Beaujolais Flashcards
What 2 Départements divide the Beaujoloais wine region?
Beaujolais is divided between the :
- Saône et Loire and
- The Rhône
- The Rhone departement itself is part of the Rhône-Alps region.
- These two regions are different administrative regions.
What are the loopholes that let Bourgogne and Beaujolais operate together?
At the moment there are loopholes :
- Coteaux Bourguignons (formerly Bourgogne Grand Ordinaire)
- Bourgogne Blanc, Rouge, and Rosé (42 for Chardonnay)
- Bourgogne Pinot Noir,
- Bourgogne Aligoté (6 communes)
- Bourgogne Gamay (19 communes including 10 crus)
These can all incorporate fruit from anywhere within the historic Greater Bourgogne including certain communes within Beaujolais.
** These end in 2035
Where is Beaujolais located within the French wine growing map?
Beaujolais is a small region of jsut 38,062 acres.
- 34 miles from North to South
- 7-9 mile from East to West
- Mâcon to the North
- Lyon to the South
- Monts du Beaujolais to the West
- Saône River to the East.
Where is the Saône River sourced from and what role does it play in the wines of Beaujolais?
The Saône River is sourced in the Vosges mountain range in Lorraine and runs south for 300 miles into Lyon.
- Beaujolais vineyards are within a few miles of the Saône but do not directly flank it.
What river divides Beaujolais?
The Nizerand divides the Beaujolais region. It is near Villefranche-sur-Saône and marks soil difference.
- North the soils are granitic and schist.
- South the soils are limestone and marl
What is the climate of the Beaujolais and how do the seasons effect the wine and vines?
Beaujolais experiences a semi-continental climate, in essence all 4 seasons.
- Summer - brings Mediterranean warmth which allows for greater ripening
- Springs - cool and wet with Frost hazards but the Monts du Beaujolais protect vineyards from cold winds and allow safe budding and flowering.
- Warm Autumns - common with some rain. Gamay susceptible to grey rot. Canopy management is therefore important.
- Winters - are cold with light snow, frost, hail. Vines achieve full dormancy.
What are the geology and soil of the Northern Beaujolais?
The Northern Beaujolais is mostly granite created 300 million years ago and pushed to the surface 33 million years ago with the Massif Central.
- Metamorphosed lava and ash created a foliated rock called Schist.
- There are some sandy soils composed of weathered Feldspars, Micas, Quartz, and other minderals collectively known as arène or gorrhe
- Northern soils are igneous and metamorphic.
- Gamay gives more structure, complex wines.
What are the Geology and soils of the Souther Beaujolais
The Souther Beaujolais is comprised of clayey limestone which was formed at the same time and same fashion as the soils of the Mâconnais.
- Old soils but not as old as the granite and Schist of Northern Beaujolais.
- Broken yellow limestone known as Pierres Dorées are found amidst alluvial deposits that formed on the Saône plain during the close of the last Ice Age.
- Southern soils are sedimentary in nature.
- Gamay on limestone and clay delivers lighter, fruitier, easy-drinking wines.
Where are the best vineyards situated in the Beaujolais?
The best vineyards are situated on the steep granite outcroppings of the Monts du Beaujolais in the north-western part of the region.
- This is where the crus are located.
- SW aspect maximizes light exposure and hastens ripening.
- Crus are usually harvested before the vineyards in Southern Beaujolais.
What are 3 other sloped areas after the Monts du Beaujolais?
The three types of slopes are :
- Gentle Slopes - South and East form the granite peaks are gentler slops of the Beaujolais and Beaujolais Villages producing areas
- Rolling Plains - Further south from these gentler slopes. Bulk of general Beaujolais AOC is located. Vineyards stop before the Saône valley which is to fertile.
- Alpine Backdrop - east of Saône are Pre-alps and Alpine mountain ranges. Can have snow before end of harvest.
What are the primary red and white grapes of Beaujolais?
The primary grapes are the following :
-
Red - 98% of plantings in Beaujolais are Gamay.
- Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc &
- Pinot Noir
-
White - (38,062 Acres in Beaujolais and only 571 acres are devoted to white grapes)
- Chardonnay,
- Aligoté
- Melon de Bourgogne
- Pinot Gris
Do field blends exist in Beaujolais? If yes, then how?
Yes, field blends are optional.
- In red Beaujolais, Beaujolais Supérieur, and Beaujolais Villages winemakers can supplement Gamay with : (i) Pinot Noir, (ii) Pinot Gris, (iii) Chardonnay, (iv) Aligoté, and (v) Melon but only if these grapes are co-panted and enter the vats as a field blend.
- Secondary grapes can represent no more than 15% of the total blend
- All Crus are 100% Gamay
What vine training is practiced in Beaujolais?
Gobelet training was mandatory in the red Beaujolais Villages category and the Beaujolais Cru AOCs. BUT
- Cordon (simple or double) and Eventail training methods are now authorized.
What is Gobelet training method?
Gobelet training method is one that :
- Keeps vines low to the ground.
- No stake or trellis is used.
- Vine is pruned to 5-6 short spurs that form a bowl.
- Gobelet helps to limit yield
- Concentrates flavor compounds in the clusters.
- Delivers high-quality grapes that deliver full-flavored wines with ageing potential.
What is the Cordon and Eventail training method?
The Cordon and Eventail training methods are efficient at spacing out the shoots and canes within the canopy while providing yield control through pruning.
-
Guyot method is only permitted for :
- Red and white Beaujolais and
- White Beaujolais Villages.
What is the Guyot training method?
The Guyot training method involves one 6-10 bud cane with renewable two-bud spur.
- Lifts the vine higher off of the ground.
- Facilitates hand harvesting.
- Excellent for providing max. sun exposure within the grape canpy.
- Generates higher yields than the gobelet pruning method.
What is Semi-carbonic fermentation and maceration?
Semi-carbonic maceration is how Gamay is normally fermented in the Beaujolais.
- Once the enzymatic fermentation is complete and the free-run is racked off, the grapes are pressed.
- This occurs a few days after being tanked:
- 2-3 for Nouveau
- 4-6 for Beaujolais
- 5-9 for Beaujolais Villates
- 8-15 for Beaujolais Crus.
- Wines are then racked off their lees and aged in oak, concrete, or stainless.
When is Beaujolais Nouveau released.
Beaujolais Nouveau is released the same year of harvesting on the third Thursday of November.
What is a growing trend for fermentation in Beaujolais?
More Beaujolais is being fermented using Burgundian red winemaking tradition.
- Grapes destemmed and crushed prior to tanking
- Yeast-driven Alcoholic fermentation with Cuvaison.
- Gives greater tannin and color.
- Often used for the Cru AOCs.
What are the 3 different wine styles for black grapes in Beaujolais?
The 3 styles are :
- Dry reds - from all areas within the Beaujolais under various classifications
- Dry Rosé - made from Gamay. Rare but is on the rise. Even Beaujo Nouveau Rosé.
- Sparkling Sweet Rosé - Evolved in last few years. Usually Méthode Ancestrale. Not AOC sanctioned.
What are the 2 white wine styles made in Beaujolais?
The 2 white wine styles made in the Beaujolais are :
- Dry Whites - Beaujolais Blanc or Beaujolais-Villages Blanc. Usually some ageing in concrete stainless, with malo-lactic.
- Sparkling Wines - small amounts of Charonnay, Gamay, and Pinot noire are used for Crémant de Bourgogne.
How many villages can product Beaujolais and how many AOCs are made within those villages
96 villages can produce Beaujolais. There are a total of 11 AOCs among them.
- Beaujolais AOC includes
- Beaujolais (can be Nouveau)
- Beaujolais Supérieur
- Beaujolais-Villages (can be Nouveau)
- Beaujolais + “named commune”
- Nouveau is not a separate AOC
How many acres comprise the Beaujolais AOC and how many districts are in the Beaujolais AOC?
There are 12,889 Acres of vineyard exclusively dedicated to regional Beaujolais production. It is split into 2 distinct zones:
- Southern Beaujolais - entire area south of the Nizerand River.
- Northern Beaujolais - band of contiguous vineyards from Villefranche-sur-Saône in North to village of St. Amour
What percent of Beaujolais AOC is red?
99%
By law red and rosé Beaujolais can include what?
Red and Rosé Beaujolais can include up to 15% 0f
- Pinot Noir,
- Chardonnay,
- Aligoté
- Pinot Gris and
- Melon
Only when these grapes exist as a field blend.
What are the max yields, vine density, and min alcohol levels for Red Beaujolais AOC and Beaujolais-Supérieur AOC?
For Beaujolais AOC the following are required :
- Maximum Yield is 3.8 tons/acre
- Vine Density is 2,400 vines per acre
- Guyot is allowed
- Minimum Alcohol level is 12.5%
** Red and Rosé can be supérieur is alcohol is (+0.5%) and more concentrated due to lower yields (3.7 tons/acre)
For White Beaujolais AOC what are the max yields, min alcohol, and vine density?
For white Beaujolais AOC crafted form Chardonnay the following are true :
- Maximum yield is 3.6 tons/acre.
- Vine Density is 2,800 vine per acre
- Guyot is allowed.
- Minimum alcohol level is 13%.
** No Beaujolais-Supérieur for white wine.
How many villages can make Beaujolais-Villages
Only 38. This was started in 1950.
How many acres are there of Beaujolais-Villages?
There are only 10,220 acres of Beaujolais-Villages AOC.
- only 151 acres of Chardonnay.
What are the Maximum yield, Vine Density, and Minimum Alcohol for Beaujolais-Villages AOC?
For Beaujolais-Villages AOC the following are true:
- Maximum yield is 3.6 tons/acre
- Vine Density is 2,400 vines/acre
- Guyot is NOT allowed.
- Must use Gobelet, Eventail, Cordon Simple/Double
- Minimum Alcohol level 13%
Beaujolais-Villages is more densely pigmented than standard. Slightly more tannic and possesses a solid core of minerality.
What are the maximum yields, vine density, and minimum alcohol for white Beaujolais-Villages AOC?
White Beaujolais-Villages AOC is 100% Chardonnay and the following are true :
- Maximum yield is 3.5 tons/acre
- Vine Density is 2,800 vines/acre
- Guyot is allowed.
- Minimum alcohol of 13.5%
Slightly more concentrated in flavor than regional Beaujolais; deeper, richer more supple on the palate, mirrors white Mâcon in style.
How many bottles are made of Beaujolais Nouveau?
50 million bottles are made of Beaujolais Nouveau.
- This represents 1/3 of Beaujolais’ total production.
- 2/3 made by Beaujolais AOC
- 1/3 made by Beaujolais Villages AOC
- Hand harvesting and semi-carbonic maceration are required.
What are the common requirements for the 10 Crus of Beaujolais?
Cru Beaujolais must be:
- 100% Gamay
- Short-pruned and trained in the Gobelet, Eventail, Cordon Simple or Cordon Double
- Minimum of 2,400 vines/acre
- Maximum yields of 3.37 (??Double check??) tons/acre
- Harvested by hand.
- Minimum alcohol 10%.
- Named climats minimum alcohol 10.5%
- “Cru du Beaujolais” may be written on the label.
What are the 10 Crus of Beaujolais?
From North to South they are :
- St. Amour
- Juliénas
- Chénas
- Moulin-à-Vent
- Fleurie
- Chiroubles
- Morgon
- Régnié
- Côte de Brouilly
- Brouilly
What are the IGPs for Beaujolais?
Vin de Pays des Gaules was created in 2006 and covers most of the Beaujolais AOC.
- Maximum Yields are 5.1 tons/acre for reds 5.4 tons/acre for whites
- Now called IGP des Gaules.
- If coming from Rhone department may include Gamay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Syrah,
How does Semi-Carbonic Maceration start?
Carbonic maceration starts by putting whole closters into a tank immediately after hand harvesting, without an ypressing, crushing, or destemming.
- Weight of the grapes causes clusters at the bottom to burst.
- Wild yeasts start fermenting.
- CO2 is released
After CO2 is released how does carbonic maceration proceed?
Once CO2 is released, the environment becomes anaerobic. This anaerobic environment encourages :
- a unique enzymatic/biochemical fermentation inside each of the intact grapes in the take.
- Small portion of malic acid is coverted into ethanol. (approvixmately 2% by volume)
- Aromas of Bananas, candy pears, raspberry, cranberry are created.
Once intracellular fermentation is completed, what happens next in carbonic maceration?
Free-run juice is then racked off and the grapes are pressed.
- Free-run has undergone traditional yeast fermentation.
- Press wine has been enzymatic intra-berry.
- Free -run and press are then blended.
- Traditional fermentation is then started.
