Switzerland Flashcards

1
Q

What winemaking technique, virtually absent in Germany and Austria, is often utilized in Swiss whites to combat high acidity?

A

Malolactic Fermentation

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2
Q

What are bisses?

A

Steep channels to funnel mountain water for irrigation, built in Switzerland since the middle ages (the climate is very dry - in some areas, expecting 1/3 the rainfall of Bordeaux).

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3
Q

What four French-speaking cantons of Switzerland produce wine?

A

Valais
Vaud
Genève
Neuchâtel

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4
Q

What are the top four producing cantons in Switzerland?

A

Valais
Vaud
Genève
Ticino

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5
Q

What is the specialty of Ticino?

A

Merlot

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6
Q

Where is Oeil-de-Perdrix found in Switzerland, and what is it?

A

Neuchâtel.
Rosé of Pinot Noir

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7
Q

What is the Swiss synonym for Sylvaner?

A

Johannisberg

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8
Q

The Valais is located along what river?

A

The Rhône (northernmost appellation!)

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9
Q

What is Fendant?

A

The local synonym for Chasselas in Valais

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10
Q

What is Dôle?

A

A blend of pinot noir and gamay (Min. 85% combined) in Valais.

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11
Q

What are Vins de Glacier?

A

Maderized wine of Rèze grapes stored in high-altitude soleras, a speciality of the Valais (Vin Jaune-like)

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12
Q

What is Gwäss?

A

Gouais Blanc in Valais

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13
Q

What are two Valais synonyms for Savagnin?

A

Heida
Païen

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14
Q

What is the Valais synonym for Marsanne?

A

Ermitage

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15
Q

What is the Valais synonym for Pinot Gris?

A

Malvoisie

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16
Q

What does Flétri indicate?

A

Made from raisinated grapes

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17
Q

Where is Vin du Glacier aged?

A

The Val d’Annivers (above Sierre)

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18
Q

What is Charte Grain Noble ConfidenCiel?

A

A “Seal of Quality” for traditional sweet wines created in 1996

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19
Q

What are the requirements for Charte Grain Noble ConfidenCiel?

A

Min. 15 year old vines
Min. 130 Oechsle (no chaptalization)
Min. 1 year in wood

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20
Q

What varieties are authorized for Charte Grain Noble ConfidenCiel?

A

Ermitage
Petite Arvine
Amigne
Johannisberg
Malvoisie (PG)
Paien

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21
Q

What are the grand crus of the Valais?

A

(west to east)
Fully
Saillon
Leytron
Chamoson
Conthey
Vétroz
Ville de Sion
Saint-Léonard
Sierre
Salquenen/Salgesh
Visperterminen
Saviése - not sure where this is in Valais

22
Q

What are the authorized varieties for Conthey?

A

Fendant, Chardonnay
Pinot Noir, Gamay, Cornalin

23
Q

What are the permitted varieties for Fully?

A

Ermitage, Petite Arvine
Gamay, Syrah

24
Q

What are the permitted varieties for Saint-Léonard?

A

Fendant
Pinot Noir

25
Q

What are the permitted varieties for Vétroz?

A

Chasselas, Amigne
Pinot Noir, Gamay

26
Q

What are the permitted varieties for

A
27
Q

What does 1 bee indicate for Amigne de Vétroz?

A

Min. 8 g/l RS (dry)

28
Q

What does 2 bees indicated for Amigne de Vétroz?

A

9-25 g/L RS (off-dry)

29
Q

What do 3 bees indicate for Amigne de Vétroz?

A

25+ g/L RS (sweet)

30
Q

Where is the Vaud?

A

The northern shore of Lake Geneva

31
Q

What are the regional appellations of the Vaud?

A

La Côte, Lavaux, Chablais (northern shore of Lake Geneva and east)
Côtes de L’Orbe
Bonvillars
Vully

32
Q

What are the Grand Crus of the Vaud, and what are their soils??

A

Calamin: clay
Dézelay: limestone

33
Q

Where is Calamin?

A

Epesses (Lavaux)

34
Q

Where is Dézelay?

A

Puidoux (Lavaux)

35
Q

When did the Premier Grand Cru category come into being in the Vaud?

A

2012

36
Q

How are the Premiers Grands Crus of the Vaud determined?

A

Wines must meet a range of criteria (varietal, vintage-dated, density, must weight, yield, hand harvesting, vine age), and qualified wines must be submitted annually to a tasting panel

37
Q

What is Salvagnin?

A

The traditional red of the Vaud: pinot noir and gamay, plus gamaret, and/or garanoir

38
Q

What is the Vaud synonym for Chasselas?

A

Dorin

39
Q

Vaud AOC’s - %’s

A

Regional AOC: 90% of grapes from the AOC
Regional AOC with commune: 60% of grapes from said commune
Grand Cru AOC: 90% of grapes from the AOC; must be vintage dated
SGN, VT, VDN also authorized

40
Q

Vaud Premier Grand Crus: what are they, since when, and what are the requirements?

A

Status awarded to individual wines by the Commission des Premiers Grands Crus; first vintage 2012.
Wines must be vintage dated, hand harvested, produced and bottled in the Vaud, and must be from the same “terroir.”
Based on Chasselas, Gamay, Pinot Noir, Merlot.
Also must meet minimum must weight (75-85 Ochsle), vine age (7 years), max yield (.64-.8L per square meter), max vineyard density (6,000 vines/ha).

41
Q

What are the subregions of Genève?

A

Mandement
Entre Arve et Rhône
Entre Arve et Lac

42
Q

Authorized grapes in Genève

A

Chasselas, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Gewürztraminer
Pinot Noir, Gamay, Gamaret, Garanoir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc

43
Q

What are AO wines?

A

Part of the cantonal regulations in Genève. May be general (Gamay de Genève) or specific (Pinot Noir de Dardagny).

44
Q

Where and when is Chasselas produced in an unfiltered, slightly sparkling style? How is it referred to?

A

Neuchâtel, on the third Wednesday in January
Non Filtré

45
Q

What is Perdrix Blanc?

A

Still Blanc de Pinot Noir (Neuchâtel)

46
Q

What does La Gerle indicate?

A

Quality wine of Chasselas that must pass an examination and tasting panel. Named for the hod that can carry 100L of pressed grapes during harvest. Specific to Neuchatel.

47
Q

Authorized grapes in Neuchâtel

A

Chasselas, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Müller-Thurgau, Gewürztraminer
Pinot Noir

48
Q

What are the subregions of Neuchâtel?

A

La Béroche
The Coast
Entre-deux-Lacs

49
Q

What are the two subregions of Ticino?

A

Sopraceneri
Sottoceneri

50
Q

What is Nostrano del Ticino?

A

“Local Wine,” usually Bondola based

51
Q

What is the VITI Quality Label?

A

A special label introduced in 1948, awarded to Merlot based wines that pass a tasting panel for typiticy and quality of sight, smell, and taste.