1. Other White Grape Varieties and
WSET® Level 2
Award in Wines & Spirits
Session 6:
Other White Grape Varieties and
White Wines

2. Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio
Pinot Gris (Alsace, France)
full-bodied
range of styles
tropical fruit (banana, melon), sweet spice (ginger), honey
New Zealand: variety of styles
Pinot Grigio (Italy)
dry
medium to high acidity
light to medium-bodied
neutral character (green and citrus fruit)

3. Italian Grape Varieties
Verdicchio
dry, high acidity, medium-bodied
citrus (lemon), herbal (fennel), bitter almond
Trebbiano
dry, high acidity, light-bodied
neutral, inexpensive wines
made throughout Italy

4. Italian Named Wines Gavi DOCG Soave (Soave Classico DOC)
grape: Cortese
region: Piemonte
dry, light-bodied, high acidity
green fruit (green apple), citrus fruit
Veneto
Piemonte
Rome
Soave (Soave Classico DOC)
grape: Garganega
region: Veneto
medium-bodied, high acidity
floral (chamomile), green fruit (pear, red apple), spice (white pepper)
unoaked

5. Chenin Blanc Vouvray AC cool to hot climate range of styles
medium to high acidity
susceptible to noble rot
Vouvray AC
Loire Valley (France)
cool climate
medium sweet, high acidity, medium-bodied
citrus fruit (lemon), green fruit (apple), tropical fruit (pineapple), herbaceous (leaf)
unoaked

6. Chenin Blanc South Africa dry/off-dry, medium or high acidity
medium-bodied
citrus fruit, tropical fruit
oak
large-volume inexpensive wines
blended with Chardonnay

7. Melon Blanc Muscadet AC Loire Valley (France) dry, high acidity
light to medium-bodied
neutral fruit
unoaked
sur lie (dead yeast cells)
body
complexity

8. Viognier soft, full-bodied, aromatic wines low acidity, high alcohol
delicate fruit and floral flavours (peach, pear, apricot, violet), spicy notes
best examples in Northern Rhône
Southern France, Chile, Argentina, Australia and California

9. Albariño Rías Baixas (Spain) SPAIN PORTUGAL dry light to medium-bodied
refreshingly high acidity
green fruit (apple, pear), citrus fruit (grapefruit), floral
unoaked
Rías Baixas
SPAIN
PORTUGAL

10. Sémillon/Semillon Bordeaux (France) Hunter Valley (Australia) Bordeaux
blended with Sauvignon Blanc to make dry and sweet wines (Sauternes)
Bordeaux
Sauternes
Hunter Valley (Australia)
single varietal
dry, light-bodied, low alcohol, high acidity
youth: neutral with delicate citrus flavours
maturity (toast, nuts, honey)
South Eastern Australia
Hunter Valley

11. Gewurztraminer Alsace (France) low acidity, high alcohol, full- bodied
intensely perfumed and aromatic
variety of styles
green fruit (grape), floral (rose, orange blossom), stone fruit (peach), tropical fruit (lychee), sweet spice (ginger)
best consumed young and fresh
maturity (honey, nut)
New Zealand also produced premium Gewurztraminer

12. Torrontés Cafayate (Argentina) aromatic variety dry, medium acidity
medium-bodied, high alcohol
pronounced floral flavours (perfume), green fruit (grapes), stone fruit (peach)

13. Level 2 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine®
APPEARANCE
Clarity
clear – hazy
Intensity
pale – medium – deep
Colour
white
rosé
red
lemon – gold – amber
pink – salmon – orange
purple – ruby – garnet – tawny
NOSE
Condition
clean – unclean
light – medium – pronounced
Aroma characteristics
e.g. fruits, flowers, spices, vegetables, oak aromas, other
PALATE
Sweetness
dry – off-dry – medium – sweet
Acidity
low – medium – high
Tannin
Body
light– medium – full
Flavour Characteristics
e.g. fruits, flowers, spices, vegetables, oak flavours, other
Finish
short – medium – long
CONCLUSIONS
Quality
faulty – poor – acceptable – good – very good – outstanding