White Wines

Question 1

Cool Climate Chardonnay

Answer 1

• high acidity
• green fruit (apple, pear)
• citrus fruit (lemon)
• vegetal (cucumber)

Question 2

Moderate Climate Chardonnay

Answer 2

• citrus fruit
• stone fruit (peach)
• tropical fruit (melon)

Question 3

Hot Climate Chardonnay

Answer 3

• tropical fruit (banana, pineapple, peach, mango, fig)

Question 4

Key Facts for Chardonnay

Answer 4

• can grown in a range of soils and climates
• produces a wide range of styles
• characteristics and acidity varies with climate
• winemaking techniques influence characteristics
• bland grape variety

Question 5

Chardonnay Regions

Answer 5

Burgundy (Bourgogne, Chablis, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Mâcon, Pouilly-Fuissé), Pays d’Oc IPG

California (Sonoma Country, Carneros)

Chile (Casablanca Valley, Central Valley)

Argentina (Mendoza)

South Africa (Walker Bay)

South Eastern Australia (Yarra Valley, Adelaide Hills, Margaret River)

New Zealand (Marlborough)

Question 6

Key Facts for Sauvignon Blanc

Answer 6

• cool or moderate climates
• high in acidity
• aromatic grape variety
• generally best drunk young
• most have no oak

Question 7

Effect of Sauvignon Blanc Ripeness on Style and Flavour

From least to most ripe

Answer 7

• herbaceous (grass)
• vegetable (green pepper, asparagus)
• floral (elderflower)
• citrus fruit (lemon, lime)
• green fruit (gooseberry)
• stone fruit (peach)
• tropical fruit (passion fruit)

Question 8

Sauvignon Blanc Regions

Answer 8

Loire Valley (Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, Val de Loire IPG)
Bordeaux (Bordeaux Blanc), Pays d'Oc IGP

USA: California (Nappa Valley)

New Zealand: Marlborough

South Africa: Elgin, Constantia

Chile: Casablanca Valley, Central Valley

Question 9

Key Facts of Reisling

Answer 9

• cool or moderate climate
• aromatic grape variety
• high acidity
• made in a range of styles
• can age well

Question 10

Cool Climate Reisling

Answer 10

• floral
• green fruit (green apple, grape)
• citrus fruit (lemon, lime)

Question 11

Moderate Climate Reisling

Answer 11

• citrus fruit
• stone fruit (white peach, apricot)
• tropical fruit (pineapple, mango)

Question 12

Maturity in Reisling

Answer 12

• petrol-like aromas
• toast
• honey
• smoke

Question 13

Riesling Regions

Answer 13

Germany: Mosel, Rheingau, Pfalz
France: Alsace
Austria
Australia: South Eastern Australia (Clare Valley, Eden Valley)

Question 14

Pinot Gris

Answer 14

Alsace, France

• full-bodied
• dry, off-dry, medium and sweet wines
• tropical fruit (banana, melon), sweet spice (ginger), honey
• New Zealand: variety of styles (dry to sweet)

Question 15

Pinot Grigio

Answer 15

Italy

• dry
• medium to high acidity
• medium to light-bodied
• neutral character (green and citrus fruit)
• refreshing and zesty

Question 16

Verdicchio

Answer 16

Italian

• dry, high acidity, medium-bodied
• citrus (lemon), herbal (fennel), bitter almond
• very nice with pasta

Question 17

Trebbiano

Answer 17

Italian

• dry, high acidity, light-bodied
• neutral, inexpensive wines
• made throughout Italy
• not a varietal, used in blends to increase acidity

Question 18

Gavi DOCG

Answer 18

Italian
Grape: Cortese
Region: Piemonte
- dry, light-bodied, high acidity
- green fruit (green apple), citrus

Question 19

Soave and Soave Classico DOC

Answer 19

Italian
Grape: Garganega
Region: Veneto
- medium-bodied, high acidity
- floral (chamomile), green fruit (pear, red apple), spice (white pepper)
- unoaked

Question 20

Chenin Blanc

Answer 20

• cool to hot climate
• range of styles
• medium to high acidity
• susceptible to noble rot
• acid lasts longer in the grape on the vine
• can be picked early or late.

Question 21

Vouvray AC

Answer 21

Loire Valley, France

• cool climate
• medium sweet, high acidity, medium-bodied, unoaked
• citrus (lemon), green fruit (apple), tropical (pineapple), herbaceous (leaf)
• unoaked

Question 22

South Africa Whites

Answer 22

• large-volume inexpensive wines
• dry/off-dry, medium it high acidity
• medium-bodied
• citrus, tropical fruit
• oak
• blended with Chardonnay

Question 23

Melon Blanc

Answer 23

Muscadet AC (Loire Valley, France)

• dry, high acidity, light to medium-bodied, unoaked
• neutral fruit
• sir lie (dead yeast cells) - body, complexity, texture
• only single variety
• max alcohol 12%
• close to sparkling water, tastes like nothing - mineral, stoney, citrus

Question 24

Viognier

Answer 24

• best examples in Northern Rhône
• hot climate
• soft, full-bodied, aromatic wines
• low acidity, high alcohol
• delicate fruit and floral flavours (peach, pear, apricot, violet), spicy notes
• textural, syrupy, rich, dense, high alcohol
• also found in Southern France, Chile, Argentina, Australia and California

Question 25

Albariño

Answer 25

Rias Baixas (Spain) - dry, light to medium bodied, refreshingly high acidity - green fruit (apple, pear), citrus fruit (grapefruit), floral - unoaked - waxy, rich texture - also found in Portugal

Question 26

Sémillon

Answer 26

Bordeaux (France) - blended with Sauvignon Blanc to make dry sweet wines (Sauternes) - adds lightness and finess - high acid

Question 27

Gewürztraminer

Answer 27

Alsace (France) - low acidity, high alcohol, full-bodied - intensely perfumed and aromatic - variety of styles (dry, off-dry and medium) - floral (Rose, orange blossom), stone fruit (peach), tropical fruit (lychee), green fruit (grape), sweet spice (ginger) - best consumed young and fresh - maturity (honey, nut) - New Zealand also produces premium Gewürztraminer

Question 28

Torrontés

Answer 28

Cafayate (Salta, Argentina) - aromatic variety - dry, medium acidity, medium-bodied, high-alcohol - pronounced floral flavours (perfume), green fruit (grapes), stone fruit (peach)

Question 29

Semillon

Answer 29

Hunter Valley (Australia) - single varietal - dry, light-bodied, low alcohol, high acidity - youth: neutral with delicate citrus flavours - maturity (toast, nuts, honey) - iconic style, ages well, picked early