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WSET 3 Wine Specification and SAT > Wines of Principal Regions - New World > Flashcards

Wines of Principal Regions - New World Flashcards

(66 cards)

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1
Q

Williamette Valley AVA: character and wine styles

A
  • West of Cascades
  • Pinot Noir with ripe red fruit, hint of cinnamon, high acid
  • Pinot Gris that is fruity, dry
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2
Q

Columbia Valley AVA
(and subarea Yakima Valley AVA): character and wine styles

A
  • East of the Cascades in rain shadow–irrigation needed
  • Long daylight hours; sunny days and cool nights
  • Winter freeze
  • Merlot: plummy, full-bodied
  • Cab Sauv: elegant, age-worthy
  • Chardonnay: fruity, often toasty oak
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3
Q

Finger Lakes AVA: character and wine styles

A
  • Deep glacial lakes moderate temps and extend growing season
  • Riesling: perfumed
  • Also Pinot Noir, Cab Franc, Chard
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4
Q

Niagra Peninsula: character and wine styles

A
  • Lake Ontario extends growing season and improves air flow
  • Riesling: fresh, fruity dry and off-dry whites, and finest icewine
  • Vidal: also used for icewine (not as acidic or as complex)
  • Cab Franc: red plum and herbal (sometimes in Bordeaux blends with Cab Sauv and Merlot)
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5
Q

Okanagan Valley: character and wine styles

A
  • Rain shadow between two mountain ranges
  • Very long growing days due to high latitude
  • Merlot, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
  • Icewine from Chard or Vidal
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6
Q

Coquimbo: character and wine styles

A
  • High altitude, dry (irrigation)
  • Elqui Valley: Sauv Blanc (high acid, intense apple/citrus) and Syrah (light/pepper)
  • Limarí Valley: Chile’s best Chard (med to high acid, citrus/stone, with lees and oak)
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7
Q

Aconcagua Valley: character and wine styles

A
  • Valley floor some of warmest in Chile
  • Cab Sauv, Syrah, Camenere
  • Traditionally: very ripe flavors, high alc and tannin
  • Now: Some trying to create more freshness and complexity, focusing on valley slopes or towards coast
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8
Q

Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley: character and wine styles

A
  • Between coastal range and Pacific
  • Very varied soils and aspects
  • Whites dominate
  • Sauv Blanc (esp in cool Leyda Valley, in San Antonio), Chard
  • Pinot Noir (red berry, herbal), Syrah (structured, peppery)
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9
Q

Maipo Valley: character and wine styles

A
  • Central Valley, surrounded by mountains
  • Close to Santiago
  • Many premium sites are in Andean foothills, cooled by descending air
  • Cab Sauv (minty)
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10
Q

Cachapoal Valley: character and wine styles

A
  • Warm, cut off from ocean breezes
  • Valley floor: Carmenere
  • Cooler eastern end: Cab Sauv and Syrah
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11
Q

Colchagua Valley: character and wine styles

A
  • Central (warm and open to some ocean influence): Cab Sauv, and also Syrah and Carmenere
  • West (cooler): High quality whites
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12
Q

Curicó Valley and Maule Valley: character and wine styles

A
  • Warm, so used for inexpensive red and white blends
  • Maule: Dry-farmed, old vines; Carignan (full-bodied, intense)
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13
Q

Southern Region: character and wine styles

A
  • Cooler and wetter the further south
  • Pais and Muscat of Alexandria, mostly consumed locally (but some old bush vines)
  • Chard, Pinot Noir, aromatic varieties
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14
Q

Cafayate, in Salta Province: character and wine styles

A
  • Some of highest vineyards in the world (some over 3k m)
  • Torrontés: highly aromatic
  • Malbec and Cab Sauv
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15
Q

San Juan Province: character and wine styles

A
  • 450 - 1400 m vineyards
  • Noted for Syrah
  • Also: Malbec, Cab Sauv, Bonarda, Torrontés, Chard
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16
Q

Uco Valley: character and wine styles

A
  • SW of Mendoza, highest vineyards in Mendoza (900-1500m)
  • Cool nights: Acidity, fresh fruit flavors, sometimes floral
  • Chard, Torrontés, Sauv Blanc, Cab Sauv, Merlot, Tempranillo (and some Pinot Noir)
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17
Q

Luján de Cuyo: character and wine styles

A
  • SW of Mendoza, 900-1100m
  • Malbec (from old vines): concentrated, complex
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18
Q

Maipú: character and wine styles

A
  • East of Luján de Cuyo, lower altitude
  • Syrah and Cab Sauv
  • Eastern end produces high volume, but also old vine Bonarda and Tempranillo
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19
Q

Patagonia: character and wine styles

A
  • Cooled by latitude
  • Strong desert winds, but dry with wide diurnal range
  • Concentrated but fresh fruit w/ med to high acid
  • Malbec, Cab Sauv, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chard, Sauv Blanc
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20
Q

Stellenbosch District: character and wine styles

A
  • From ocean to mountains. Very varied.
  • Cool winds from ocean
  • Top class reds: Cab Sauv and Merlot, Syrah, and Cape red blends
  • Also Sauv Blanc and Chard
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21
Q

Paarl District: character and wine styles

A
  • North of and hotter than Stellenbosch
  • Very varied
  • Cab Sauv, Syrah, Pinotage
  • Chenin Blanc, Chard
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22
Q

Constantia Ward: character and wine styles

A
  • In Cape Town District
  • Cooled by Cape Doctor
  • Known for Sauv Blanc
  • Some Shiraz and Cab Sauv in warmest sites
  • Vin de Constance (sweet wine from late-harvest Muscat)
  • South of Table Mountain: Sauv Blanc and Semillon
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23
Q

Durbanville Ward: character and wine styles

A
  • In Cape Town District
  • Cooled by sea breezes
  • Known for Sauv Blanc
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24
Q

Swartland District: character and wine styles

A
  • North of Cape Town District
  • Was inexpensive, now old vine Chenin Blanc and premium Syrah, both dry-farmed
  • Some premium Cape blends (red and white) too
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25
Worcester District: character and wine styles
* Hot, dry, irrigation * Chenin Blanc and Colombard, most for distillation * Well-made reds and whites for high volume brands
26
Robertson District: character and wine styles
* East of Worcester, slightly cooler due to winds * High volume brands * Can make excellent Syrahs and Chards on less fertile soil
27
Hemel-en-Aarde Wards (in Walker Bay District): character and wine styles
* Relatively cool b/c of ocean * High-quality Chard and Pinot Noir * Also: Sauv Blanc, Merlot, Syrah
28
Elgin District: character and wine styles
* Cooled by altitude * Known for Sauv Blanc (intense, fresh) * Also high-quality Pinot Noir, Chard, Syrah
29
Elim Ward: character and wine styles
* Known for pungent, herbaceous Sauv Blanc * Also Syrah
30
Riverland (South Australia) Murray-Darling (Victoria) Riverina (New South Wales) : character and wine styles
* Fertile, irrigated, high-volume * Wines may be blended with wines from better areas * Riverina also produces botrytized wines from Semillion (due to Autumn morning mists and fogs)
31
Barossa Valley region: character and wine styles
* Warm, dry * Old bush vines of outstanding Shiraz, Cab Sauv, and Grenache * Shiraz: full body, soft tannins, ripe black fruit, American oak, developing leather and spice * Semillion: increasingly fresh, unoaked
32
Eden Valley region: character and wine styles
* In Barossa zone, in hills to east of Barossa Valley * Rieslings: intense lime and grapefruit, steely, developing marmalade and toasty after 10 years * Also: Shiraz, Chard, Cab Sauv
33
Clare Valley region: character and wine styles
* NW of Barossa Valley * Warm, but cold nights. Many at altitude * Riesling: dry, intense citrus and lime, high acid, developing honey and toast * Shiraz: fragrant, powerful, structured * Cab Sauv: varying styles
34
Adelaide Hills region: character and wine styles
* Moderate climate; all vineyards above 400m * Irrigation often necessary (as soils retain little water, and it rains mainly in winter) * Sauv Blanc: refreshing * Chard: elegant, high acid, pronounced citrus, peach * Also: Pinot Noir, for red wines and blending with Chard for sparkling
35
McLaren Vale region: character and wine styles
* On coast south of Adelaide * Afternoon ocean breezes temper warm climate * Shiraz (old vines), Cab Sauv, Merlot, Grenache (old vines): intense, dark fruit aromas, soft/ripe tannins
36
Coonawarra region: character and wine styles
* *terra rosa* over limestone * Moderate maritime, due to cold currents from Antarctic and summer cloud clover * Cab Sauv: concentrated, structure, with cassis and eucalyptus/menthol * Also: Shiraz, Merlot, Chard
37
Yarra Valley region: character and wine styles
* NE of Melbourne * Cool to mod maritime, but very varied * Pinot Noir: rich fruit (strawberries, plums, dark cherries), ripe/soft tannins, careful oak * Also: Chard, Shiraz, Cab Sauv
38
Mornington Peninsula region: character and wine styles
* Cool to mod maritime * Pinot Noir: very pure fruit, and ranges from light/delicate to structured * Chard: citrus, pear, apple, high acid, MLF
39
Geelong region: character and wine styles
* W of Melbourne * Chard: quality, complex, concentrated, full body * Pinot Noir: earthy * Shiraz: fresh and peppery * Chard/Pinot Noir also make sparkling
40
Heathcote region: character and wine styles
* Inland in Victoria; moderate because of altitude * Shiraz: more structured and fresher fruit than in warmer regions * Also: Chard, Cab Sauv. And Med grapes like Sangiovese and Tempranillo
41
Goulburn Valley region: character and wine styles
* East of Heathcote, inland * Marsanne: speciality, citrus developing honey * Shiraz: most planted
42
Hunter Valley region: character and wine styles
* Hot, humid; moderated by cloud cover and ocean breezes at peak summer * Canopy management essential to avoid rot * Semillion: light bodied, low alc, high acid, neutral, developing toast, nut, honey * Chard: both oaked and unoaked * Shiraz: blackberry and black cherry, soft tannins, med body, earthy
43
Margaret River region: character and wine styles
* Coastal, warm Med climate * Cab Sauv: Bordeaux blends with Merlot * Chard: intense stone fruit and tropical, high acid, range of oak barrel and MLC use * Sauv Blanc: gooseberry, tropical fruit with high acid
44
Great Southern region: character and wine styles
* Includes Mount Barker and Frankland River * Cab Sauv: deep color * Shiraz: peppery * Riesling: floral
45
Tasmania: character and wine styles
* Cool maritime * Prime source of base wine for sparkling * Pinot Noir, Chard, Sauv Blanc, Pinot Gris * Also: Cab Sauv in warmest/driest
46
Gisborne: character and wine styles
* Rainfall, temps, sun all high * Chard: ripe tropical fruit * Also: Gewurz and full-bodied Pinot Gris
47
Hawke's Bay: character and wine styles
* Diverse soils, aspects, altitudes * Gimblett Gravels: gravelly, warm, black varieties * Known for Bordeaux blends of Cab Sauv and Merlot * Also Syrah
48
Martinborough: character and wine styles
* In Wairarapa * Pinot Noir: med to full body, ripe dark plum and spice
49
Marlborough: character and wine styles
* Wairau (large, long sunny days, varied): Sauv Blanc: tropical fruit * Awatere (smaller, cooler): Sauv Blanc: higher acid, more herbaceous * Pinot Noir: med body, fine tannins, cherry and cranberry * Also: Chard, Pinot Noir (for sparkling), Riesling, Pinot Gris
50
Nelson: character and wine styles
* Cooler, wetter than Marlborough * Sauv Blanc, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris
51
Canterbury: character and wine styles
* Plains west of Christchurch (cooled by Pacific) and Waipara Valley * Sauv Blanc, Pinot Noir, Riesling
52
Central Otago: character and wine styles
* Foothills of Southern Alps, very varied, large diurnal range * Continental, frost * Pinot Noir: full body, high alc, vibrant/intense red fruit * Also: Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chard
53
Los Carneros AVA: character and wine styles
* Southern Napa and Sonoma * Pinot Noir and Chard, for still and sparkling
54
Stags Leap District, Oakville, Rutherford: character and wine styles
* Napa Valley floor * Rutherford warmest during day, wines with most power and structure * Cab Sauv most respected * Also: Merlot * Also: Chard, Sauv Blanc - tropical fruit
55
Saint Helena and Calistoga: character and wine styles
* Warmest in Napa Valley floor * Some of most concentrated, full body wines in Napa Valley * Cool air through Chalk Hill gap in Mayacamas, and cooler night temps * Cab Sauv, Zinfandel, Syrah
56
Howell Mountain Mount Veeder: character and wine styles
* Both on sides of Napa Valley, above fog layer * Howell Mountain: east side, facing west, so hot afternoon sun * Mount Veeder: west side, facing east, so cooler * More tannins, less richness * Can Sauv * Also: Merlot, Cab Franc, Zinfandel * Also: Chard - citrus, stone fruit, higher acidity than valley floor
57
Russian River Valley: character and wine styles
* Very cool, foggy * Pinot Noir and Chard: very high-quality, elegant (still and sparkling)
58
Dry Creek Valley: character and wine styles
* Sonoma, warmer than Russian River Valley * Above fog: old vine Zinfandel * Valley floor: Sauv Blanc * Also: Rhone varieties and Cab Sauv
59
Alexander Valley: character and wine styles
* Sonoma, warmer than Russian River Valley and Dry Creek Valley * Fleshy, fuller-bodied wines * Cab Sauv: soft, full-bodied
60
Sonoma Coast: character and wine styles
* South-facing slopes, to compensate for cool ocean exposure
61
Sonoma Valley: character and wine styles
* Chards * Old vine Zins
62
Mendocino County: character and wine styles
* Andersen Valley: Cool, sparkling and Riesling/Gewurz * Otherwise warmer: Cab Sauv, Zin, Syrah - full body, soft tannins
63
Santa Cruz Mountains: character and wine styles
* Hillsides with infertile soils; mod climate * Cab Sauv: elegant * Chard, Pinot Noir: high-quality
64
Paso Robles: character and wine styles
* East (hot): high-volume, fruity * West: Zin, Rhone - high quality
65
Santa Maria Valley: character and wine styles
* Cool fog * Pinot Noir, Chard - concentrated fruit, high acid
66
Lodi: character and wine styles
* Some of the oldest and best old Zin vineyards

WSET 3 Wine Specification and SAT (11 decks)

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