Tag: Wine 101


Sep
2020

DipWSET Theory: Tasting Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur

categories: Wine, Wine 101, Wine World (D3)

Anjou-Saumur, together with Touraine, make up the Middle Loire. (I feel like there’s a joke here about Middle Earth.) But, again for the benefit of my poor brain, I’m going to further separate these three regions (Anjou and Saumur really being two regions that are lumped together) into two separate posts.

Anjou, Loire Valley; Fernando Beteta
Anjou, Loire Valley; Fernando Beteta

Let’s jump right in and start with Anjou-Saumur.

Note: For a simplified look at the Loire Valley, please see Loire Valley Regional Round-Up and Wine Review and Pop Quiz(es): Loire Valley. (More appropriate for those studying for their Level 3 exams.)

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Sep
2020

DipWSET Theory: Tasting Alsace Noble Grapes

categories: Wine, Wine 101, Wine World (D3)

Today I want to talk about Alsatian grapes—not Riesling-related. Riesling is accompanied by three other grapes in the “noble grape” category, namely Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris and Muscat. These are the grapes that are permitted for Grand Cru wines (there are currently 51 Grand Crus in existence) and regulated wines such as Vendange tardive and Selection de grains nobles.

visit.Alsace
Courtesy visit.Alsace

Let’s start with nobility…

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Sep
2020

DipWSET Theory: Tasting Germany—Not Riesling

categories: Wine, Wine 101, Wine World (D3)

Would that I could have a bottle of every single wine variety. I bet I could learn a whole heap that way (not to mention have a whole heap of fun). But, alas, the money tree seems to be in its dormancy. So the title of this post is a bit mis-leading, as I won’t be physically tasting through these wines, but more putting together what I can gather from my readings about the style and structure typical to these varieties, as it pertains to German winemaking.

Germany Wine Region Overview; Fernando Beteta
Germany Wine Region Overview; Fernando Beteta

Afterwards, I want to take a walk through a few of the other notable wine producing regions of Germany and talk about what non-Riesling grapes thrive best there and why. Sound fun? Totally. Let’s go…

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Sep
2020

DipWSET Theory: Tasting Alsatian Riesling

categories: Wine, Wine 101, Wine World (D3)

I think one of the reasons I like starting my Wine World studies with Germany is because it’s my backwards way of gearing up for one of my favorite French wine regions, Alsace. The two regions have much in common—one of them being Riesling. That’s why I thought, if I’m going to deep-dive into the stylistic difference’s of Germany’s most recognized wine grape, I’m absolutely going to compare how the expression(s) differ from it’s neighboring French region, where the variety wear’s the “noble grape” crown.

Alsace, France; Fernando Beteta

To explore those differences between the wines, we must (of course) explore what makes Alsace a unique wine region.

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