Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc,

Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris

Session 4
Gewurztraminer, Viognier,
Albariño

Issue 1 © WSET 2019

 Chardonnay

• versatile: range of Cool

climates
• medium to high
Moderate
acidity Warm

• dry • very good or

• light- to full-bodied outstanding
examples can age:
• range of winemaking
hazelnut
techniques
mushroom
• used to make
sparkling wines

Issue 1 © WSET 2019

 Chardonnay

Cool Moderate Warm

Least ripe Most ripe

Issue 1 © WSET 2019
 Chardonnay

Winemaking
options
• adjustments
• malolactic conversion
• lees contact
• oak

Issue 1 © WSET 2019

 Chardonnay
BELGIUM GERMANY
FRANCE

FRANCE
Paris

BURGUNDY

Bordeaux

Marseille
SOUTH OF
FRANCE
SPAIN
Issue 1 © WSET 2019
 Chardonnay

CHABLIS

GRAND CRU

Chablis

Issue 1 © WSET 2019

 Chardonnay
Dijon

BURGUNDY

CÔTE D’OR
MEURSAULT
Beaune

PULIGNY-
MONTRACHET

MÂCONNAIS

Mâcon

POUILLY-FUISSÉ

Issue 1 © WSET 2019

 Tasting

APPEARANCE
Intensity pale – medium – deep
Colour white lemon – gold – amber
rosé pink – pink-orange – orange
red purple – ruby – garnet – tawny

NOSE
Intensity light – medium – pronounced
Aroma characteristics e.g. primary, secondary, tertiary

Issue 1 © WSET 2019

 Tasting
PALATE
Sweetness dry – off-dry – medium – sweet
Acidity low – medium – high
Tannin low – medium – high
Alcohol low – medium – high
Body light – medium – full
Flavour intensity light – medium – pronounced
Flavour characteristics e.g. primary, secondary, tertiary
Finish short – medium – long

CONCLUSIONS
Quality poor – acceptable – good – very good – outstanding

Issue 1 © WSET 2019

 Sauvignon Blanc

• high acidity Cool

• aromatic variety Moderate
• herbaceous
• floral
• fruit (green, citrus, tropical)

• typically dry • typically for early

• light- to medium- bodied drinking
• typically unoaked
• typically single varietal
(sometimes blended with
Sémillon/Semillon)
Issue 1 © WSET 2019
 Sauvignon Blanc

Least ripe Most ripe

Issue 1 © WSET 2019

 Sauvignon Blanc
BELGIUM GERMANY
FRANCE

FRANCE
Paris

LOIRE VALLEY

Bordeaux

BORDEAUX

Marseille

SOUTH OF
FRANCE
SPAIN
Issue 1 © WSET 2019
 Sauvignon Blanc

FRANCE

Libourne

Bordeaux
PESSAC-
LÉOGNAN

GRAVES

BORDEAUX AOC

BORDEAUX

Issue 1 © WSET 2019

 Sauvignon Blanc

Tours SANCERRE POUILLY-

FUMÉ

TOURAINE
Orléans

THE LOIRE
VALLEY

Issue 1 © WSET 2019

 Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc

USA FRANCE

CHILE
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
AFRICA NEW
WORLD WINE
REGIONS ZEALAND

Issue 1 © WSET 2019

 Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc

CANADA

OREGON

CALIFORNIA USA
San
Francisco

Los Angeles

NORTH
MEXICO AMERICA

Issue 1 © WSET 2019

Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc

NEVADA

NAPA
SONOMA
VALLEY

LOS CARNEROS
San Francisco

CALIFORNIA

SANTA
BARBARA
COUNTY

CALIFORNIA Los Angeles

Issue 1 © WSET 2019
 Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc

CHILE CHILE

CHILE CHILE

CASABLANCA
VALLEY
Santiago CENTRAL Santiago
VALLEY

Issue 1 © WSET 2019

Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc
WESTERN
CAPE

WESTERN
CAPE

Cape Town Stellenbosch

CONSTANTIA
ELGIN

WALKER BAY

Issue 1 © WSET 2019

 Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc

WESTERN
AUSTRALIA
SOUTH
AUSTRALIA
NEW SOUTH
Perth
WALES
Sydney
Adelaide
MARGARET VICTORIA
RIVER SOUTH Melbourne
EASTERN
AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIA
TASMANIA

Issue 1 © WSET 2019

Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc

Adelaide ADELAIDE
HILLS

SOUTH
AUSTRALIA
Issue 1 © WSET 2019
 Chardonnay
VICTORIA AND
NEW SOUTH
WALES

NEW SOUTH
WALES Sydney

Canberra

VICTORIA
Melbourne
YARRA
VALLEY

Issue 1 © WSET 2019

Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc

Auckland

HAWKE’S
BAY

MARLBOROUGH
Christchurch

NEW ZEALAND
Issue 1 © WSET 2019
 Tasting

APPEARANCE
Intensity pale – medium – deep
Colour white lemon – gold – amber
rosé pink – pink-orange – orange
red purple – ruby – garnet – tawny

NOSE
Intensity light – medium – pronounced
Aroma characteristics e.g. primary, secondary, tertiary

Issue 1 © WSET 2019

 Tasting
PALATE
Sweetness dry – off-dry – medium – sweet
Acidity low – medium – high
Tannin low – medium – high
Alcohol low – medium – high
Body light – medium – full
Flavour intensity light – medium – pronounced
Flavour characteristics e.g. primary, secondary, tertiary
Finish short – medium – long

CONCLUSIONS
Quality poor – acceptable – good – very good – outstanding

Issue 1 © WSET 2019

 Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris

• medium to high acidity Cool

Moderate

• two key styles • very good or

produced outstanding
• typically unoaked examples can age:
honey
ginger

Issue 1 © WSET 2019

 Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris

• dry
• high acidity
• light-bodied
• simple

• dry, off-dry or medium

• medium acidity
• full-bodied
• complex

Issue 1 © WSET 2019

 Gewurztraminer

• low to medium acidity Cool

• aromatic variety Moderate
• floral: rose
• stone fruit: peach, apricot
• tropical fruit: lychee

• dry to sweet • very good or

• full-bodied outstanding examples
typically unoaked can age:
•
honey
dried fruit
Issue 1 © WSET 2019
 Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer

FRANCE BELGIUM

FRANCE
Paris

ALSACE

Bordeaux

Marseille

SPAIN
Issue 1 © WSET 2019
Labelling in Alsace

Issue 1 © WSET 2019

 Viognier

• low to medium acidity Moderate

• high alcohol
• aromatic variety
• floral: blossom
• stone fruit: peach, apricot

• typically dry
• medium- to full-bodied
• oaked or unoaked
• single varietal or blended
Issue 1 © WSET 2019
 Viognier
FRANCE BELGIUM

FRANCE
Paris

NORTHERN
Bordeaux RHÔNE

Marseille

SPAIN
Issue 1 © WSET 2019
 Viognier
Ampuis

CONDRIEU

Tain l’Hermitage

NORTHERN
RHÔNE
Issue 1 © WSET 2019
 Albariño

• high acidity Moderate

• citrus fruit:
lemon
grapefruit
• stone fruit:
peach
apricot

• typically dry • typically for early

• medium-bodied drinking
• oaked or unoaked
• single varietal
Issue 1 © WSET 2019
 Albariño
FRANCE
RÍAS BAIXAS

Barcelona

Madrid

PORTUGAL SPAIN
Lisbon

SPAIN AND
PORTUGAL
Issue 1 © WSET 2019
 Tasting

APPEARANCE
Intensity pale – medium – deep
Colour white lemon – gold – amber
rosé pink – pink-orange – orange
red purple – ruby – garnet – tawny

NOSE
Intensity light – medium – pronounced
Aroma characteristics e.g. primary, secondary, tertiary

Issue 1 © WSET 2019

 Tasting
PALATE
Sweetness dry – off-dry – medium – sweet
Acidity low – medium – high
Tannin low – medium – high
Alcohol low – medium – high
Body light – medium – full
Flavour intensity light – medium – pronounced
Flavour characteristics e.g. primary, secondary, tertiary
Finish short – medium – long

CONCLUSIONS
Quality poor – acceptable – good – very good – outstanding

Issue 1 © WSET 2019