Wine for Beginners Flashcards

Question

Describe a typical **Zinfandel**

Answer 1

* red wine * dry * full-bodied * high alcohol * smoke & spice ## Footnote Typically has fruit, spice, and smoky notes.

Answer 2

* white wine * off-dry to dry * lighter- to medium-bodied * aromatic * try with spicy coconut curries! ## Footnote Flavors include citrus, stone fruit, white flowers, and even gasoline!

Answer 3

* dessert wine like Moscato * late harvest wine * some Rieslings (not all) * Sauternes (French white wine) * Port

Answer 4

* smooth * creamy * astringent * harsh ## Footnote For example, some young red wines can feel very astringent and harsh in the mouth, while more mature reds can be smooth and creamy.

Answer 5

Terroir ## Footnote The way the soil drains and its capacity to hold heat; the topography of the land and its exposure to the sun; and the location of the vineyard relative to the equator and nearby oceans and rivers... these are all aspects that contribute to the winemaking concept of "terroir" which is usually expressed in the **quality, complexity, and flavor/aroma profile** of the resultant wine, giving it a *sense of place.*

Answer 6

Two ways: * In the barrel, and * In the bottle | and sometimes a mixture of both ## Footnote Aging wine allows it to **develop complex flavors and aromas** over time. Some winemakers will cellar wine for one year, many years, or even decades before releasing it to market. When you buy a wine, you can age it at home if you like, provided you can store it somewhere cool and dark. **Age is not directly proportional to quality!** It's possible for some wines to just *get too old* and will taste either sour, fruitless, and like vinegar or cooked (like stewed fruit / prunes).

Answer 7

In a **cool, dark, and stable environment** | (between 60°F (15°C) and 68°F (20°C)) ## Footnote Furthermore, wines with corks should be stored **on their sides** to keep the cork moist, while wines with screw caps can be stored either upright or on their sides. Wine fridges are fantastic appliances for this purpose, since not everyone's home comes with a basement or a cool, dark place they can store their wine.

Answer 8

Red wine is typically served between 60°F (15°C) and 68°F (20°C). ## Footnote In other words: on the cool side of room temperature. Red wines can be served at the same temperature that they're stored.

Answer 9

White wine is usually served between 45°F (7°C) and 50°F (10°C). ## Footnote In other words: chilled! Whites wines should be served at a **cooler temperature** than they're stored. So it's a good idea to put a white wine in the fridge several hours beforehand so that it's nice and chilled by the time you intend to serve it.

Answer 10

1. Kitchen, *especially* on top of the refrigerator 2. In direct sunlight or bright artificial lights 3. Near a radiator, heating vent, or AC unit 4. Bathroom ## Footnote Wine doesn't store well in heat, light, and in environments that have **extreme fluctuations in temperature**, like your kitchen, where you fire up the stove on the daily.

Answer 11

[10 Things everyone should know about wine](https://www.brainscape.com/academy/wine-guide-facts-to-know/) ## Footnote It's a fun and easy read, I promise!

Answer 12

Dry ## Footnote Brut just means "dry", but for *sparkling* wine.

Answer 13

A sommelier ## Footnote As in Brainscape's ["Somm Talk" YouTube series](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLif1P5CShk0ds_lnLRvAeME8jI_dX-l7m).

Answer 14

1. "What wine would you recommend to go with [meal X]?” 2. "I usually like [wine X]. Do you have anything that's similar to that?" 3. "What on the wine list is exciting to you right now?"

Answer 15

"What is your favorite wine for under $80?" | (or whatever you're comfortable spending). ## Footnote You could also ask: * “Do you have any wines on special tonight?” * "What are some simple wines that are a great value?" * "What are some wines with [characteristic X] that are 'not too crazy fancy'?"

Answer 16

The meal you intend on pairing it with. ## Footnote What you want to eat—more specifically its weight, complexity, and flavor profile—is *paramount* in choosing the perfect wine. Ask the sommelier/server: "We’d like to order the Greek pizza / sea bass / filet mignon / quarter-pounder with cheese (just kidding), etc. What wine do you recommend to go with it?”

Answer 17

* red * white * rosé * sparkling ## Footnote There's also **fortified wine** like port or sherry!

Answer 18

The **level of tartness** in a wine, which provides **freshness and balance.** ## Footnote Wines with high acidity taste crisp and citrusy, making your mouth water. Low-acidity wines, on the other hand, can taste flabby; lacking in structure with no backbone bringing the wine's elements together.

Answer 19

* red wine * dry * high-alcohol * full-bodied * great with meat dishes

Answer 20

* white wine * dry * lighter-bodied * acidic (tart/sour) * aromatic ## Footnote When a wine is described as "aromatic" it means that it packs a lot of delicious smells. These can be fruity, floral, earthy, herbaceous, or even vegetal (like green pepper and cut grass). Sauvignon Blancs typically have strong citrus and green grassy notes.

Answer 21

* red wine * dry * medium- to full-bodied * smooth and approachable * red and black fruit ## Footnote Has red and black fruit-forward flavors

Answer 22

* white wine * dry * medium- to full-bodied * less acidic than Sauvignon Blanc * fruity ## Footnote Has lots of stone, tropical, or citrus fruit flavors and aromas, depending on where the grapes are grown.

Answer 23

* white wine * dry * medium- to full-bodied * made in a variety of styles * tropical fruit ## Footnote Depending on where the fruit is grown and the style the winemaker is going for, Chardonnay wines vary *a lot.* For example, American Chardonnays are most often matured in oak and exhibit tropical fruits and vanilla flavors, while some French Chardonnays (like Chablis) are *not* matured in oak and exhibit very acidic, citrusy flavors and aromas.

Answer 24

* red wine * dry * full-bodied * bold and aromatic * black fruit ## Footnote Typically has notes of **smoke, black fruit, and pepper spice.**

Answer 25

* red wine * dry * Light- to medium-bodied * light cherry red in color * silky tannins ## Footnote Has bright acidity, and red fruit and earthy flavors and aromas.

Answer 26

* white wine * dry * light-bodied * citrus & stone fruit

Answer 27

* red wine * dry * medium- to full-bodied * rich, dark fruit ## Footnote Dark fruit aromas and flavors like blackberry and plum.

Answer 28

* red wine * dry * full-bodied * high alcohol * smoke & spice ## Footnote Typically has fruit, spice, and smoky notes.

Answer 29

* white wine * off-dry to dry * lighter- to medium-bodied * aromatic * try with spicy coconut curries! ## Footnote Flavors include citrus, stone fruit, white flowers, and even gasoline!

Answer 30

* dessert wine like Moscato * late harvest wine * some Rieslings (not all) * Sauternes (French white wine) * Port

Answer 31

* smooth * creamy * astringent * harsh ## Footnote For example, some young red wines can feel very astringent and harsh in the mouth, while more mature reds can be smooth and creamy.

Answer 32

Politely ask the server to **bring you a fresh glass** of the same wine, but from a *newly-opened bottle* OR **request a different wine,** entirely. ## Footnote Do NOT suffer through a bad glass of wine! As long as you are polite, you are not inconveniencing the restaurant by sending a bad glass or bottle back.

Answer 33

They become **oxidized** ## Footnote When wine is exposed to the oxygen in air, it begins to oxidize, which creates different flavors and aromas that can actually complement the wine. If left for too long, however, oxidation can rob a wine of its freshness, fruit, and color, ultimately causing it to spoil.

Answer 34

* Red wine: 3–5 days in a cool, dark place with a cork * White wine: 3-5 days in the fridge, with a cork or screw cap

Answer 35

**Corked** as in "This wine smells corked" | (this is caused by **cork taint**) ## Footnote Cork taint is caused by **penicillium mold,** which is endemic to the cork. When this mold gets in contact with anything chlorine-based, it produces a compound called TCA (trichloroanisole), which has that characteristic musty, wet dog smell. *Yuck!*

Answer 36

Decanting wine helps to (1) **separate out any sediment** and (2) **allows the wine to breathe,** enhancing its aromas and flavors. ## Footnote Decanters come in many shapes and sizes—some of them quite exotic—but what they all share in common is that they maximize the surface area of the wine that's exposed to the air.

Answer 37

Nope! Decanting is best for **red wines that are younger than 10 years.** ## Footnote Most white and rosé wines don't need to be decanted.

Answer 38

1. **Who** - the producer or estate that made the wine 2. **What** - which grapes were used to make it 3. **Where** - in which region, sub-region, or vineyard the grapes were grown 4. **How** - the style in which the wine was made 5. **When** - the year the wine was made (vintage)

Answer 39

Sediment ## Footnote The sediment in wine is typically either **tartrate crystals**—dark, crunchy, flavorless little crystals—or it can be spent yeast, called **lees.** Both are completely natural byproducts of winemaking and neither will make you ill.

Answer 40

* Champagne (France) * Prosecco (Italy) * Cava (Spain)

Answer 41

Sugar and yeast are added to the already-made wine (called a "base wine"), which is then bottled. A *second fermentation* begins, creating carbon dioxide, which is trapped inside the bottle as bubbles. The wine is then aged for 12 to 36 months. ## Footnote This is known as the **traditional method** of making sparkling wine. Other sparkling wines, like Prosecco, are made using a quicker, cheaper method.

Answer 42

Cabernet Sauvignon

Answer 43

The **year the grapes were harvested.** ## Footnote If the bottle says "2018" on the front or back label, it means the grapes that were used to make that wine were harvested in 2018.

Answer 44

Wine aged in oak barrels can develop **additional flavors and aromas**—such as vanilla, spice, or toastiness—as well as a **rounder, creamier texture.**

Answer 45

Appellation ## Footnote The appellation of a wine can represent a country, state, or specific vineyard area, such as Bordeaux in France, Napa Valley in California, or Stellenbosch in South Africa.

Answer 46

It **releases aromas** by exposing the wine to oxygen

Answer 47

Finish ## Footnote A **long finish** indicates that the wine has *more complexity and depth,* and so it's seen as a very desirable quality!

Answer 48

By the stem, *not the bowl* ## Footnote Holding a glass by the stem prevents the heat from your hand from warming the wine.

Answer 49

A varietal wine is made **primarily from one grape,** whereas a blended wine contains wine from **many different kinds of grapes** ## Footnote Blending wines enable winemakers to achieve a certain vision or outcome that otherwise would have been controlled by that particular vintage's grape yield (or shortcomings). It's like mixing two paints to create a different color. Red is an important color and blue is an important color... but mixing the two makes purple! This is where the artistry of winemaking can really shine.

Answer 50

The **legs or "tears"** of the wine ## Footnote The more viscous the wine, the more of these droplets will form, which tells you **how much sugar or alcohol** is present in the wine.

Answer 51

That it's been **recently bottled** and so may exhibit certain **youthful characteristics** ## Footnote Depending on the style and quality of the wine, these "youthful characteristics" can be desirable (fresh, crisp flavors and bright fruits) or they can be undesirable (astringent, tart, underdeveloped green fruit flavors).

Answer 52

It's at the **pinnacle of its perfection for drinking** ## Footnote Most wineries will cellar their white wines for 8-12 months and their red wines for 12-36 months (and sometimes more) before releasing them to market. They do this because they want you to experience the wine at its best! And so, you don't have to age wine after buying it: you can drink it right away. However, if you did want to cellar a few to see how that improves their quality, stick with **fuller-bodied red wines** and make sure the place you store them is **cool and dark!**

Answer 53

* Old World wines are produced in the **traditional European wine regions,** such as France, Italy, or Spain. * New World wines are produced in countries **outside of the traditional European wine regions,** such as America, Australia, or South Africa.

Answer 54

When yeasts have eaten **all** the sugar. ## Footnote The result is a **dry wine**; “dry” meaning there’s no residual sugar remaining. Essentially, the yeasts have run out of fuel!

Answer 55

Tuesdays ## Footnote According to the mobile shopping app *Ibotta*, which analyzed 50 million receipts submitted by its users, Tuesdays are the best days to shop for wine because many wine stores offer **specials and discounts**. For example, AstorWines.com offers 15% off every Tuesday. Saturdays and Sundays, on the other hand, are the *most expensive days* to buy wine.

Answer 56

Brainscape's [Wine Appreciation](https://www.brainscape.com/learn/wine-appreciation?utm_source=crosslink&utm_medium=in-app&utm_campaign=in-app) Flashcards

Wine for Beginners Flashcards

Dive into the basics of wine, understanding varietals, tasting notes, and wine etiquette. Your first step to becoming a wine expert. (81 cards)