Podcast Beta
Questions and Answers
What is the primary reason why vineyards are often located near a movement of water?
What is the term for when the grapes have reached optimal ripeness, including the skins, stalks, and pips?
What is the primary role of yeast in the fermentation process?
Why is chaptalization allowed in cool climates?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary reason why vines are pruned during the winter?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary objective of wine classes?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the ideal latitude for growing wine?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a key component in wine tasting?
Signup and view all the answers
What type of wine is produced using grape skin?
Signup and view all the answers
What is an important aspect of wine production in terms of heat?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the recommended approach when ordering wine in a restaurant?
Signup and view all the answers
What should you do if you're not happy with the condition of the wine?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the ideal temperature range for serving white wine?
Signup and view all the answers
Why is decanting wine important?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the characteristic smell of a cork-tainted wine?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the main reason why European vines are grafted onto American rootstocks?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the role of acidity in wine?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the term 'Cru' refer to in wine?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the effect of protein in food on tannin in wine?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for a wine that has been aged for five years in Spain?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the opposite of oxidation in the making of wine?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the main purpose of storing wine on its side?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the ideal temperature for storing wine?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for the expression of the character of the vineyard?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary reason why some wines are more expensive than others?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary emphasis of the French Appellation Controlee system?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following regions is known for its sweet wines, including Sauternes and Barsac?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for the sparkling wine produced in Alsace?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following regions is known for its dry, minerally Chardonnay?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the classification system used in St. Emilion?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the purpose of 'racking' in winemaking?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the result of carbonic maceration in winemaking?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the purpose of malolactic fermentation in winemaking?
Signup and view all the answers
Why are some white wines made as though they were red wines?
Signup and view all the answers
What species of grape is used for wine production?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary grape variety used in the production of white wines in the Northern Rhône region?
Signup and view all the answers
Which region is known for its light, fruity red wines made from the Gamay grape variety?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary grape variety used in the production of red wines in the Northern Rhône region?
Signup and view all the answers
Which region is known for its sparkling wines, including Cremant de Loire?
Signup and view all the answers
Which region is characterised by steep sloping vineyards along the river Rhône?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Wine Classes Objectives
- Start at an introductory level to include everyone
- Encourage people to be comfortable with wines, especially in social situations
- De-mystify wine and dispel myths surrounding wine
- Look at wine from both the consumer's and business points of view
Where Wine is Grown
- Latitude: usually between 30-50° North and South
- Sunshine: a fine line between too much and too little
- Heat: hot but not too hot
- Water: balance, too much = watery fruit, best to force roots to search for water and nutrients
- Soil: poor soil, the harder the vine works, the better the grape
- Altitude/Slope: good for drainage, poorer soils, solar panel effect, cooler temperatures at higher altitudes
- Vineyard seasons: dependent on the seasons, each year is different, reflected in the wine itself
Wine Making
- Principle of Fermentation: Sugar + Yeast = Carbon Dioxide + Alcohol
- White wine:
- Grapes de-stemmed and pressed, sulphur may be used to stop juice oxidizing
- Grape juice chilled initially to preserve fresh primary aromas
- Fermented without skins, stalks, and pips to avoid bitterness
- Racking: removing wine from dead yeast cells
- Oak aging optional for complexity and texture
- Red wine:
- Same process as white wine, but with skins for color, structure, and flavor
- Fermentation time varies depending on temperature, style, etc.
- Punch down: putting grape skins back into juice
Wine Styles
- Rosé: made like white wine, but with short skin contact for color
- Orange wines: made like red wine, but with white grapes and skin contact for color and tannins
- Sparkling wines: secondary fermentation in bottle or tank
Blending and Aging
- Blending: combining different grape varieties or wines
- Aging: maturing wine in oak barrels or bottles to soften tannins and acidity
Wine Tasting
- Acidity: essential for freshness and crispness, balanced by fruit and alcohol
- Tannin: bitter and astringent, comes from skins, stems, and pips, necessary for balanced wine
- Body/Weight: balance of sugar, acid, tannin, and alcohol
- Oak barrel: aromas and flavors of vanilla, toast, coconut, spice
- Balance: harmony between sugar, acid, tannin, and alcohol
- Aftertaste: clean, pleasing, balanced, and of good length
Wine Labels and Pricing
- Grape variety or varieties
- Region of origin
- Name of producer
- Quality category
- Term indicating style of wine
- Alcohol content
- Labels: European approach names wine after place, New World labels by grape variety
Wine Service
- How to order wine in a restaurant:
- Don't be afraid to ask for advice
- Check the vintage and label
- Ask to see the bottle before it is opened
- Serving temperatures:
- Whites: 6-12°C
- Reds: room temperature, not above 20°C
- Decanting: to remove sediment, improve wine, and open it up to air
Wine Faults
-
Cork taint: musty, damp cardboard, moldy carpet smell
-
Volatility: smells of vinegar
-
Oxidation: smells of rotten eggs and burnt rubber
-
Sulphur faults: smells of rotten eggs and burnt rubber### Wine Shops and Wine Clubs
-
Many wine shops offer wine tastings and wine clubs
-
Smaller independent wine producers can be found in these shops, with most being owner-run or staffed by trained and enthusiastic staff
Factors Affecting Wine Prices
- High labor costs in regions with steep slopes, such as Cote Rôtie and Mosel
- Low crop yields from old vines and marginal climates
- New French oak barrels, which can cost up to €1,000 per barrel
- Rare wines and supply and demand
- En-primeur: ordering and paying for wine while it is still maturing in casks, before bottling, with risks and benefits attached
French Wine and Terroir
- Terroir is the expression of the character of the vineyard, encompassing natural components such as location, geology, topography, climate, and soil
- Terroir is everything to the French and is the basis of the French Appellation Controlee system
- Appellation Contrôlée is the French wine law, guaranteeing a wine's origin, grape variety, growing, and production methods
French Wine Regions
Alsace
- Key grape varieties: Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Blanc
- Wines are generally richer and drier in style than their German counterparts
- Distinctive tall green bottles and varietal labeling
- Also produces good sparkling wines, red wines, and sweet wines
Bordeaux
- Over 6,000 chateaux, with around 10 well-known regions
- Grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot dominate
- Region divided into "Left Bank" and "Right Bank" of the Gironde Estuary
- Famous areas include Medoc, Margaux, St Julien, St Estephe, and Pauillac on the Left Bank, and St-Emilion and Pomerol on the Right Bank
- 185 classification system, with Grand Cru Classeé and Cru Bourgeois classifications
- Red Bordeaux wines are also known as 'Claret'
- Also produces white wines, rosé wines, and sweet wines
Burgundy
- Comprises 5 areas: Chablis, Côte d'Or, Côte Chalonnaise, Mâconnais, and Beaujolais
- Chablis: dry, mineral Chardonnay, usually un-oaked at village level
- Côte d'Or: split into Cote de Beaune and Côte de Nuits, producing famous red and white wines
- Classifications: Grand Cru, Premier Cru, Village, and regional (e.g. Bourgogne Rouge)
- Producer reputation is vital due to the complexity of the region
Rhône Valley
- North: red wines made from Syrah, with names such as Hermitage and Cote-Rotie
- North: white wines made from Viognier, with names such as Condrieu
- South: blends dominated by Grenache and Syrah, with famous wines such as Châteauneuf du Pape
- South: white wines made from Roussanne and Marsanne
Loire
- Very well-known white wine region, following the River Loire for almost 600 miles
- Grapes used: Muscadet, Chenin Blanc, and Sauvignon Blanc
- Styles range from dry Muscadet to Vouvray, Saumur, and Anjou
- Red wines make delicious medium/light refreshing red wines from Cabernet Franc and Noir
- Also produces sparkling wines and age-worthy sweet wines
Champagne
- One of the famous brands of the world
- Most Champagne is about blending and house styles
- Grapes used: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier
- Arguably one of the most vigorously protected trade mark/brand names in the world
The South and South-West
- Huge area, encompassing Gascony, Bergerac, Saussignac, Cahors, and others
- Offers a source of fantastic wines across all styles, with many iconic wines and up-and-coming dynamic winemakers
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Explore the world of wine, covering regions, wine styles, grape varieties, and wine production methods. Learn about conventional, organic, biodynamic, and natural wines, and discover the various styles within each category.
