Copy of Lesson 6 | Pinot Noir
Let’s dive into the enchanting world of Pinot Noir! Here’s one thing to remember: Pinot Noir wines boast a charmingly pale to medium intensity colour. 🍇🍷 Unlike its bold counterparts like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah/Shiraz which are all medium to deep.🎨 Remembering that Pinot Noir is a pale to medium ruby colour will help you identify this wine in your blind tasting exam for WSET Level 3. 😉
But don’t be fooled by Pinot’s delicate appearance! This grape is a favourite among sommeliers for its captivating perfume that adds a touch of mystery to each sip. 🌹 Furthermore, professionals know that mastering the art of Pinot Noir cultivation is no easy feat; it’s prone to both rot and diseases! 🌿
This grape thrives best in cool regions such as Burgundy, France (also known as Bourgogne en français). This is where its flavours reach their peak. 🇫🇷
But hey, a word of caution: don’t mix up Burgundy with Bordeaux! Many new wine students will do this on their exam.🍷 If a bottle of Burgundy is red, it’s made with Pinot Noir. If it’s a white wine it’s made with Chardonnay. Bordeaux, on the other hand, blends grapes together to make their wines (Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot for red wines and Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon for red wines. Not to worry, we’ll stay sharp with these quizzes! 🔪 🎉
Now, peruse through pages 51-55. 📖 Note that Pinot Noir is one of the ‘Principal Grape Varieties’ of WSET (along with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah/Shiraz, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris/Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc). That means there are a whopping 19 questions dedicated to these grapes and their GI’s on your exam!! 😯
After reading the text, flip through these flashcards. You’ll see how we’re bridging the theory from previous chapters with practical application. By the end, you’ll grasp how (as your Specification says):
- the environmental influences and grape-growing options in the vineyard and how they impact the style and quality of wine
- winemaking and bottle ageing influence the style and quality of wine
- environmental influences, grape-growing options, winemaking and bottle ageing influence the style and quality of wines made from the principal grape varieties
- important labelling terms define the style and quality of wine through legal regulation of the terms
Now attack this quiz which has 20 questions from a pool of 32. 📝 Strive to achieve at least 85% accuracy before advancing to the next lesson (as Pinot Noir holds significant importance in the wine world). 🎯
Keep in mind: some questions may have more than one correct answer.
Enjoy! 🎉🍷
