Bordeaux

Question 1

French Wine Law History

Answer 1

Created to combat fraud
• Late 1800’s
• Powdery mildew
• Phylloxera
• Demand outstrips supply
• Fraudulent use of place names
• Government intervenes
• Boundaries officially drawn

Question 2

EU Wine Laws

Answer 2

EU Wine Law
• New EU laws established in 2009
• EU now in line with WTO(world trade organization)
• Countries can still use old terminology but may also use new terminology
• May also see both
• Can use EU logos on labels
• Can now state grape variety used
• Assumes minimum 85% content(must be to add to label)

Question 3

EU Wine Law pt2

Answer 3

Three broad categories:
A. Those with geographical indication
Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)
II. Protected Geographical Indication
(PGI)

B. Those without geographical indication
III. Generic table wines without
geographical indication labeled simply as wine (e.g. Vin de France)

Question 4

French Wines With G.I.( geographical indication)

Answer 4

Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)
Formerly known as QWPSR (Quality Wine Produced in a Specific Region)
•Can also label as Appellation d’Origine Protégée (AOP) - Previously Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) in France
•Both terms acceptable
•100% Vitis Vinifera from the named region
•Demonstrates the quality and characteristics exclusive to the named region

Question 5

French Wine Law-Levels

Answer 5

Appellation d’Origine Protégée (or
Contrôlée)

Top level of French wines
• • Governed by INAO(National Institute of origin and quality)
• Strict regulations
• Delimited areas
• Grape varieties
• Methods of production

Question 6

French Wines With G.I.

Answer 6

Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)
•Indication Géographique Protégée (IGP) in France - Previously known as Vin de Pays in France
•Both terms acceptable
•85% from the named region
•Demonstrates the quality and characteristics exclusive to the named region
•VDQS disbanded in 2011

Question 7

Bordeaux-History

Answer 7

Relationship with England
• Important market for hundreds of years
• Claret
• Marriage of Henry Il to Eleanor of Aquitaine

Dutch
• Important for trade
• Drained the Médoc

Question 8

Bordeaux Appellations and Classifications

Answer 8

Appellation Law
• Fewer tiers than Burgundy
• No single-vineyard AOC/AOP’s
Classification systems
• In addition to AOC/AOP
Different from AOC/AOP
Based on property lines not geography
• Referred to more frequently than AOC