Beaujolais

Question 1

What grape is associated with Beaujolais?

Answer 1

Gamay

Question 2

What winemaking technique is associated with Beaujolais?

Answer 2

Carbonic maceration

Question 3

What percentage of total Bourgogne production does Beaujolais account for?

Answer 3

Approximately half

Question 4

What percentage of Beaujolais production is Beaujolais Nouveau?

Answer 4

Approximately 38%

Question 5

When is Beaujolais Nouveau released?

Answer 5

The third Thursday after vintage and cannot be sold after the following 31 August.

Question 6

When can Beaujolais Primeur be sold?

Answer 6

Not until after 31st January following vintage. Usually to trade not consumers.

Question 7

What cannot be sold as Nouveau or Primeur?

Answer 7

Beaujolais Crus

Question 8

How many villages are under the appellation Beaujolais Villages AC?

Answer 8

38

Question 9

6 key facts re Beaujolais Nouveau

Answer 9

1. Beaujolais Nouveau is 38% of the total crop of Beaujolais
2. Made for early drinking
3. Released to Consumers on third Thursday after vintage and cannot be sold after the following 31st August
4. Beaujolais Primeur May be the same wine but not sold to the trade after 31st January following vintage
5. Beaujolais crus cannot be sold as Nouveau or Primeur
6. Made using Gamay

Question 10

How many villages producing wines of distinction do not need to state Beaujolais on the label?

Answer 10

10 villages (the same as the number of letters in Beaujolais)

Question 11

Name the 10 Beaujolais Crus that do not need to state Beaujolais in the label?

Answer 11

From North to South

1. Saint-Amour AC
2. Juliénas AC
3. Chénas AC
4. Moulin á Vent AC
5. Chiroubles AC
6. Fleurie AC
7. Morgon AC
8. Régnie AC
9. Côte de Brouilly AC
10. Brouilly AC

Question 12

What soil suits Gamay best?

Answer 12

Granite based soils

Beaujolais wines from the rolling hills of granite schist in northern and western Beaujolais have greater complexity and depth than those produced on alluvial soils to the east and limestone soils to the south.

Question 13

What are two Beaujolais Crus producing full bodied Beaujolais that will improve in bottle?

Answer 13

Moulin á Vent AC

Morgon AC

Question 14

Where is Beaujolais?

Answer 14

In the Borgogne

Between the Mâconnais and the city of Lyon

Question 15

What is the climate in Beaujolais?

Answer 15

Continental

Distinctly warmer and drier than Northern Bourgogne

Question 16

What are the soils in North, East, South and West of Beaujolais?

Answer 16

North - Granite hills
East - Alluvial plains
South - limestone
West - Granite hills

Beaujolais wines from the rolling hills of granite schist in northern and western Beaujolais have greater complexity

Question 17

How is Gamay trained?

Answer 17

Gamay in Beaujolais is mostly trained on freestanding goblet

Some vineyards in the East and South are trellised along wires

Question 18

How is Gamay harvested?

Answer 18

Mainly hand harvested to preserve whole bunches for semi-carbonic maceration.

Machine harvested is now permitted in some areas but not Cru vineyard sites.

Question 19

3 Semi-Carbonic maceration facts

Answer 19

1. Semi-Carbonic maceration is common in Beaujolais (the amount of subsequent skin contact with vary according to style).
2. Mainly hand harvested to preserve whole bunches for semi-carbonic maceration.
3. Semi carbonic maceration extracts colour and flavour (kirsch, raspberries, bananas, bubblegum and cinnamon) with limited tannin