France Flashcards
when did the indentifications of vineyards in Burgundy begin, and by whom
- 11th century
- cistercian monks
what was the catalyst that transferred vineyard ownership from the Benedictine monks (and aristocracy) to new owners
The French Revolution
what did the emperor Napoléon change to the inheritance system?
What is this system known as?
Known as Napoleonic Code, or the Code of Inheritance, Napoléon mandated that estates be divided equally among male heirs rather than all land being inherited by the first-born son
what does Napoleonic Code mean to wine professionals today
It fragments land ownership in Burgundy, making it a challenge to keep up with who own which vines within which vineyard, who sold their land to which family member to consolidate ownership, etc., which can lead to price, quality, and style differences even within the same vineyard.
what are the 5 areas of Burgundy from north to south
- chablis
- côte d’or, which is split into the:
- Côte de Nuits
- Côte de Beaune - Côte Chalonnaise
- Mâconnais
- Beaujolais
What is the climate of burgundy
continental
note: it’s cooler in the Chablis than in the beaujolais, but overall the climate is continental
the topography of burgundy is:
rolling hills
what is the aspect of Burgundy’s most prized vineyards
east/ southeast
what are the 4 soil types found in burgundy
- chalk
- limestone
- calcareous clay
- marl
what is the main soil type in beaujolais
granite
what are the 2 white grapes allowed in burgundy
- chardonnay (the majority)
2. aligoté
what are the 2 red grapes allowed in burgundy?
- pinot noir (the majority)
2. gamay (mostly in beaujolais)
go though the 4 levels of Burgundy’s AOP Pyramid from largest to smalles (in both terms of size and production)
- regional appellations
- village wines
- premier crus (first growths)
- grand crus (great growths)
how do you define “domaine” on a label of French wine.
- grower / producer that owns their own vineyard and makes wine from those vineyards;
- process of growing the grapes to making/bottling the wine is all done on their estate and by them;
- if they do sell off any grapes from their vineyards, it’s grapes they wouldn’t have used in their bottling (meaning, they keep the best for themselves and sell off the rest).
what is a négociant
a négociants will buy grapes, juice, or finished wine from growers and/or co-ops so they can bottle it under their own label.
négociants can be big or small, and they usually make a range of quality levels
what is a clos? give an example
a vineyard or part of a vineyard that is enclosed by stone walls.
Clos Vougeot in Burgundy, a Grand Cru
what is a monopole
a vineyard or part of a vineyard that has one single owner
what is a village wine
a wine in which all the grapes come from one village.
examples: volley, gevrey-chambertin, meursault
what is a single vineyard premier cru
where 100% of the grapes of the wine come from a specific, single vineyard
what is a single vineyard grand cru
where 100% of the grapes come from one grand cru vineyard.
note: grand crus won’t have the village name on the label, just the Grand Cru
is chablis north or south of the Côte d’Or?
North, but about 80 miles (128 km)
Fun fact: chablis is actually geographically closer to champagne than it is to the rest of burgundy
what is the climate of chablis
cool continental
what are some risks winemakers face in chablis
- spring frosts
- grapes not fully ripening due to cooler climate
what are the soils of chablis
kimmeridgian clay/limestone
the clay part of the soil provides good structure and water retention while the limestone part offers good aeration and drainage due to all the fossil fragments
what is the sole grape allowed in chablis
chardonnay
is chablis often associated with lots of new oak
no, not really.
most village level chablis is not naked or sees neutral oak.
some 1er crus and most Grand Crus are somewhat oaked
is malolactic fermentation common in chablis
yes
If Malo were not used, chablis would be sharp, austere, and really difficult to enjoy
what is the name of the river that runs through the village of chablis
serein river
what are the 4 AOPs of Chablis?
- chablis AOP
- Petit Chablis AOP
- Chablis 1er Cru AOP
- Chablis Grand Cru AOP
how many 1er Crus are there in chablis
40
how many grand crus are there in chablis
1 - but it has 7 climats.
technically, chablis has one grand cru which has seven named plots (also known as climats)
in what direction to the grand crus of chablis face
south/southwest
facing southwest maximises sun exposure – remember, grapes struggle to ripen here so the vineyards are planted to capture as much sun as possible
what are the 7 grand crus of chablis
- bougros
- les preuses
- grenouilles
- Vaudésir
- valmur
- les clos
- blanchot
how long is the Côte d’Or, and in what direction does it run (east-west, north-south)
~ 30 miles north to south (~ 48 km)
what are the 2 villages that delimit the Côte d’Or?
Dijon in the north
Santenay in the south
what are the 2 sections of Côte d’Or is divided into?
- cote de nuits (Northern section)
2. cote de Beaune (southern section)
what is Côte d’Or translate to in English
golden slope (or hill)
where in burgundy are the majority of the top vineyards (1er Crus and Grand Crus) located
the middle section of the hillsides
what is the climate of the cote de nuits
continental
what is the sole grape allowed in the cote de nuits
pinot noir
what are the soils of cote de nuits
- marl
2. limestone
what are the threats of cote de nuits
- summertime hail
- too much rain in autumn
- frost
is the cote de nuits often associated with new oak or stainless steel
almost always new oak.
most often you’ll see up to or about 30% new oak on all wines from the cote de nuits, from village to 1er Cru to grand cru.
what are the 6 most important villages of the cote de nuits from north to south
- gevrey-chambertin
- more-saint-denis
- Chambolle-musigny
- vougeot
- vosne-romanee
- nuits-saint-georges
what are some common fermentation techniques found in the cote de nuits
- whole cluster fermentation
- completely destemming prior to fermentation
each technique gives different effects, and some winemakers will use a little bit of both for balance.
what is the appellation hierarchy in the cote de nuits, from largest to smalles (both in terms of size and production)?
- bourgogne AOP
- Bourgogne Cote d’or AOP
- cote de nuits-villages AOP
- village AOP (e.g. Gevrey-Chambertin AOP)
- Premier Cru AOP
- Grand Cru AOP
from 2005-2016, what were some of the top vintages from the cote de nuits?
- 2005
- 2009
- 2010
- 2014
- 2015
- 2016
cote de nuits villages AOP can only be what color wine?
red (made from Pinot Noir)
wat is the difference between a single vineyard 1er cru and a village 1er cru
- A single vineyard 1er cru wine is made from grapes that come from one specific, 1er Cru vineyard, e.g. Beaune Grèves 1er Cru (all grapes come from the Grèves vineyard in the village of Beaune)
- A Village 1er Cru wine is made from grapes that come from 2 or more 1er Cru vineyards within a particular village, e.g. Beaune 1er Cru (all the grapes come from various 1er Cru vineyards within the village of Beaune)
how many 1er Cru vineyards exist in the cote de nuits
> 130
how many grand crus are there in burgundy
33
32 are in the Côte d'Or - 24 in the cote de nuits - 8 are in the cote de beaune 1 is in chablis - technically there is one grand cru appellation in chablis (chablis grand cru AOP) which is split into seven geographic designations
how many grand crus are in the cote de nuits
24
chambertin, bonnes-mares, musigny, La Tâche, la romanée are all grand cru vineyards in the …
cote de nuits
what is the climate of the cote de beaune
contintental
although microclimates around from village to village and vineyard to vineyard
what are the soils of the cote de beaune
- marl
- limestone
what are the 2 grapes allowed in the cote de beaune
- chardonnay
2. pinot noir
in the cote de beaune often associated with new oak or natural oak
much like cote de nuts, almost always new oak.
most often you’ll see a little or up to 30% new oak on all wines from the cote de bean, from village to 1er Cru to Grand cru
name the top 6 villages of the cote de beaune from north to south
- beaune
- pommard
- volnay
- meursault
- puligny-montrachet
- chassagne-montrachet
which 3 of the top 6 villages in the cote de beaune make white wine only
- meursault
- puligny-montrachet
- champagne-montrachet
what is the appellation hierarchy in the cote de beaune, from largest to smallest (both in terms of size and production)?
- bourgogne aop
- village aop
- premier cru aop
- grand cru aop
what grapes can bourgogne aop be?
where can they come from?
- chardonnay
- pinot noir
they can come from anywhere within the bourgogne region
how many grand crus are in the cote de beaune
8
corton, corton-charlemagne, Montrachet, bâtard-montrachet are all grand cru vineyards in the….
cote de beaune
Côte Chalonnaise is located north or south of the Côte d’Or
south
what is the climate of cote chalonnaise
continental
what is the soil of cote chalonnaise
limestone
what are the permissible grapes of cote chalonnaise
- chardonnay
- aligote
- pinot noir
the wines of cote challonaise are known for having … oak
little to no oak, for both whites and reds
how many grand crus are in the cote chalonnaise
zero
how many 1er crus are in the cote chalonnaise
several
what are the 5 main villages of Côte Chalonnaise north to south
- rully
- bouzeron
- mercurey
- givry
- montagny
what are the 2 village tops of Côte Chalonnaise that make white wine only?
What are the grapes?
- bouzeron AOP
- 100% aligote - Montagny AOP
- 100% chardonnay
which village top in Côte Chalonnaise makes sparkling wines
rully aop
what 3 village aops in Côte Chalonnaise make both white and red wines
- rully aop
- givry aop
- mercurey aop
generally speaking, wines from the Côte Chalonnaise are …. expensive that wines from the Côte d’Or
less expensive
- the wines have less oak and the land isn’t as prestigious
what is the climate of maconnais
continental
- warmer + drier than Côte d’Or and cote chalonnaise
stylistically, how do maconnais wines differ from wines from the cote d’or
Mâconnais wines tend to be:
- broader + less acidic than wines from the Côte d’Or
- less oaky than wines from the Côte d’Or
like chalonnaise, the land in maconnais isn’t as prestigious as the Côte d’Or. maconnais is mostly flat with fewer hills and, where there are hills, they are low lying
what grapes are allowed to be planted in maconnais
- chardonnay
- pinot noir
- gamay
Maconnais makes mostly what color wine?
white, made from chardonnay
which top of the maconnais uses the most oak
pouilly-fuissé
how many grand crus exist in maconnais
zero
- one village-level and 1er Crust exist in the maconnais
which of the following wines is likely to be the most expensive from maconnais:
- macon AOP
- saint-Veran AOP
- Pouilly-Fuisse AOP
Pouilly-Fuissé AOP
- most winemakers will use new oak on their pouilly-Fuissés
of the following AOPs, which 2 are white wine only
- macon aop
- saint-veran aop
- pouilly-fuissé aop
- saint-veran AOP
- pouilly-fuisse AOP
both made from chardonnay
beaujolais: where is it + how long is it
beaujolais is the southernmost section of burgundy.
it is 35 miles long (56) from north to south
the northernmost part of beaujolais overlaps the souther tip of what other section of burgundy?
maconnais
what is the climate of beaujolais
semi-continental
- warmest section of burgundy
what are the soils of beaujolais
- schist + granite in north
- sandstone + clay in south
what are the grapes permitted in beaujolais
- gamay (predominant)
- chardonnay
what is the topography of beaujolais in the north and in the south?
north = hillier; vineyards on granite hillsides south = flat plains on sandstone soils
what vinification technique is classic int he Beaujolais region
maceration semi carbonique
what are the classic vessels used in beaujolais production
- stainless steel
- concrete
- used/ neutral French barrels
what is the AOP hierarchy of beaujolais?
- beaujolais AOP
- Beaujolais Nouveau (not an AOP)
- Beaujolais-Villages AOP
- Beaujolais Crus (each one is their own AOP)
what colour are Beaujolais Nouveau wines and when are they released
red (made from gamy)
3rd Thursday of November following harvest
beaujolais nouveau is known to be …
a. age worhty
b. best in its youth
best in its youth
Beaujolais nouveau should be drunk by march or so the year following harvest
how many villages are within the beaujolais-villages AOP
38
are any of the 38 villages in the beaujolais-villages AOP allowed to append their name to the AOP?
no
all wines from beaujolais-villages top can only be labelled as Beaujolais-Village AOP
where do the best wines of beaujolais come from
the crus of beaujolais
how many crus are in the beaujolais
10
what is the wine colour of the beaujolais crus
red (all gamay)
what are the soils of the crus of Beaujolais
granite
what are the crus of beaujolais from north to south
- Saint-Amour AOP
- Juliénas AOP
- Chénas AOP
- Moulin-à-Vent AOP
- Fleurie AOP
- Chiroubles AOP
- Morgon AOP !
- Régnie AOP
- Côte de Brouilly AOP
- Brouilly AOP
what are the 3 main white grapes of bordeaux
- sauvignon blanc
- semillon
- muscadelle
what are the 6 main red grapes of bordeaux
- merlot
- cabernet sauvignon
- cabernet franc
- merlot
- petit verdot
- carménère
what was the most important foreign market of Bordeaux wines in the Middle Ages?
england
a. 300 geraas ago, in the 17th century, what did dutch merchants do to the marshes in bordeaux, and why?
b. their actions led to what important, beneficial trait to the soils of bordeaux?
a. they built channels that drained marshes in Bordeaux – making the land more suitable for viticulture – to expand trade
b. drainage is het important soil trait – it allows roots to dig deeply for water, nutrients, and help ripen thick-skinned cabernet sauvignon on the left bank
on which ocean is bordeaux situated
Atlantic Ocean.
the ocean access made bordeaux famous faster than other regions in France, because the wines could be exported easily
in what area of France can you find the bordeaux wine region
southwest
what is the climate of bordeaux
maritime
on what parallel is bordeaux
45th
what moderates the climate in bordeaux
- the Gulf Stream
- warm waters carried up from the Caribbean keep bordeaux mild (but humid) - coastal proximity + waterways
- breezes off of both keep air circulating
what is the name of the pine forest that protects bordeaux from strong winds + storms off the Atlantic ocean
les landes
what are the 3 main waterways in bordeaux?
hint: two are rivers and one is an estuary
- gironde estuary, which is formed by:
- Garonne river
- Dordogne river
in what direction goes the Gironde estuary flow? away from the Atlantic or into the Atlantic?
into the atlantic
fun fact: banks of a river are named “left’ or ‘right’ according to the directional flow of that river.
the Garonne, dordogne + Gironde flow from southeast to northwest and so, drifting downstream, Pomerol and St. Emilion will appear on your right and the Médoc on your left.
ergo, medoc is located on the left bank and Pomerol + st Emilion are on the right bank
what are the weather threats in bordeaux
- rain at harvest
2. spring frost
where is entre deux mers in bordeaux
between the Garonne and dordogne rivers
what are the 3 main soil types in bordeaux
- gravel
- gravel, limestone, sand
- iron pan beneath sand + clay
what is the predominant soil type found on bordeaux’s left bank (e.g. medoc, graves)?
give an example of a grape that grows well here
- soil: gravel
- grape: cabernet sauvignon
what are the predominant soil types found in Saint-Émilion?
give examples of grapes that grows well here
- soil: gravel, limestone, sand
- grape: cabernet franc, merlot
what is the predominant soil type found in Pomerol?
Give an example of a grape that grows well here.
- soil: iron pan beneath sand + clay
- grape: merlot
what is bordeaux’s most planted red grape
merlot
merlot is mostly planted on which bank
right bank
cabernet sauvignon is molt planted on which bank
left bank
bordeaux wines, both red an white, are typically:
a. single varieties
b. blends
b. blends
when you see a right bank red wine, the main grape in it is almost always going to be…
merlot
when you see a left bank red wine, the main grape in it is almost always going to be….
cabernet sauvignon
name 3 bordeaux appellations that make dry white wine
- entre-deux-mers
- graves
- péssac-léognan
which grape will almost always be the dominant grape in the blend of a white bordeaux wine?
sauvignon blanc
do most red wines form bordeaux see some new oak, or are most aged in stainless steel/neutral oak?
most red bordeaux wines will see at least some new oak.
note: inexpensive supermarket wines will either see oak chips or just stainless steel. oak barrels are reserved for middle and top-tier wines
vintage variation can be a really big deal in bordeaux.
what causes the vintage variation and how do the Bordelaise manage it?
causes:
- spring frost
- rain at harvest
- crappy weather during the growing season (rain, not a lot of sun = a cool vintage)
- super hot weather during the growing season (excessive temps = a hot vintage)
mangagement:
Plant different grape varietals
- all those grape varietals bud, flower and ripen at different times so an early-budding grape like merlot could be affected by frost
Make blends
- a late-ripening grape like cabernet sauvignon could get hit with rain at harvest
what is the bordeaux AOP hierarchy from largest to smalles (both in terms of size and production)?
- bordeaux AOP
- sub-regional / district appellations (e.g. Haut-Médoc AOP)
- Commune Appellation (e.g. Margaux AOP)
bordeaux AOP wines make up … % of the bordeaux region’s total production
45%
what colours and styles of wine are allowed to be made under the Bordeaux AOP?
dry + sweet styles of both red + white wines
the highest level of quality wines in bordeaux are found in the … appellations
commune
Saint Estèphe, Pauillac, Saint Julien, and Margaux are commune appellations on which Bank of the Gironde in Bordeaux
left bank
Pomerol and Saint-Émilion are commune appellations on which bank of the Gironde in bordeaux
right bank
what seize barrel is used in bordeaux
225 l barrels called barriques
when you see the word ‘chateau’ on a bottle of bordeaux, what do you immediately know about the wine
- the estate is under single ownership
- the chateaus name isn’t the name of its vineyard(s), it’s the brand name
(Vineyards names don’t appear on the bordeaux wine labels!)
what is the predominant soil found on the left bank of bordeaux
gravel
what is the only colour and style of wine allowed to be made in the medoc
red, dry wines
what are the 2 sub-regional AOPs of the medoc?
- medoc AOP
2. haut-médoc AOP
what are the 4 commune appellations of the Medoc?
Briefly describe the style of red wine each commune is known for
- saint-Estephe AOP
- most tannic - pauillac AOP
- most powerful - saint julien AOP
- most floral + elegant - Margaux AOP
- softest due to more merlot
what are the top Left Bank Bordeaux vintages between 2005 - 2016
2005 2009 2010 2015 2016
what did the 1855 classification classify?
How were the classification determined (or, what were they based on)?
It ranked the top properties on the left bank of bordeaux into growths, first through fifth, for a world’s fair that was held in Paris in 1855. The classification was commissioned by Emperor Napoléon III, who wanted to show off France’s top wines at the fair.
The classifications were based on the prices each wine fetched at market. The people who ranked the wines were those who sold them: merchants and borkers
what are the 5 first growths of bordeaux
- chateau latour
- chateau lafite-rothschild
- chateau mouton-rothschild (elevated 1973)
- chateau margaux
- chateau haut-brion
which of the 5 first growths are found in pauillac
- chateau latour
- chateau lafite-rothschild
- chateau mouton-rothschild (elevated 1973)
which chateau was elevated to the first growth in 1973
chateau mouton-rothschild
which first growth is found in graves
chateau haut-brion
where is graves located: to the north or south of the city of bordeaux
south of the city of bordeaux
what is the soil in graves
gravel
gravel can make what types of wines?
both red and white wines
what are the grapes used in Graves, for both red and white wines?
white wines: - sauvignon blanc - semillon red wines: - cabernet sauvignon - merlot - cabernet franc
What is the sub-region of Graves AOP?
Where is it located within Graves AOP?
Péssac-Léognan AOP, located in the northernmost section of Graves AOP
what sub-regional AOP of graves is located in its southernmost section?
(known for its sweet wines)
sauternes aop
what is the only style of wine allowed in sauternes AOP?
sweet white wines whose grapes have been affected by the Botrytis fungus (it’s humid in Sauternes, which encourages the fungus to grow)
the sweet wines of sauternes top are known to be aged in:
new French barrique
what does entre-deux-mers translate to in english
between two seas
what is the soil type of entre-deux-mers
fertile silt
what is the colour and style of wine allowed in entre-deux-mers, and based on which grapes?
dry white wines based on:
- sauvignon blanc
- semillon
- muscadelle
if a red wine is made in entre-deux-mers, what AOP does it take
Bordeaux AOP
do the white wines of entre-deux-mers typically see stainless steel or lots of new French barriques?
stainless steel.
this is an inexpensive appellation meant for early consumption to the wines are fresh + youthful and made in stainless steel (although there are always exceptions – some EDMs with a light though of oak on them do exist)
what are the 2 major AOPs of right bank bordeaux
- Pomerol AOP
2. Saint-Emilion AOP
wines from Pomerol AOP and Saint-Emilion AOP are allowed to be what colour and style?
dry red wines only
what are the 2 main red grapes in St. Emilion?
- merlot
2. cabernet franc
what are the soils of St. Emilion AOP?
Largely a bed of silt, clay and gravel, but there is a limestone plateau and plots with more sand.
what are the 2 AOPs of Saint-Emilion?
- Saint-Emilion AOP
2. Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOP
what is the difference between Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOP and Saint-Emilion AOP?
Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOP must:
- be aged longer
- have an additional 0.5% abv
Which is geographically smaller: Pomerol AOP or Saint-Emilion AOP?
Pomerol AOP
In what year was the St. Emilion Classification established?
When was its most recent review (or revision)?
1955
2012
what are the 4 chateaux named as Premier Grand Crus Classe A?
- Chateau Angelus
- chateau Ausone
- Chateau Chevel-Blanc
- Chateau Pavie
How many premiers Gand crus Classe B are there?
14
how many grand crus Classe are there?
64
Where is Pomerol AOP in relation to St. Emilion AOP?
northwest
what are the soils of pomerol
- sand
- clay
- gravel
- iron pan + rich clay subsoils
does Pomerol have a classification system?
no, Pomerol does not have a classification system
name Pomerol’s arguably most famous chateau
chateau petrus
if you were able to buy it retail, the most recent vintage would cost roughly US$4,000. On a wine list it’d be much, much higher
how are the wines of bordeaux classified vs. those of Burgundy
In burgundy, the wines are classified by the place – they’re vineyard specific (village, 1er Cru, Grand Cru).
In Bordeaux, it’s the house, or chateau, that’s classified – not the vineyard or land itself.
Where does the Loire River originate, and what does it empty into?
Origin: Massif Central
Empties into: Atlantic Ocean
ICYMI: The Massif Central is an area south-central France consisting of mountains and high-elevation plateaus
True or False
The Loire Valley has the same climate, soil, and grape varietals from end to end.
False
The Loire Valley is incredibly diverse, from soil to climate to grapes to styles
What are the 4 regions of the Loire Valley from west to east?
- Pay Nantais
- Anjou-Saumur
- Touraine
- Central Vineyards
Pays Nantais is located:
On the Atlantic Coast
what is the climate of pays nantais
cool, wet maritime (because it’s on the Atlantic coast)
what are the soils of pays nantains
gravel + sand over schist + granite
what is the white grape of pays nantais
melon the bourgogne
what style of wine does melon de bourgogne make in pays nantais
still, dry white wines
what are the 2 most important muscadel appellations in pays nantais
- muscadet
2. muscadet sèvre-et-Maine AOP
what winemaking technique do winemakers use for Muscadet and Muscadet Sèvre-et-maine?
Why?
lees ageing.
In the cool, wet maritime climate melon de bourgogne grapes struggle to ripen; ageing wines sur lie adds complexity, richness, and flavor to an otherwise thin, mild wine.
anjou-saumur is located to the … of Pays Nantais?
east
remember: Pays Nantais is furthest west on the Atlantic coast
what is the climate of anjou-saumur
maritime/continental and humid.
more maritime in western part, becomes more continental in eastern part (as you move inland)
what are the white and red grapes of anjou-saumur?
white: Chenin blanc
red: cabernet franc
what are some traits to know about Chenin Blanc from anjou-saumur?
- prone to oxidation (develops nutty flavors)
- always has Med+ to high acidity
- versatile with foods due to its acidity
what are some traits to know about Cabernet Franc from anjou-saumur
- medium body
- bright, underripe red fruit
- green bell pepper notes
Name 5 AOPs of anjou-saumur
- Anjou-villages AOP (dry red wine only)
- Saumur AOP (red, white, sparkling)
- savennieres AOP (dry white wine only)
- bonnezeaux AOP (sweet white wine only)
- quarts-de-chaume AOP (sweet white wine only)
what is the one style of wine allowed to be made in Anjou-villages AOP?
still, dry, red wine only made from cab franc
what are the styles of wine allowed to be made in Saumur AOP?
- white
- red
- sparkling - and lots of it
what is the main grape that goes into Saumur AOP sparkling wines?
Chenin Blanc
what is the one style of wine allowed to be made in Savennieres AOP?
dry, still white wines only made from Chenin blanc
on what side of the loire river is savennieres AOP located and what is that significance?
savennieres AOP is located on the north side of the loire River which means its vineyards face south, capturing loads of sunlight
are the vineyards of savennieres AOP on flat land or steep hills?
steep hills
these steep, southern-facing hills help mature the grapes due to their aspect towards the sun
what are the 2 sweet wine AOPs located south of the loire river?
- bonnezeaux AOP
2. Quarts-de-chaume AOP
bonnezeaux AOP and Quarts-de-Chaume AOP are actually located on the banks of which river (which flows south of the loire river)?
layon river
what makes the wines sweet in Bonnezeaux AOP and Quarts-de-Chaume AOP?
Botrytis, ake noble rot
why is botrytis prevalent in Bonnezeaux AOP and Quarts-de-Chaume AOP?
Both AOPs are humid due to moisture generated by and their proximity to the Loire and Lyon Rivers
Touraine is located … of Anjou-Saumur
East
or, further inland
what is the climate of Touraine
continental
what are the soils of Touraine
tuffeau (soft limestone)
what are tuff eau soils made of
soft limestone
what are the grapes of touraine
white: Chenin Blanc
red: cabernet franc
Name 3 AOPs of Touraine
- Chinon AOP (dry red wines)
- Bourgueil AOP (dry red wines)
- Vouvray AOP (all styles made from Chenin Blanc)
What are the similarities and differences between Chinon AOP and Bourgueil AOP?
similarities:
- both made from cab franc
- both made in dry, still style
difference:
- Chinon on south side of the loire river
- Bourgueil on north side of loire river
vourvray is located on the … side of the loire river
north
what are the soils of vouvray
tuffeau (soft limestone)
what is the only grape allowed in vouvray
Chenin blanc
what styles of wine are allowed to be made in vouvray
all styles:
- dry, still whites
- off-dry, still whites
- sweet, still whites
- sparkling whites of all dryness/ sweetness levels
sweet wines in vouvray can be labeled as …
moelleux
is the central vineyards region located furthest west or further east in the loire valley
furthest east (most inland)
what is the climate of the central vineyards region
continental
what are the soils of central vineyards
- silex, limestone
- kimmeridgian clay
what is silex soil also known as, and in which of the four major loire regions will you find it
flit, found in central vineyards (Sancerre, pouilly-fume)
what are the grapes grown in central vineyards
white: sauvignon blanc
red: pinot noir
what are the 2 most important AOPs of central vineyards
- sancerre AOP (dry red + white wines)
2. pouilly-fumé AOP (dry white wines only)
sancerre AOP and Pouilly-Fumé AOP both make dry whites wine from the …. grape
sauvignon blanc
which red grape is allowed in sancerre AOP
pinot noir
sancerre is on the … bank of the loire river
Pouilly-Fumé is on the … bank of the loire river
sancerre: western bank
Pouilly-Fumé: eastern bank
what are the 4 noble white grapes in alsace
- riesling
- gewurztraminer
- muscat
- pinot gris
what are the 2 natural borders of alsace
- eastern border: Rhine river
2. western border: vosges mountains
alsace has been both French and …
german
where is alsace geographically located in france
northeast france, bordering germany
the Vosges Mountains create a …. in alsace, protecting the region from nasty, wet weather.
rain shadow
alsace is split into 2 departments, the … rhin in the north and the … rhin in the south
north: bas-rhin
south: haut-rhin
differences between the bas-rhin and the haut-rhin include:
bas-rhin:
- lower elevation
- not as protected by the Vosges, so fewer good vineyards
Haut-rhin:
- higher elevation
- more protection bij the Vosges, so the best vineyards
what is the climate of the alsace
cool continental
Climatically, Alsace is one of the … est and …est regions in France.
Why?
Sunniest and driest due to the rain shadow caused by the Vosges Mountains
are Alsace’s vineyards planted on the flat banks of the Rhine river or on the hillsides of the Vosges Mountains?
hillsides of the vosges mountains
what are the soils of alscae
incredibly varied and layered, kind of like a dagwood sandwich.
soils include:
- volcanic
- clay
- granite
- gneiss
- marl
- limestone
- sandstone
- schist
besides riesling, muscat, Pinot Gris and gewurztraminer, what other 2 white grapes grow in Alsace?
- pinot blanc
2. sylvaner
what is the 1 red grape allowed in alsace
pinot noir
what is the growing season like in Alsace, and what causes it
long, dry, sunny, and temperate caused by the rain shadow by the vosges mountains
where are the best vineyards in Alsace planted
in the haut-rhin on lower slopes facing east/southeast
what effects on climate and viticulture does a rainshadow cause
- dry climate
- sunny climate (tho not necessarily a warmer one)
- longer growing season
- riper grapes
- higher potential alcohol
- richer, fuller bodied wines
in alsace, the majority of winemakers use:
ageing
neutral barrels bearing little-to-no oak aromas
in alsace, winemakers are allowed to put the name of the … on the label
grape
if an Alsatian winemaker puts the name of a grape on the wine label, how much o the grape must be in the wine
100%
what are the 3 AOPs of Alsace?
- Alsace / Vin d’Alsace AOP
- Alsace Grand Cru AOP
- Crémant d’Alsace AOP
what is the name of the traditional bottle in which all Alsace App wines must be bottled?
Flûte d’Alsace
Which AOP in Alsace covers the entire region
Alsace/ Vin d’Alsace AOp
how many grand cru vineyards are there in alsace ?
51
each grand cru vineyard in Alsace has its own …
AOP
fun fact: each grand cru in alsace was deemed its own AOP in 2011
what are the 4 grapes allowed to be planted in Alsace’s Grand Cru Vineyards
- riesling
- muscat
- pinot gris
- gewurztraminer
the ‘noble’ varietals
Crémant d’Alsace is usually a blend of grapes or made from a single varietal
blend of grapes
what are the 2 terms Alsace uses for late harvest wines
- ventange Tardive (VT)
2. Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN)
what is the difference between VT and SGV from a botrytis perspective?
- VTs may be affected by botrytis
- SGNs are always affected by botrytis
which two towns bookend the northern rhone
- vienne (north)
2. valence (south)
what is the climate of northern rhone
contintental
where does the rhone river originate
switzerland
what benefits does the rhone river provide the vineyards
- moderates the climate
- provides air circulation
- reflects sunlight
- warms the slopes
what is the mistral
strong winds that originate in switzerland and follow the rhone river into france.
it warms and dries out the northern rhone, inhibiting disease, mildew and mold
are the vineyards of the northern rhone situated on the valley floor or on steep, terraced hillsides overlooking the river
steep, terraced hillsides overlooking the river
what are the soils of the northern rhone
- granite
- schist
what are the white grapes of the northern rhone
- viognier
- marsanne
- roussanne
what is the only red grape allowed in the northern rhone
syrah
why are vines in the northern rhone so often staked to the ground
the mistral is so strong it’s been known to knock vines over
are the wines of the northern rhone more often bottles as blends or single varietals
most often single varietals, especially syrah and Viognier.
sometimes you’ll see Marsanne and roussanne blended together
most wines from the northern rhone are fermented and aged in ….
However, there are some winemakers who do primary fermentation in …. and then age their wines in …
oak, especially large foudres
Stainless steel, then oak (new and/or used)
what is cofermentation and why is it done
when two or more grape varietals undergo fermentation together, rather than separately.
It’s done to boost aromatics, complexity, and softening tannins
What are the 6 Apps of the northern Rhone from north to south
- Cote-Rotie (only red)
- Condrieu (white only)
- Saint Joseph
- Crozes Hermitage
- hermitage
- Cornas (red only)
what are the 2 red-wine only AOPs in the northern Rhone
- côte-rôtie AOP
2. cornas AOP
what colour wines can cote-rotie be and what are the permissible grapes
- red only
- syrah with max. 20% Viognier
what colour can wines from condrieu be and what are the permissible grapes
- white only
- 100% viognier
what colour can wines from saint-joseph be and what are the permissible grapes
- red and white
- reds: syrah w/ max 10% roussanne + marsanne
- whites: roussanne + marsanne
what colour can wines from crozes-hermitage be and what are the permissible grapes
- red and white
- red: syrah w/max 15% roussanne + marsanne
- white: roussanne + marsanne
what colour can wines from hermitage be and what are the permissible grapes
- red and white
- red: syrah: w/max 15% roussanne + marsanne
- white: rousanne + marsanne
what colour can wines from cornas be and what are the permissible grapes
- red only
- 100% syrah
how big is the distance between the northern rhone and the southern rhone
~ 30 miles
what is the climate of the southern rhone
mediterranean
how does the mistral affect the southern rhone
cools down the souther rhone
how do the diurnal shifts in the southern rhone affect the wines
help them remain fresh and lively
summers don’t feel as hot in the southern rhone thanks to the mistral and the diurnal shifts
how else are the warmer temperatures on the souther rhone moderated
the rhone river helps moderate and cool down the area
in the southern rhone steep, terraced, and hilly like the northern rhone or is it flatter and more broad
flatter and more broad with lots of scrubland (on the valley floor)
what are the soils of the southern rhone
- alluvial clay
- large river rocks (aka galets or pudding stones)
what are the 3 main white grapes of the southern rhone
- grenache blanc
- roussanne
- clairette
what are the 3 main red grapes of the southern rhone
- grenache
- syrah
- mourvedre
does the southern rhone make more red wine or more white wine
red wine
red wine makes up 90% of a total production in the souther rhone
how are vines typically trained in the southern rhone
bush trained (aka gobelet)
are the wines of the southern rhone more often bottled as blends or single varietals
blends
very few wines in the southern rhone are bottled as single varietals
for ageing their wines, most winemakers in the souther rhone use … … rather than …
use large oak rather than barrique
are the wines of southern rhone allowed to be chaptalized
no because the grapes have no trouble getting ripe
name 4 single village AOPs of the southern rhone
- chateauneuf-du-pape AOP
- gigondas AOP (red only)
- Vacqueyras AOP
- Tavel AOP (dry rose only)
what colour can wines from chateauneuf-du-pape be and what are the permissible grapes
- red and white
- red: Grenache-based blends
- white: blends of Grenache, clairette, etc.
how many grapes are allowed in chateauneuf-du-pape?
18
13 individual ones and then 5 of different colour mutations
what colour can wines from Gigondas be and what are the permissible Grapes
- red
- Grenache-based blends
what colour can wines from vacqueyras be and what are the permissible grapes
- red, white and rose
- red and rose: Grenache-based blends
0 white: blends of Grenache Blanc, clairette, etc.
what colour can wines from Tavel be and what are the permissible grapes
- rose
- Grenache-based blends
- always dry, richer, deeper colour (than provence)
what sorts of foods would you pair with condrieu
- cheese
- shellfish, e.g. lobster with cream
what foods would you pair with fat, rich, rhone whites based on marsanne + roussanne
- pork loin
- roast chicken
what foods would you pair with rhone reds
- syrah: meat (rabbit, sausage/pork, steak)
- grenache: cassoulet, sausage, burgers
