Housekeeping Notes

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n

Please put cell phones on vibrate or silent.

ACF members who would like CEHs should
have their card initialed at the end of the
session and bring that to registration to
receive your certificate.
If you need to exit for a moment or two,
please be discreet to minimize interruption.

Thank You!
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Thank you for attending this session!

If you have questions, please refer
them to the presenter.
For questions on Certificates of
Completion for ACF and AND CEHs,
please contact Jay Makowski at
makowsk7@rhs.msu.edu.

Wine Basics 101

Rich Neumann M.S. FMP
Director of Residential Dining

Characteristics of Red Wine

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Different shades- purple, ruby, red, brick

red, red-brown
Taste-heartier, tarter, intense, fuller in body
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Tend to be dry

Temperature- 55-70 F. Never serve chilled

Loses color as it ages

Characteristics of White Wine

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Pale to bright yellow

Taste- more delicate and less pronounced
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Temperature- 40-50 F
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Very dry to very sweet

Full-bodied sweet 40-45 F
Light white 45-50 F

Gains color as it ages

Characteristics of Rose Wine

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Pale pink to red

Taste- similar to whites
Temperature- 40-50 F

Corks

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Long corks for long aging wine

Screw caps ok if wine has been stored only
in stainless prior to bottling and consumed
early.

Names Associated with Wine

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Varietal- single grape variety dominates (75%).

Vintage- 95% of wine is from the year designated.
Generic wines- broad or general style
Wine differs year to year

Imported Wines- French

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Mainly red. Rarely identified by name of grapes.

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Bordeaux- principle grape is cabernet sauvignon

White Bordeaux- Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc
Burgundy- Pinot Noir grapes
Beaujolais- Gamay
White Burgundy- Pouilly Fuisse. Chardonnay

Reserve, Library and Meritage

n

Reserve is a marketing term

n

Library
n

Private, special, or vintners reserve

Winerys best wine

Meritage
n
n

Quality and history

Contain at least two of Cab Sauvignon, Merlot, Cab
Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec

Popular Red Wine Types

Cabernet Sauvignon
n Merlot
n Zinfandel
n Pinot Noir
n Syrah (Sirah)
n

Popular White Wine Types

Chardonnay
n Riesling
n Sauvignon Blanc (Fume Blanc)
n Pinot Grigio (Pinot Gris)
n

Popular Rose Wines

White Zinfandel
n White Merlot
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Tasting Wine
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Use appropriate glass and pour small

amount.
Examine it
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Clarity
Color
Smell
Taste

Four Taste Components

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Sugar- sweetness
Acid- sour/tartness
Tannin- bitterness/astringency
Alcohol- sweet/spicy
Balance- way four components relate to each

other.

Wine Tasting
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2012 Chateau Ste Michelle Dry Riesling- Havarti

2012 Franciscan Estate Chardonnay- Gouda
2012 Meiomi Pinot Noir- Asiago
2010 Sebastiani Merlot- Gorgonzola
Terra d Ora Zinfandel Port- Dark Chocolate

Riesling
n

Riesling- classic grape of German wines

n
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Fragrant, light wines with touch of sweetness.

White Riesling or Johannesburg Riesling
Highly aromatic grape with high sugar and acidity.
Character: Very fruity. Fruits plus honey, minerals,
flowers.

Riesling Facts
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Rheingau region
Consumed young
Stand alone varietal
French style- drier (Alsace region)
German style- sweeter

Chateau Ste Michelle

Chateau Ste Michelle Dry Riesling

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Vintage: 2012 13% (Riesling 11.5%)

100% Washington State Riesling
88 points Wine Spectator
Description: crisp, dry and refreshing style
of Riesling. It exhibits fresh flavors of white
peach and mandarin orange, and ends with
a clean finish.
Pairings: Crab, scallops, mild cheeses,
turkey, Asian dishes, Indian curries
Monterrey Jack

Sample Food Pairings

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Riesling- light bodied, semi-sweet to off-dry.

Fruity/honey
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Crab, appetizers, prosciutto and melon, pork,

foods marinated in sweet/sour sauces, turkey

Chardonnay
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n

Strong body & character

White burgundies and Chablis
Character: Complex aroma, nuts, butter,
lemon, melon, peach, apple

Malolactic Fermentation
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Key characteristic of Chardonnay

Acid transforms from malic acid to lactic acid
Lactic acid makes the wine softer

Franciscan Estate Napa Valley

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Vintage: 2012 13.5%

100% Chardonnay
AGING: Seven months in small French and
American oak barrels, 20% new oak
Description: Vibrant dAnjou pear and Fuji
apple, with subtle pineapple, citrus, and
honey highlights.

Sample White Wine Descriptions/

Food Pairings
n

Chardonnay- full bodied, dry, toasty oak,

vanilla, lemon.
n

Poultry, veal, pork, rabbit, fish, pasta. Cream/

butter. Tarragon, marjoram

Pinot Noir
n
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n
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2nd most important red grape

Burgundy
Juice is made into Champagne
Name comes from the French pine and black

Pinot Noir Two Styles

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Burgundian style
n

Complex, elegant, 13.5%

CA style
n

Fruitier and spicier

Pinot Noir Characteristics

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Low tannins, medium-high acidity

Cooler growing areas: Champagne &
Burgundy regions, OR, CA, WA
Perfumes of cherry and raspberry.

Meiomi Pinot Noir

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Vintage: 2012 13.8%

CA Pinot Noir Coast of Monterey County.
Meiomi means coast in the language of the Wappo
Tribe native to the area.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=BG6HMO8ovlM&feature=player_embedded
Description: Deep purple color in the glass. Aromas of
black fruits, fig spread, vanilla and caramel.
Moderately intense flavors of boysenberries, spice,
candied violet, beet root and vanilla.

Sample Food Pairings

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Pinot Noir- light bodied, dry, cherry/

raspberry
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Lamb, duck, turkey, Beef Bourguignon, Coq au

Vin, BBQ ribs, rabbit

Merlot
n

Name from merle French for young blackbird

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n

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Smoother and less tannic wine than cabernet

Character: Dark chocolate (from french oak), plum,
blackberry, coffee.
Right bank of Bordeaux produces Merlot grapes
Locations: Bordeaux, WA, CA (Sonoma & Napa), Chile,
and NE Italy.

Sebastiani Merlot
Sonoma CA

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Vintage: 2010 13.5%

81% Merlot 7% Malbec 5% Petite
Syrah 4% Cabernet Sauvignon 2%
Petite Verdot 1% Cabernet Franc aged
8 months in French and American oak
barrels.
Description: Flavors of blueberry, black
cherry and black tea. Silky texture
and nuances of mocha and vanilla.

Sample Food Pairings

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Merlot- full-bodied, less tannic than

cabernet. Plum, blackberry, coffee
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Same foods as cabs plus braised beef, pizza,

hearty pastas

Terra d Oro (Land

of Gold) Zinfandel
Port CA
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19% 93 points Wine Enthusiast Magazine

Produced from old-vine zinfandel grapes and
crafted in the traditional Port style.
Description: rich, lush, grapy flavors also evoke
raisin, cocoa, coffee and toffee.
Port wine is typically richer, sweeter, heavier, and
possesses a higher alcohol. This is caused by the
addition of distilled grape spirits to fortify the wine
and halt fermentation before all the sugar is
converted to alcohol and results in a wine that is
usually 18 to 20% alcohol.

Questions?
Rich Neumann (neumann@ohio.edu)