Beaujolais

Question 1

Where is Beaujolais located?

Answer 1

Beaujolais is located just south of Maconnais.

Question 2

What Grape varietal is Beaujolais known for?

Answer 2

Gamay

Question 3

What soils in Beaujolais produce the best wines?

Answer 3

Granite and Schist

Question 4

What grape varietals are permitted in Beaujolais

Answer 4

(R) Gamay
(R) Pinot Noir
(W) Chardonnay

Question 5

What is Beaujolais Blanc AOC?

Answer 5

Dry white wines made from Chardonnay (small amount of Aligote is permitted)

Question 6

What method of wine making is a massive amount of Beaujolais wine made with?

Answer 6

Maceration carbonique method of fermentation.

Question 7

How many Crus of Beaujolais are there?

Answer 7

10 Crus

Question 8

What is Beaujolais Nouveau AOC?

Answer 8

Beaujolais Nouveau AOC is wine that is quickly produced over the course of 7-9 weeks after the grapes are picked and is used to celebrate to French wine harvest each year.
This wine is always released on the third Thursday of November.
These wines are made through carbonic maceration, with extracts very little tannin and produces a soft red wine that is intended for easy consumption straight away. This wine is not made to age.

Question 9

What is Carbonic maceration

Answer 9

Whole bunches of uncrushed grapes are put into vats filled with carbon dioxide and fermentation ensures when the grapes at the bottom of the vat are crushed by the grapes above them.
As more carbon dioxide is produced by this fermentation, it envelopes all of the grapes in the vat and the fermentation continues inside the whole grapes at the top of the vat.
Eventually the grapes burst releasing more juice, until the fermentation is complete and the wine is pressed.

This type of fermentation extracts ver little tannin from the grape skins and produces soft red wines.

Question 10

What are the three Crus of Beaujolais that produce the most fruit driven wines?

Answer 10

Brouilly
Régnié
Chiroubles

Question 11

What are the three Crus of Beaujolais that produce fruit driven wines with more structure and elegance?

Answer 11

Fleurie
Saint-Amour
Chénas

Question 12

What are the four Crus of Beaujolais that produce the most structured wines?

Answer 12

Morgon
Juliénas
Cote de Brouilly
Moulin-a-Vent

Question 13

What were three exceptional vintages in Beaujolais recently?

Answer 13

2018
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2009