Chablis

Question 1

Where is the Chablis District?

Answer 1

The chablis district is located 81 miles north west of Dijon around the town of Chablis on the river Serein
in the French district of Yonne.

Question 2

What is the major river that runs though Chablis called?

Answer 2

River Serein

Question 3

What is the climate in Chablis?

Answer 3

Cool continental (colder then the rest of burgundy)

Question 4

What are the soil types of Chablis?

Answer 4

Kimmeridgian clay - The soil is composed of ancient oyster fossils left from the Jurassic period.
This is argued to be the single most important factor to the mineral chalky quality that chablis wines have.

Portland Clay - although still jurassic it is not as old and is deemed inferior to kimmeridgian clay.
This soil is where petit chablis is generally found.

Question 5

What wines is chablis known for?

Answer 5

Dry white wines from 100% Chardonnay

Question 6

Which region is chablis classes as a sub region of?

Answer 6

Burgundy

Question 7

Is oak permitted in Chablis?

Answer 7

Yes however traditionally chablis is unoaked, but some producers now use a little for their grand crus.

Question 8

Name a large co-operative in chablis

Answer 8

Chablisienne

Produces grand crus - petit chablis

Question 9

How many Grand Crus are there for Chablis?

Answer 9

There is one Grand cru slope in Chablis, this vineyard is broken down into 7 climats / parcels.

Question 10

Name the 7 Grand cru Climats?

Answer 10

Blanchots
Bougros
Grenouilles
Les Clos
Preuses
Valmur
Vaudesir

Question 11

How many Vineyards may use the term Premier Cru?

Answer 11

Total there are 40 vineyards.

17 major names and 23 Lieux-Dits

Question 12

What is the Chablis AOC?

Answer 12

This is good quality wine made from a large number of classified vineyards

Question 13

What is Petit Chablis AOC?

Answer 13

This is the lowest quality of the Chablis AOC, it is for wine produced on the out lying areas of the chablis region, their soils and environments are not conditioned to producing chablis of the quality of the other appellations.

Question 14

What is Bourgogne Tonnerre AOC?

Answer 14

This appellation is a lesser known region of the Yonne district.
It is for dry white wines from six villages of the Tonnerrois-tonnerre, Molosmes, Epineuil, Junay, Dannemoine & Vezinnes

Question 15

What is Bourgogne Epineuil AOC

Answer 15

This appellation is a lesser known region of the Yonne district.
From the village of Epineuil for red, white and rose wines produced from chardonnay and Pinot noir

Question 16

What is St-Bris AOC?

Answer 16

This appellation is a lesser known region of the Yonne district it comes from a small cluster of villages southeast of chablis, about 8 miles from the town of Chablis.
It is made from Sauvignon Blanc

Question 17

What is Irancy AOC?

Answer 17

This appellation is a lesser known region of the Yonne district.
This is an AOC for red wine made in a small area within the st-Bris district.
It is made from Pinot noir, Pinot gris & Cesar grapes and sold under the Bourgogne-Irancy AOC.

Question 18

What climatic problems is Chablis at risk of?

Answer 18

Rain fall
Spring frost
Hail

Question 19

How to reduce the risk of rainfall damaging the crop in chablis?

Answer 19

Rainfall is a problem as it can lead to mildew and rot.

Canopy management is very important to increase air circulation which decreases the risk of mildew and rot taking hold of the grapes.

Spraying also takes place in the vine yard;

1. Sulphur dusting
2. copper sulphate and lime spray (Bordeaux spray)

Question 20

How to reduce the risk of spring frost damaging the crop in chablis?

Answer 20

1. Sprinklers - The process of using water sprinklers to protect budding vines from late-spring frosts. The sprinklers are turned on just as temperatures dip below freezing, forming a protective barrier of ice that shields young vine buds from colder temperatures.
   The process of this freezing is called aspersion and produced lenient heat which keeps the buds warm.
2. Heaters
   a) Smudge pots - oil fires
   b) wooden fires
3. Wind turbines
   These create good air circulation stopping the frost settling (expensive)

Question 21

How to reduce the risk of hail damaging the crop in chablis?

Answer 21

Negociants will choose vineyards over a large area to reduce the risk of all the vines being damaged.

1. Netting
2. Canon (silver oxide) to stop hail from forming and it will fall as rain.

Question 22

What department is responsible for the Chablis and lesser known regions.

Answer 22

The Yonne

Question 23

What is the minimum alcohol for for each classification of Chablis?

Answer 23

Grand Cru - 11% abv
Premier Cru - 10.5%
Chablis - 10%
Petit Chablis 9.5%

Question 24

Tell me about La Moutonne climate in the chablis district?

Answer 24

This Climate is situated on the grand cru slope in-between overlapping the grand crus of Vaudesir and Les Preuses. Although it is not officially recognised as a Grand cru by Frances appellation body (INAO) it is permitted to state grand cru on its labels.