Chapter Three HOM 231: Wine Spirits & Cigars PDF

CHAPTER THREE HOM 231 WINE SPIRITS & CIGARS Principal Grape Varieties The grape or blend of grape varieties used to make a wine is a key factor influencing the style and quality of wine that is produced. There are hundreds of grape varieties that can be used to make wine, but only...

CHAPTER THREE HOM 231 WINE SPIRITS & CIGARS Principal Grape Varieties The grape or blend of grape varieties used to make a wine is a key factor influencing the style and quality of wine that is produced. There are hundreds of grape varieties that can be used to make wine, but only a small number of these have established a global reputation. The seven grape varieties you will study are known as “noble” varieties. Each variety has a distinctive character or flavor which is recognizable wherever the grape is grown WHITE GRAPES CHARDONNAY Say it: Shar-don-nay Probably the best known grape in the world Produces dry wines of great variety. In cool regions, it can develop flavours of green fruit (apple), citrus notes and high acidity Chablis and champagne from France. In warmer regions, the wines can develop flavours of stone fruit (peach) and tropical fruits (pineapple, banana) like those from the New World. WHITE GRAPES CHARDONNAY full-bodied creamy texture. Many of the best chardonnays spend some time in oak barrels, developing flavours of spice and vanilla. WHITE GRAPES Sauvignon Blanc Say it – Sew-vin-yon-Blonk Fruity Light to medium-bodied wines high acidity They are almost always dry. They can have strong aromas of green fruit, citrus (grapefruit, lime) and herbaceous notes (cut grass, green bell pepper, asparagus). New Zealand sauvignon blanc Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé from France WHITE GRAPES Riesling Say it Rees-ling dry through to sweet light to medium-bodied intensely fruity with high levels of acidity. They can range in flavours from stone fruits (peach, apricot), to citrus (lime) and floral notes. They can age well, developing aromas of petrol and dried apricot. Riesling is the classic grape of Germany producing a range of dry to sweet wines. Alsace in France Australia WHITE GRAPES BLACK GRAPES The black grape varieties covered in this section all ability to age. This helps to soften the tannins and allow the wines to gain complexity. Aromas of leaves and mushroom can develop. BLACK GRAPES Cabernet Sauvignon Say it – Ca-bur_ney_Sew-vin-yon Deeply coloured wines with lots of tannins and acidity, and intense aromas. Medium and full-bodied, flavours of black fruits (blackcurrant, black cherry) and herbaceous notes (bell pepper, mint). Oak is frequently used to soften tannins and add flavours of spice and vanilla. BLACK GRAPES Cabernet sauvignon Due to its high levels of tannins, cabernet sauvignon is often blended with other grape varieties, such as merlot in Bordeaux, which adds soft-ness and body to the blend. It is grow widely in California and Australia too, where it is sometimes blended with shiraz which adds richness and spice to the wines character. BLACK GRAPES Merlot Say it Mer-Low Full-bodied Low to medium tannins Intense fruit flavor, ranging between aromas of red fruits (strawberry, plum) to black fruits (Blackberry, black cherry). St Emilion is a merlot based wine from Bordeaux. In the New World, Chile makes good value rich and fruity examples. Merlot can gain added richness from maturing in oak, giving extra aromas of spice and vanilla. It is also commonly blended with cabernet Sauvignon which adds tannin, acidity and aromatic fruit to its character. BLACK GRAPES Pinot Noir Say it Pee-no N-wa Lighter in colour and body low to medium tannins and high acidity. flavours of red fruit (strawberry, raspberry, red cherry) pinot noir is the grape used for red Burgundy. In the New world, New Zealand makes fuller bodied wines using this grape. BLACK GRAPES Syrah of Shiraz Say it Si-rah , Shi-razz Rich, powerful, peppery deeply coloured wines Full-bodied Medium to high tannins Typical flavours are of black fruits (cherry, blackberry), with spice (black pepper, cloves) and herbaceous notes (mint). Oak ageing giving flavours of vanilla and spice to the wine. The Northern Rhône in France can produce wines that are medium-bodied with high tannins and black fruit aromas. Australia can produce full-bodied, spicy wines with softer tannins. BLACK GRAPES Wines made from principal Grape varieties In Europe many wines are named after the region they are produced in. Famous examples are: Chablis is a light-bodied French dry wine. It is unoaked with high acidity, green fruit (apple) and citrus aromas that is made from chardonnay. Champagne is a French sparkling wine that can be made from a blend of chardonnay and Pinot Noir. It has high acidity. Wines made from principal Grape varieties Sancerre is a medium-bodied French wine with high acidity, medium flavours of green fruit and herbaceous notes. It is made from Sauvignon Blanc. Red Bordeaux is a medium-bodied and high tannin French wine that is typically a blend of cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It often has oak aromas and flavours. Sauternes is a sweet white made in Bordeaux. It is full-bodied with stone fruit (apricot) and honey flavours but balanced with acidity. Soave is a light-bodied, Italian wine with citrus and apple flavours and high acidity.  Cava is a popular light-bodied, sparkling wine from Spain and which is less expensive than champagne. Châteaunef-du-pape from France is a full-bodied wine with red fruits and spicy flavours. Rioja From Spain is a medium to full-bodied red wine that often has red fruit and spicy oak flavours. Chianti from Italy is a medium-bodied red wine, with high tannin and acidity. Beaujolais is a red wine from France that is unoaked, light-bodied with fresh and fruity flavours of red fruit and low tannins. Other popular Grape Varieties Pinot Grigio is grape variety that is grown in Italy and used for dry white wines that are light in body and flavour, with a high acidity.