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.
