France Flashcards
Wine production dates to what century in France
6th century BCE
What are the two concepts central to French wines?
(1) Terroir and (2) AOC Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée
What system replaced the AOC and in what year?
(1) Appellation d’Origine Protégée (AOP) (2) 2012
What culture brought viticulture to France?
Greeks
What did the Guals know about viticulture which takes wild vines and makes wine-producing grapes?
Pruning
Who owned and maintained the vineyards during the Middle Ages? What did they contribute to history?
Monasteries/Monks maintained vineyards and preserved wine-making knowledge and skills for future generations.
What 2 things desolated vineyards and effectively stopped the wine industry?
(1) Mildew and (2) Phylloxera
What laws were passed in 1935?
Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée was established by the INAO (Institut national des appellations d’origine) to protect winemaking and production.
What does QWPSR stand for?
Quality Wines Produced in Specified Regions
What does VDQS stand for?
Vin délimité de qualité supériure- demimited wine of superior quality- below AOC
What 3 categories in the 2012 system exist?
(1) Vin de France allowing variety and vintage on label, (2) IGP replacing Vin de Pays (Indication Géographique protégée, and (3) Appellation d’Origine Protégée replacing AOC wines.
What are the common styles of France?
Red, rosé, white (dry, semi-sweet and sweet), sparkling and fortified.
Most varieties of grapes are primarily associated with __________.
a region.
Labelling Laws
(1) If a single variety name is used it must contain 85% of the stated variety. (2) If 2 or more varieties are used, only the displayed varieties are allowed. (3) Varieties must appear in descending order.
List the main regions of France.
Alsace, Beaujolais, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Corsica, Jura, Languedoc-Roussillon, Loire, Provence, Rhône, Savoie, South West France
French Red Grapes by production %.
Merlot, Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Cab Sauv, Gamay, Pinot Noir, Cinsault, Pinot Meunier, Mourvèdre, Malbec, Alicante Bouschet, Muscat de Hambourg, Tannat, Grolleau.
Merlot and France
13.6% in France. Black grape. Bordeaux-Saint-Emilion & Pomerol. Clay soil. Medium tannins. Blending grape and varietal wines. Soft and fleshy. Early ripener. Bordeaux style- earlier harvest to maintain acidity, medium bodied with moderate alcohol.
Cool Climate Merlot
Strawberry, red berry, red plum, cedar, tobacco
Moderate Climate Merlot (Fruili-Venezi-Gulia, Italy) (Castilla-La Mancha, Navarra, Aragon, Spain) (Burgenland, Austria) (CA, NY State Long Island AVA & WA)
Blackberry, black plum and black cherry. Cassis, boysenberry, mulberry, black and green olives, bell pepper, fennel, leather, mushrooms, rhubarb and tobacco, tea, eucalyptus, mint, in oak caramel, chocolate, coconut, coffee bean, mocha, smoke, vanilla and walnutl.
Hot climate Merlot
Fruitcake & chocolate
Famous CA producers of Merlot- simple fruity wine style- grown in Napa, Monterey, and Sonoma.
Louis M Martini Winery (non-vintage 1968 & 1970) Sterling Vineyards (1969 vintage)
CA Napa and Sonoma AVA Merlots
Napa-Los Carneros, Mount Veeder, Oakville & Rutherford- ripe blackberry and black raspberry. Sonoma-Alexander Valley, Los Carneros, and Dry Creek Valley- black plum, tea leaf and black cherry.
Washington State AVA Merlots
Producers: Leonetti Cellar, Andrew Will, Columbia Crest, and Chateau Ste. Michelle (Eastern WA). Columbia Valley AVA and Walla Walla, Red Mountain and Horst Heaven Hills- deep color balanced acidity.
Canadian Merlot
British Columbia- both varietal and Bordeaux style blends.
Chilean Merlot- 3rd most planted variety
(1) Colchagua-Apalta (2) Curico (3) Casablanca (4) Maipo Valley.
Argentinian Merlot
Mendoza region- higher elevations of Tunpungato have ripe fruit, tannin and acidity.
New Zealand Merlot
(1) Hawke’s Bay-Gimblett Gravels Bordeaux style (2) Auckland (3) Marlborough (4) Martinborough
Australian Merlot- Accidentally labeled Cab Franc
(1) Barossa Valley (2) McLaren Vale South Australia
South African Merlot- cool climate
(1) Paarl (2) Stellenbosch
Food Pairings:
Grilled and charred meats- Bordeaux blends. Moderate climate salmon, mushroom dishes and greens like chard. Light bodied cool climate shellfish, bacon wrapped scallops. Avoid capsaicins of spicy foods as it will accentuate the alcohol.
About Grenache/Garnacha
Late ripening, needs warmth. Raspberry, strawberry with hint of white pepper and spice. With bottle age, leather and tar. Medium acid, tannin and color. Blended with Syrah, Carignan, Tempranillo, and Cinsault.
Garnacha Tinta (Red Grenache) in Clatayud, Carnena and Rioja.
Young: Strawberry and raspberry.
With age: black currants, black cherries, black olives, coffee, gingerbread, honey, leather, black pepper, tar and spices. Figs and tar in Priorat.
What is the primary variety in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and what % does it contribute to a blend?
Grenache. 80%. It is also used for roses in Tavel in the Côtes du Rhône.
What is Grenache known as in Sardinia?
Cannonau
Why was Garnacha planted in Rioja.
It was planted after the Phylloxera epidemic.
What is the relationship with Grenache and WA?
Grenache was one of the first Vitis V. to be successfully cultivated in the Yakima Valley (rose).
Grenache & Viticulture
Characterized by wood canopy and upright growth. Tolerates wind well. Enjoys dry, warm windy climate of the Mediterranean. Ealy budding and needs warmth to fully ripen, harvested late. High sugars = high alcohol levels.
Susceptible to coulure and downy mildew due to tight clusters. Drought resistant. Southern France: Schist and granite (galets), heat retaining and well draining.
Older vines can produce low yields, concentrated phoenolic compounds such as those found in Priorat.
Grenache Winemaking
Blending grape adding body and sweet fruitiness. Oxidized easily so long slow fermentation at cool temps followed by maceration curbs against. Racking asap. Little oak.
Historically where does Grenache come from?
Burgundian wine merchants. Chateauneuf-du=pape, Gigondas, and Vacqueyas and Languedoc-Rousillion (GSMs). Tavel and Lirac (roses). Fortified wines Vin Doux Naturels in Rousillion.
Garnacha & Spain
Garnacha Tinta is most common. Garnacha Peluda (Hairy Grenache) hairy texture underneath the vine’s leaves. Lower in alcohol than France. Blended in Priorat with Tempranillo.
Aragon, Rioja, Priorat Garnacha
Aragon: Origin of the variety. Single variety wines. DOP of Calatayud 91% highest altitude, and Campo de Borja (30 year old bush trained vines) raisined, jammy fruit 14.5%.
Rioja: Rioja Baja region blended with Tempranillo, juicy fruity and adds body. Makes wines more approachable in youth.
Priorat: Catalonia low yield, bush vines planted on llicorella soils. Rich, concentrated dark wine with noticable tannins.
Italian Grenache = Cannonau
Sardinia, deep colored, full body wines with 15% abv.
Australian Grenache: Dr. Christopher Rawson Penfold in 1844
South Australia: McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Clare Valley. Riverland= Port.
US & Grenache
Central Coast for Rhone style blends. Rhone Ranger movement
Is Grenache suitable for aging?
Due to oxidation, no.
Syrah and France
Thick skinned grape, with style determined on climate. Med-full body with med+to high tannins and notes of blackberry, mint, and black pepper.
Northern Rhone Syrah- Cote Rotie/Hermitage
1970s plantings expanded. Robert Parker Jr. awarded high scores. Viognier added for apricot nose and palate.
Italian Syrah
Tuscany-Cortona DOC
Australian Shiraz
1832 James Busby. Oldest vines are in Barossa Valley- S Australia 1847. Penfold’s Grange by Max Schubert in 1951. Matured in new American oak.
Henschke- Hill of Grace
Often blends Viognier to add apricot tones to the nose and palate.
