Week 1 Wrap-Up
What You’ve Accomplished
This week you built a foundation in:
- Major wine regions — Old World (France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Portugal) and New World (Americas, Australia, NZ, South Africa)
- Climate zones — how cool, moderate, and warm climates produce fundamentally different wines
- Terroir — soil, elevation, aspect, and why place matters
- Practical tasting — comparing wines side by side to see theory in action
Key Takeaways
Old World vs. New World at a Glance
| Old World | New World | |
|---|---|---|
| Labels | Named by region (“Sancerre”) | Named by grape (“Sauvignon Blanc”) |
| Philosophy | Tradition, terroir, regulation | Innovation, fruit expression, freedom |
| Style | Subtle, earthy, structured | Bold, fruit-forward, approachable |
| Regulations | Strict (what grapes, where, how) | Flexible |
| Learning curve | Higher — you need to know the code | Lower — the grape is on the label |
Climate Quick Reference
| Climate | Acidity | Fruit Style | Alcohol | Body |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cool | High | Red berries, citrus | 11-13% | Light-medium |
| Moderate | Balanced | Mixed fruit | 13-14% | Medium |
| Warm | Softer | Dark fruit, jammy | 14-15%+ | Medium-full |
Your Terroir Checklist
Next time you taste a wine, ask yourself:
- What region is this from? What’s the climate like there?
- Can I taste the climate? (High acid = cool, soft/ripe = warm)
- Is there a mineral or earthy character? (Possible soil influence)
- Does the label tell me anything about the specific vineyard or sub-region?
Dinner Party Cheat Sheet
Five things you can confidently say this week:
- On Bordeaux: “It’s always a blend — Left Bank is Cabernet-dominant, Right Bank is Merlot-dominant.”
- On Burgundy: “It’s just Pinot Noir or Chardonnay, but the specific vineyard plot determines everything.”
- On climate: “Check the alcohol on the label — it tells you a lot about where the wine is from. Higher alcohol usually means a warmer region.”
- On Malbec: “It’s actually a French grape that nearly went extinct. Argentina rescued it.”
- On value: “Portugal and Chile are the best value wine countries in the world right now.”
Coming Up: Week 2
Sparkling Wines & Fortified Wines
- The three methods of sparkling production (traditional, tank, ancestral)
- Champagne vs. Crémant vs. Cava vs. Prosecco — what’s the difference?
- Port, Sherry, Madeira — the fortified wine world
- When and how to serve sparkling (hint: it’s not just for celebrations)
Resources
Books Worth Owning
- “Wine Folly: The Essential Guide to Wine” by Madeline Puckette & Justin Hammack — beautiful visuals, very accessible
- “The World Atlas of Wine” by Hugh Johnson & Jancis Robinson — the definitive reference
- “Wine for Dummies” by Ed McCarthy & Mary Ewing-Mulligan — no shame, it’s actually good
Video / Online
- Wine Folly (YouTube): Clear, visual explanations
- WSET Bite-size: Free tasting technique videos from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust
- Wine Library TV: Gary Vaynerchuk’s original wine show — entertaining and educational
Practice Habits
- Keep a simple tasting log (even just notes in your phone)
- When dining out, try one wine you’ve never had before
- Ask wine shop staff what’s exciting them right now
- Start noticing alcohol percentage on labels — it tells you a lot about the wine
Week 1 Quiz
Test yourself — answers are hidden below each question.
- What French region is the benchmark for Pinot Noir?
Answer
Burgundy (Bourgogne) - What does GDD stand for, and what does it measure?
Answer
Growing Degree Days — measures heat accumulation during the growing season - What soil type is the Bordeaux Left Bank famous for?
Answer
Gravel (the Graves region is literally named for it) - Name two great New World regions for Pinot Noir.
Answer
Willamette Valley (Oregon), Central Otago (New Zealand), Sonoma Coast / Santa Barbara (California) - What is Chile’s signature grape, and what’s its unusual story?
Answer
Carmenère — it was thought extinct in Bordeaux, then rediscovered in Chile in 1994 where it had been mislabeled as Merlot for decades - What’s the difference between Blanc de Blancs and Blanc de Noirs Champagne?
Answer
Blanc de Blancs = 100% Chardonnay. Blanc de Noirs = 100% red grapes (Pinot Noir and/or Pinot Meunier), but the wine is still white. - What climate produces wines with higher acidity and lower alcohol?
Answer
Cool climate - What country has more land under vine than any other?
Answer
Spain - Why is Argentine Malbec grown at such high altitude?
Answer
The Andes create a rain shadow (dry conditions), and the altitude provides UV intensity for thick skins plus cool nights to preserve acidity. Snowmelt provides irrigation. - What does “terroir” mean?
Answer
The complete environmental picture of where wine is grown — climate, soil, topography, microclimate, and (sometimes) human tradition.
Great job completing Week 1! You now know more about wine geography than most people who “love wine.” Next week: bubbles and fortified wines.
Last updated: March 2026