Germany and Austria

How does Austrias climate influence wine styles compared to Germany?

What historic events influenced the growth of the wine industry in Austria and Germany?

What terms on a German wine label are meaningful and what do they tell us?

How do we determine if a wine was made by a grower or cooperative or simply bottled

by the person named on the label?

What are the classifications of German and Austrian wines and what flavor differences
might one find when comparing them?

How does the classification of wines in Germany differ from that of France?

What are the major grape varieties grown in Germany and in Austria? (Emphasis will be
on the ones tasted in class)

What are the signature grape varieties for Austria and Germany?

What are the labeling requirements and how does one decode a German or Austrian wine
label?

How does Germanys climate influence wine styles produced in various regions?

What winemaking practices are unique to Germany? e.g. use of Sssreserve

How have the new EU labeling regulations affected Germany?

Southern Hemisphere Wine RegionsNew Zealand, Australia, South Africa

What do these countries have in common as far as wine production goes?

Apply the following to each of the countries covered for this topic:
What are the laws governing wine production and labeling?

What are the major grape varieties grown in each country? Are there specific grapes
which the particular country has developed a reputation for?

What are the most important wine regions and what wines are they best known for?

What are the labeling requirements and how does one decode these wine labels?

How does each countrys climate influence wine styles produced in various regions?

How are wines in each country named?

What terms on each countrys wine labels are meaningful and what do they tell us?

What label terms are not regulated and thus may not provide useful information to the
purchaser?

Are there individuals who made a significant impact on the wine industry in any of these

countries?

Review and decode all labels on your tasting sheet.

Southern Hemisphere Wine RegionsSouth America: Chile and Argentina

What do these countries have in common as far as wine production goes?

Apply the following to each of the countries covered for this topic:
What are the laws governing wine production and labeling?

What are the major grape varieties grown in each country? Are there specific grapes
which the particular country has developed a reputation for?

What are the most important wine regions and what wines are they best known for?

What are the labeling requirements and how does one decode these wine labels?

How does each countrys climate influence wine styles produced in various regions?

How are wines in each country named?

What terms on each countrys wine labels are meaningful and what do they tell us?

What label terms are not regulated and thus may not provide useful information to the
purchaser?

Are there individuals who made a significant impact on the wine industry in any of these
countries?

Review and decode all labels on your tasting sheet.

Italy
What is the equivalent to the French AOC system in Italy?

What are the classifications of Italian wines and how do they differ?

What are the principle grape varieties used to make the Benchmark wines of Italy e.g.
Barolo, Chianti, Brunello? (Emphasis will be on the ones tasted in class.)

What are the most important Italian wine regions and what wines are they best known
for? Emphasis will be on the ones discussed in class

What are the labeling requirements and how does one decode Italian wine labels?

How does Italys climate influence wine styles produced in various regions?

What historic events influenced the growth of the wine industry in Italy?

How are Italian wines named?

How do Super Tuscans differ from other Italian wines made in Tuscany?

What terms on an Italian wine label are meaningful and what do they tell us?
Review and decode all labels on your tasting sheet.

What label terms are not regulated and thus may not provide useful information to the
purchaser?

How have the recent EU labeling regulations affected Italy?

Champagne and Sparkling Wine

What factors make Champagne different from other Sparkling wines?

What are the categories (e.g. vintage, etc.) of Champagne and how do they differ?

What are the specific age requirements for the different categories of Champagne?

What are the three approved grape varieties used to make Champagne?

What are the different styles of Champagne available? (e.g. Blanc de Blancs, etc.)

How is the sweetness level indicated on the label? (e.g. Brut, etc.)

What are the methods used to make Champagne and sparkling wines and how do the
final products differ?

How does the production of sparkling wine differ from that of still wine?

What contribution to sparkling wine production did certain individuals make?

Explain each of the terms on the handout for this class: see handout posted on Course
info for the Champagne class.

Review and decode all labels on your tasting sheet.

How many bubbles are in a bottle of Champagne (just kidding!)

France - Bordeaux

What are the AOC levels of Bordeaux wines?

What are the major grape varieties grown in the different districts or appellations of
Bordeaux?

Which of the fine wine producing districts of Bordeaux have been classified?

What are the names of the five Chateaux which hold the First Growth Status today?

How do the wines of the right bank differ from the wines of the left bank?

Which districts are best known for specific wine types e.g. dry white, sweet wines, etc?

What are the labeling requirements and how does one decode a Bordeaux wine label?

How does the climate influence Bordeauxs wine styles?

What historic events influenced the growth of the wine industry in Bordeaux?

How does Bordeaux differ from Burgundy?

What impact does Bordeaux wine have on the other wine producing regions of the world
and the wine trade in general?

What is the classification level of each of the wines tasted in class?

Review and decode all labels on your tasting sheet.

Spain and Portugal and Fortified Wines

What is the equivalent to the French AOC system in Spain and Portugal?

What are the classifications of Spanish and Portuguese wines?

What is a fortified wine?

What are the classifications of Ports, Sherries, and Madeira?

How and when are the different styles of fortified wines generally served?

What winemaking practices are unique to the fortified wines made in Spain and Portugal?
E.G. solera system, arresting fermentation, heating the finished product, etc.
What are the major grape varieties grown in Spain? (Emphasis will be on the ones tasted
in class.)

What are the most important Spanish wine regions?

What are the most important wine regions in Portugal?

What are the labeling requirements and how does one decode Spanish wine labels?

How does Spains and Portugals climates influence wine styles produced in various
regions?

What if any historic events influenced the growth of the wine industry in Spain and
Portugal?

What terms on a Spanish and Portuguese label (table and fortified wines) are meaningful
and what do they tell us?

Review and decode all labels on your tasting sheet.