sea
• Also: altitude and WIND
• Best vineyards found in these cool sites away from blistering heat
• ***DROUGHT= serious issue
• especially on East side, where land lies in rain shadow and there is little available water for irrigation

Question 23

Chile

Answer 23

• 2 biggest influencers on climate:
  
  • Andes mountains
  • Humbolt current (blows cold air up from Antarctica)

Question 24

Chile:

Coquimbo Region

Answer 24

• Elqui (Sauv Blanc, Syrah)
• Limari (**some of best chardonnays in the country)

**benefit from brilliant sunshine and cooling breezes from either the sea or mountain air**
*biggest challenge is lack of water
(Atacama Desert just north)

Question 25

Chile: | Aconcagua Valley

Answer 25

Aconcagua Valley: -enjoys some cooking influences from the ocean *****LIES BETWEEN COASTAL MOUNTAIN RANGE AND ANDES *=some of warmest growing conditions in Chile *Classic red wine zone **CABERNET SAUVIGNON= dominant (Syrah and carmenere becoming more popular)

Question 26

Chile: Anconcagua: Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley

Answer 26

- Similar * ****Both lie between coastal mountains and Pacific Ocean * noticeably cooler sites due to morning fogs and afternoon oceanic winds = whites dominate Pinot and chard widely planted San Antonio- **Renowned SAUV BLANC **Especially in LEYDA (subregion) Casablanca - **SYRAH in warmer spots Well structured with peppery edge

Question 27

Chile: | Central Valley

Answer 27

- Vast, Warm, Flat - Lots of inexpensive wine production Maipo- surrounded by mountains, no sea influence. Best sites on Andean foothills, cooled by mountain air. ***Caberner Sauvignon RAPEL Cachapoal- warmer **Carmenere and Syrah and Cab Colchagua- well known for full bodied Cabernet Sauvignons Maule and Curico= source for inexpensive fruit

Question 28

Argentina

Answer 28

- Cut off from influences of Pacific Ocean region is instead defined by altitude - Many of the best vineyards lie 1000m above sea level * *historically, because of heat, vineyards planted in pergola system (PARRAL) * **Lifted grapes away from searing heat close to soil, grapes hanging beneath leaf canopy to provide shade***** * ***Rain Shadow of the Andes = rainfall is extremely low. Irrigation wisely used * ***vineyards are close to Andes, in a series of irrigated oases

Question 29

Salta

Answer 29

Some of the highest vineyards in the world (3000m) -extreme climate ***Torontes produced Main subregion: CAFAYATE

Question 30

SOUTH AFRICA

Answer 30

27-34= should have hot climate **Benguela Current - up from Antarctic cooking coastal vineyards in Western South Africa (Most important cooking influence) ***^Further enhanced by south easterly summer winds known as Cape Doctor l **Altitude in some vineyards

Question 31

Australia

Answer 31

- land size similar to US and Europe * Diverse range of climates * many regions tempered by Southern or Indian Ocean or Murray River system * Dry conditions w/ high summer temps = bish fire