Category: Wine 101


Dec
2019

Pop Quiz(es)and Wine Region Overview: Chile

categories: General Knowledge (L3), Wine, Wine 101

Oh, you guys. Chile is a lot more complicated than I initially thought it would be. Help me break it down a bit?

Short Intro:

Chile’s winegrape growing region is a long skinny one, with vineyard plantings spanning over 900 kilometers from north to south, but just 100 kilometers from east to west. The four key geographical features that define the area are 1) the Pacific Ocean to the West along with the coastal ranges 2) the Andes to the east 3) two mountain ranges that merge just north of Santiago and 4) the great depression between the two ranges to the south of Santiago creating what is called the Central Valley.

[Answer(s) and information based on WSET Level 3 material]

Chile has a warm, Mediterranean climate. One major vineyard concern is drought, as the regions are dry and sunny and experience minimal annual rainfall. Although irrigation is utilized, water for irrigation is in short supply. The other concern comes with the weather: El Niño and La Niña. El Niño refers to periods of dramatically increased rainfall levels; La Niña refers to periods of excessive drought.

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Dec
2019

Pop Quiz(es) and Wine Region Overview: Argentina

categories: General Knowledge (L3), Wine, Wine 101

Funny story time: During my tutoring session, my teacher told an amusing anecdote about a WSET Level 3 test she proctored. One woman in the back of the room became visibly upset: huffing and puffing and stirring in her seat. Finally, she grabs her paper, walks up to the head of the classroom and bursts out, “Torrontés? Torrontés??? Are you, serious? Torrontés isn’t important!” To which my teacher replied, “Well, it is in Argentina…”

Amusing, yes. But it also proves a point—all wine regions are important to understand and appreciate. And, on a personal note, I find that while I’m studying these wines different countries—many of which I’ve yet to visit—I’m also gaining an understanding and appreciation for the history, culture, and people, even if just on a surface-level.

So with that amusing and that personal anecdote, I am jumping the equator and traveling to Argentina.

To set the scene Argentina’s wine regions lie along the other side of the Andes as Chile. The regions are spread out over more than 1,500 kilometers from north to south, with most lying at extremely high altitudes—600 meters or more.

[Answer(s) and information based on WSET Level 3 material]

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Dec
2019

The Dordogne and South West France

categories: General Knowledge (L3), Wine, Wine 101

You guys, I have to get out of France and move on to other countries. But before I do, the OCD in me needs to cover one last section: Dordogne and South West France. To set the scene, Dordogne is located to the east of Entre-Deux-Mers (Bordeaux), producing wines from the same grape varieties used in that region. What is referrred to as “The South West of France” is a compilation of a number of wine regions utilizing grapes that are not often used in Bordeaux, if at all.

Ready for this amazingness? Let’s dive in…

[Information based on WSET Level 3 material]

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Dec
2019

South of France Part Deux

categories: General Knowledge (L3), Wine, Wine 101

I’ve already played a little South of France Q&A, but I want to take a moment to cover a few grapes and regions I didn’t get to cover in that first post. Specifically, I want to talk about the grapes that are grown throughout the broader South of France area and then zero in on Provence for a bit.

winefolly.com

[Information based on WSET Level 3 material]

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Dec
2019

Pop Quiz(es): South of France

categories: General Knowledge (L3), Wine, Wine 101

Again, I didn’t come across any actual short answer practice questions during my tutoring specifically covering the South of France. So, like I did with the Loire Valley, I’m going to compile a few multiple choice questions and turn them into short answer questions to help me deep dive into the South of France. Who wants to play?

winefolly.com

[Answer(s) based on WSET Level 3 material]

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