Briefly outline differences between Old World and New World Wines (in general)

Component:

Acid

Old World Acid: High

New World Acid: Low

Briefly outline differences between Old World and New World Wines (in general)

Component:

Fruit

Component Fruit

Old World: Mid-palate

New World: Forward

Briefly outline differences between Old World and New World Wines (in general)

Component:

Earth

Component Earth:

Old World Wine: Often perceptable on palate

New World Wine: Very little

Briefly outline differences between Old World and New World Wines (in general)

Component:

Alcohol

Component: Alcohol

Old World Wine: Moderate

New World Wine: High

Briefly outline differences between Old World and New World Wines (in general)

Component:

Ageability

Component: Ageability

Old World Wine:  Often agreable

New World Wine: Often not agreable

List five New World Countries and Five Old World Countries

(in terms of wine)

A. New World Countries : US, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina

B. Old World Countries:  France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria

Cabernet Sauvignon

Merlot

Cabernet Franc

Petite Verdot

Malbec

A.   A Meritage is a Californian red wine that is made with a combination of the Bordeaux varietals.  They are often, but not always, the top wine produed by a given estate.  They are generally easy to spot because they usually have cool or 2 word names

ex.  Affinity, Opus one, Dominus, Oracle

B.  Pronounced (rhymes with heritage). 

NOT pronounced Mer-i-tAH-dj

Right bank is Merlot dominated

Left bank is Cabernet Sauvignon Dominated

St. Emillion and Pomeral.

Both dominated by Merlot

Pomeral is bigger and juicier than St. Emillion.  They always taste like they are made from riper grapes, they're fleshy and ready to drink earlier than St. Emillion.

St Emillion's share many similiar characteristics.

Big, round, ripe fruit, plum, espresso, juicy tannins.

Semillion, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle

Sauternes ( dessert wine region)

Pinot Noir

Chardonnay

Difference between a Grower Champagne and a regular.

How can you tell the difference on a wine label?

A. Most Champagne producers buy grapes from 80-100 growers throughout Champagne, so wine tastes like champagne but only invokes typicality of the region.

Grower Champagnes are produced by the grower, so they taste more of their terroir (place) more than non-growers.

B. Grower champagnes have RM on the label, standing for Recoltant Manipulant.  Other champagnes have NM (neociant manipulant meaning buyers).

Vintage:  grames all come from one vintage.  They are aged 2 winters in cask and generally meant to age 20-50 years in bottle until maturity

Tawny: seen bottled in multiples of 10 years.  They are vertical (by year) blends and indicate a target age profile of the ports (you'll see 10,20,30, and 40 year old tawnies, price doubling with every 10 years)

What is a Colheita

What are the 2 most famous regions for Malbec?

What is the difference of these wines in terms of taste?

Argentina - generally more fruit forward with some herb, ripeness and richness, but earthy tastes are rare.  Most often bottled as single varietals.

Cahors - Usually blended malbecs with varied ammounts of Tannat and Merlot.  Cahors has a higher acid, earth leather and minerals are more apparent. 

Cahors wines are close to Bordeaux, and in flavor are between Argentinian malbecs and Bordeaux wines (although closer to bordeaux in style)

The most famous white wine in Argentina:

Describe it's flavor.

California:  Cherry, berry, fruit forward (new world characteristic), cola, juicy, and almost sweet.  Light on secondary pinot aromatics of mushroom, sandalwood, forest floor, earth.

Foreward, friendly, delicious fruit, higher alcohol and often blended

Oregon: more mushroom and earth, still loads of fruit and cherry, often higher acidity

Most famous white grape in Spain:

How does it taste and how long should it be aged?

Albarino - tastes of lime, apple, linden, almond, grass, good acid

should not be aged.

Name the famous Spanish Sparkling Wine:

Is it made traditional to Champagne method?

Cava

yes

California:  Peachy, light, med-high acid, sometimes oaked

New Zealand:  made famous by Cloudy Bay in Marlborough on the south island.  Grapefruit, grass, pepper.

Loire Valley:  Mineral driven and high acid, sometimes earthy, generally very citrusy

What red and white grapes are grown in the Northern Rhone?

Give a red and white appellation for each.

Red grapes - Syrah

Red grape appellation - Hermitage, Cote Rotie, Crozes-Hermitage, St. Joseph, Cornas

White grapes - Roussanne, Marsanne, Voignier

White grape appellation - Hermitage, Condrieu, Chateau Grillet (condrieu sup-appell)

What red and white grapes are grown in the Southern Rhone?

Give a red and white appellation for each.

Red Grapes - Grenach, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Cairgnane

Red Grape appellation - Chateauneuf du pape, Gigondas, Cotes du Rhone, Vacqueryas

White Grapes - Grenache Blanc, Voignier

White Grapes appellation - generally the same as red

Tavel

full-bodied, heady, bone dry, the rose for red drinkers

Because of it's more northernly latitude Chablis tends to have a higher acid than white Burgundy's in the south.

Also has pronounced minerality and in general uses less oak.

Sauvignon Blanc: Sancerre, Poully Fume, Qunicy

Chenin Blanc: Vouvray, Savennieres

Melon: Muscadet Sevre et Maine

Name the 2 Distinct Regions of Red Burgundy.

How do their wines taste in comparison?

Cote de Beaune - generally softer

Cote de Nuits - more tannin, tend to age longer

Name the "third" Red Burgundy region further south of Cote D'or.

What grape grows there, and what are the three important designations for the region?

Beaujolais

Grape, Gamay

Designations: Beaujolais Nouveau, Beaujolais Villages, Cru Beaujolais

name 2 famous DOCGs in Tuscany.

What grape is most important in Tuscany for red wine? describe it.

Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile de Montepulciano

Sangiovese grape.  Described as angular, high acidity, exhibits cherry, leather, dried orange peel and earth, herbs

Name 2 most famous Nebbiolo appellations in Piedmont

Describe differences between 2 Nebbiolo appelations.

Barolo - longer lived, spends up to 2 years in oak or chestnut

Barbaresco - generally more feminine and needs less aging (1 year)

both should be aged 8-10 before drinking

Taste and aroma - Rose, truffles, violets, earth, tar, roasted meat, dark fruit, high alcohol, high acid, high tannin

looks like a brickier pinot noir

Name the most famous Barbara appellations in Piedmont.

Describe

Barbera d'Asti - exhibits more mineral

Barbera d'Alba - bigger fruit

both have high acidity and are great with food

Valpolicella

Valpolicella Ripasso

Amarone della Valpolicella

(famous whites are Soave and Pinot Grigio)

3 Most important grape varietals in France's Alsace region.

Outline quick definitions of Alsace wines.

Gewurtztraminer

Riesling

Pinot Gris

Wine tastes sunny (sunniest region in france)

Full bodied whites, rich on nose

Rich golden color w/ strong aroma and palate

high acidity (great for food)

Famous Austrian White Grape

Describe

Gruner Veltliner

Pineapple, white pepper, arugula, mineral citrus

only one that goes with asparagus!

Good for Sauvignon blanc lovers

Rheingau - Riesling brings orange tangerine and orchard fruits, honey, usually dry

Mosel - sweet, lighter bodied, granny smith, lime, ginger, high acid and very mineral

Famous Hungarian Dessert Wine:

What does Puttonyos mean, why is it important?

Tokaji - Aszu grapes infected by botrytis cinerea, the noble rot, which removes all the water, leaving a sweet honeyed nectar, mashed into a paste

Puttonyos means baskets, the more "baskets" of Aszu dough paste are added the sweeter the wine (and the more expensive) (puttonyos usually listed on label)

The most famous Australian grape

describe.

Shiraz

full-bodied, rich, dark cherries, blackberries, tar, smoke, roasted meat, bacon, mint eucalyptus, spices, goes well with lamb or beef

Petrol smell on the nose and lots of fruit and acid. 

(smell is common, but presence usually indicates age, Australia's younger wines have it and smell does not diminish with age)

Name German Pradikat levels in order of ripeness.

QbA

Kabinett

Spatlese

Auslese Beerenauslese (BA)

Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)

Is Auslese always sweeter than Spatlese?

How can you remember how to find sweeter or dryer wines?

by ripeness:

QbA, Kabinett, Spatlese, BA, TBA

No

Riper does not mean sweeter, it just means more suger that can become alcohol, although Ba's and TBA's will always be sweet

Kabinette potential alcohol - 11%

Spatlese - 12.5%

Auslese 14%

High and Dry, Sweet and Low, an 11% Kabinett is dry, and 8% Spatlese will be sweet.  A 14% Auslese is a big mean, full bodied and dry Riesling Monster

All Oliver Soft wines are made from what grapes?

What are good subs?

Soft Red - Concord

Soft White - Niagara

Soft Rose - Catawba

Most Indiana Wineries (and other Midwest) produce wines from these 3 grapes.  Although sugars will vary, most will not be bothered.