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WSET ® Level 2 Wine > Riesling > Flashcards

Flashcards in Riesling Deck (42)
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1
Q

Does Riesling prefer a cool to moderate or a warm to hot climate?

A

Cool to moderate

2
Q

Riesling is naturally low or naturally high in acidity?

A

Naturally high

3
Q

Riesling’s susceptibility to Botrytis/noble rot is high or low?

A

Riesling is highly susceptible to Botrytis/noble rot.

4
Q

Describe Riesling’s general profile.

A
  • Fruit-forward (apple, peach, citrus)
  • Pronounced floral notes (honeysuckle, blossom)
  • High acidity
  • Can be made dry to lusciously sweet
  • Can be light to full bodied
5
Q

What is the greatest benefit of Riesling’s high acidity?

A

It balances both ripeness and high levels of sweetness (residual sugar).

6
Q

What are the different fruit profiles found in just-ripe Riesling vs. extra-ripe Riesling?

A

Just-ripe

  • Green apples
  • Green pears
  • Sour citrus (lemon, lime)

Extra-ripe

  • Stone fruits (peach, apricot)
  • Tropical fruits (mango, pineapple)
  • Dried fruits (golden raisins)
7
Q

Name 2 ways that off-dry or medium style Rieslings get their sweetness.

A
  1. Interrupting fermentation and filtering/removing yeast, leaving the wine with some residual sugar
  2. Adding sterile grape juice (Süssreserve) after fermentation
8
Q

What is Süssreserve?

A

Sterile, naturally sweet grape juice

9
Q

How do the sweetest styles of Riesling retain their sugar?

A

Fermentation stops naturally in the sweetest styles of Riesling.

Basically, there is too much sugar for the yeasts to eat.

10
Q

Why do winemakers typically ferment Riesling in stainless steel, or other inert vessels, rather than oak?

A

Oak imparts unwanted flavors that would obstruct Riesling’s delicate floral and fruity aromas.

Stainless steel helps Riesling retain those hallmark fruit and floral aromas and flavors.

11
Q

What structural element helps Riesling age?

A

High acidity

12
Q

Name some tertiary flavors that aged Riesling can develop.

A
  • Honey
  • Petrol (gasoline/Vasoline)
13
Q

How many wine regions are there in Germany?

A

13

14
Q

Name 3 regions in Germany known for making great Riesling.

A
  1. Mosel
  2. Rheingau
  3. Pfalz

“Pfalz” is pronounced like “false”.

15
Q

Which wine region in Germany will have the lightest-bodied Rieslings and why?

A

Mosel because it is the most northerly and the grapes struggle to ripen.

16
Q

What helps Riesling grapes ripen in Mosel?

A

stony soils

The soils reflect sunlight and retain warmth which help grapes ripen in this cool climate.

17
Q

What kind of style are Mosel Rieslings likely to be?

A

Light bodied and off-dry/medium

18
Q

Are Rheingau’s vineyards located on the north or south bank of the Rhine River?

A

North bank

The north bank is facing south so they can be exposed to as much sun as possible.

19
Q

Are Rheingau Rieslings typically drier or sweeter than Mosel Rieslings?

A

Drier

20
Q

What is the climate like in Pfalz?

A

Sunny and dry with a long growing season

Pfalz is in the rain shadow of the Vosges Mountains, which helps it produce medium-bodied, dry, and textural Rieslings.

21
Q

Which region in France is known for its dry, intensely-flavored Rieslings?

A

Alsace

22
Q

The Pfalz region in Germany is loosely known as an extension of which region in France?

A

Alsace

Both Alsace and Pfalz are in the rain shadow of the Vosges Mountains.

23
Q

Fill in the blank:

Alsace is known to be one of the _____ and _____ regions in all of France.

A

sunniest, driest

24
Q

Which direction do most vineyards in Alsace face?

A

East and southeast

Because the grapes in Alsace see mostly morning sun, which is more gentle than hot afternoon sun, the growing season tends to be long and steady, which helps build the flavor intensity in the grapes.

25
Q

What are the top, individual vineyards in Alsace called?

A

Grand Cru

26
Q

Late-harvested grapes in Alsace carry what term on the label?

A

Vendanges Tardives

(VT)

27
Q

When did Australia first start growing Riesling?

A

The early 1800s

Another way to say it is the early 19th century.

28
Q

What 2 higher-elevation appellations in South Australia are known for their piercing, refreshing Rieslings?

A
  1. Eden Valley
  2. Clare Valley
29
Q

Are Rieslings from Eden Valley and Clare Valley known to be dry or off-dry/medium sweet?

A

Dry

Rieslings from Clare Valley and Eden Valley are also known to have pronounced lime notes.

30
Q

What are consumers often misunderstanding about Riesling wine and what can be done to change their understanding?

A
  • Rieslings don’t always have to be sweet and can also be made in a dry style (e.g. Alsace or Australia).
  • Rieslings have huge differences in quality, ripeness and sweetness levels, they are not all the same.
  • Wine professionals need to demonstrate that high-quality Rieslings are versatile, age-worthy, and deliciously flavorful.
31
Q

Does Germany’s labeling language usually reflect the ripeness, sweetness, or acidity in the grapes?

A

Ripeness of the grapes at time of harvest.

32
Q

What is the PGI equivalent in Germany?

A

Landwein

Usually light bodied and made dry or off-dry.

33
Q

What are Germany’s PDO equivalents?

A
  • Qualitätswein
  • Prädikatswein
34
Q

To be labelled Qualitätswein or Prädikatswein, what requirements must the grapes meet?

A

Qualitätswein:

  • Must come from one of the 13 wine regions
  • Grapes must achieve higher level of ripeness than Landwein

Prädikatswein:

  • Must come from one of the 13 wine regions
  • Grapes must have higher level of sugar than Qualitätswein
35
Q

Name the 6 Prädikatswein categories from lowest sugar level to highest.

A
  1. Kabinett
  2. Spätlese
  3. Auslese
  4. Eiswein
  5. Beerenauslese
  6. Trockenbeerenauslese
36
Q

Which 3 of the 6 Prädikatswein categories may be made dry in style?

A
  1. Kabinett
  2. Spätlese
  3. Auslese
37
Q

What term is used on German wine labels indicating the wine is dry?

A

Trocken

38
Q

What does the term halbtrocken mean?

A

Slightly sweet

39
Q

Why would an Auslese Trocken Riesling be higher in alcohol than either a Kabinett Trocken or Spätlese Trocken Riesling?

A
  1. Rieslings harvested at Auslese ripeness will have more sugar
  2. The yeasts will eat all that extra sugar
  3. This results in the wine having increased alcohol levels
40
Q

Name one practice that aids in sugar concentration in Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese, and Eiswein grapes.

A

By hanging on the vine after harvest is normally completed.

41
Q

Which category indicates the grapes were frozen on the vine, Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese, or Eiswein?

A

Eiswein

Due to changes in annual weather variation, Eisweins are not made every year.

42
Q

Which 2 of the 6 Prädikatswein categories must have Botrytis-affected grapes?

A
  1. Beerenauslese
  2. Trockenbeerenauslese