Varietals
This thin-skinned grape grows in cool and moderate climates, has low to medium tannins, is typically a single variety, and has a careful use of oak.
What is Pinot Noir?
This plus sugars in grapes are needed to produce alcohol.
What is Yeast?
In France, Burgundy is known for remarkable Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Within Burgundy is the Cote D'Or, a famed hilly vineyard site that is further divided into these two zones.
What are the Cote de Nuits, famed for Pinot Noir, and the Cote de Beanu, famed for Chardonnay?
Both regions make both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
You have 30 seconds to smell and/or taste, then guess the varietal or region for Sample #1.
What is Tramin Pinot Noir from Trentino-Alto Adige?
This vine species is credited with 95% of the world’s wine.
What is Vitis Vinifera?
This versatile grape grows in cool, moderate, and warm climates. It has medium to high acidity, can be oaked or unoaked, and often grows with Pinot Noir.
What is Chardonnay?
During red wine fermentation it is required to include this for color and tannin extraction.
What are the skins?
Mount Etna is in this region of Italy.
What is Sicily, a southern island in the Mediterranean?
Some common varietals are Nero d'Avola, Frappato, Carricante, Zibibbo, and more.
You have 30 seconds to smell and/or taste, then guess the varietal or region for Sample #2.
What is Domaine Couturier Mâcon-Loché ‘Les Longues Terres’ Chardonnay from Maconnais, Burgundy?
The year on the label means this.
What is the year on the label is the vintage of when the grapes were grown; NOT when the wine was release?
Barbaresco uses this grape that high in acidity and tannin. It is typically full bodied and oak maturation is common.
What is Nebbiolo?
This type of storage vessel keeps the fruitiness of the wine fresh and bright. The goal is typically for you to taste the grape; Riesling is a great example of this.
What are inert vessels, like stainless steel and concrete?
Bolgheri is located in this Italian region.
What is Tuscany?
Bolgheri is in Coastal Tuscany, and their red wines are generally a base blend of Cabernet (Sauvignon or Franc) and Merlot, often with additions of Syrah, Petit Verdot, and Sangiovese.
You have 30 seconds to smell and/or taste, then guess the varietal or region for Sample #3.
What is Contesa Pecorino from Abruzzo?
Corked wine means this.
What is the wine has been affected by a chemical called TCA (2,4,6-trichloroanisole)? TCA can be created in a wine if there is a mould present on the oak tree bark used to make the cork, and can be detected as a musty smell and off-flavours. Many producers have switched to screwcaps and other synthetic closures mainly because of this problem.
This Veneto grape is high acid, has low to medium tannins, and can be light to full-bodied. The winemaking style can vary greatly, influencing its final flavors and aromas.
What is Corvina?
As red wine fermentation takes place the carbon dioxide bubbles and causes the skins to rise, forming a thick layer over the juice called the cap. These two techniques allow you to manage the cap.
What are punch down and pour over?
Punch Down, a plunger is used to push the cap down into the liquid.
Pumping Over, juice from the bottom of the fermentation is pumped through a hose and sprayed on top of the cap.
Primitivo is the same varietal as Zinfandel. Primitivo is known to grow in this region of Italy.
What is Puglia?
Primitivo tends to be lighter-bodied, with a focus on fresh, lively fruit flavors, often with no oak influence. Zinfandel, primarily from California, USA, is typically fuller-bodied, jammy, high in alcohol, and often features more oak and spice notes.
You have 30 seconds to smell and/or taste, then guess the varietal or region for Sample #4.
What is Pian delle Querci Brunello di Montalcino and/or Sangiovese?
Beaujolais is known for this red varietal.
What is Gamay?
Beaujolais is a light-bodied, fruity red wine primarily made from the Gamay grape, known for its bright acidity and soft tannins. Beaujolais is produced in the Beaujolais region of France, south of Burgundy. The region also produces some rosé and white wines, with Beaujolais Nouveau being a notable style.
Two answers are required: this grape is used to make Soave, and this grape is used to make Gavi.
What is Soave is made by Gargenga, a lean, dry to sweet style with nutty, citrus, and almond notes, and is also used to make sweet?
Gavi is made by Cortese with high acidity, fresh fruit flavors, and minerality.
Dosage refers to this when making sparkling wine.
What is adding sugar to the sparkling wine just before corking for either secondary bottle fermentation and/or altering the sweetness of the wine?
In this Northern Italian region Germany places a big influence in their culture, wine, and even language with estimates that more than half the population's first language is German over Italian.
What is Trentino-Alto Adige? With South Tyrol having the largest German influence.
Common varietals are Pinot Grigio, Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Teroldego, and more.
You have 30 seconds to smell and/or taste, then guess the varietal or region for Sample #5.
What is St. Supery Cabernet Sauvignon from Rutherford, California?
'Vieilles Vignes' is a French term referring to this.
What are old vines?
Old vine wines are those made from grapevines that are significantly older than typical commercial vineyards, often exceeding 30-50 years. These older vines are believed to produce wines with more complexity, concentration, and depth of flavor, often with a better balance of tannins and acidity.