France Flashcards
What are the quality levels of French wines available in the market today?
Vin de Table - simple, ordinary
Vin de Pays - general region based
Vins Delimites Qualite Superieure - (no longer used) promising region
AOC - top quality
Why and when was the AOC system established?
1935, to control certain aspects of grape growing and production in certain areas
What does the French AOC attempt to regulate?
- Place of origin
- grape varieties
- alcohol content
- max yields
- when harvest begins -each year
- production methods
What assurances does AOC offer the consumer?
Regional and varietal authenticity
Technically no guarantee of quality
How have the recent EU labeling regulations affected France?
Mostly equivalent:
Vin de Table = Vin de France
Vin de Pays = Indication Geographique Protegee
AOC = Protected Designations of Origin
How does the US system of AVAs differ from the French AOC system?
- French system is more hierarchical
- Wines are generally identified by location, not varietal
- The smaller, more specific the place, the higher the rank
Who monitors the AOC system?
INAO (Institut National des Appellations d’Origine)
What are the classifications of Alsace wines and what flavor differences might one find when comparing them?
- Appellation Alsace Controlee
- Appellation Cremant d’Alsace (Alsace sparkling wine)
- Alsace Grand Cru (best vineyards, 100% must come from vineyard, varietal
What are the major grape varieties grown in Alsace?
Whites: Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner, Pinot Gris, Muscat,
Reds: Pinot Noir.
What are the benchmark wines which Alsace is known for?
Aromatic and spicy white wines:
- Gentil (50% Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Gris, and/or Gewurztraminer),
- Edelzwicker (a blend of white grapes of AOC Alsace without any indication of percentage)
- Gewurtztraminer
What are the labeling requirements and how does one decode an Alsace wine label?
Varietal: 100% grape named
What terms on an Alsace wine label are meaningful and what do they tell us?
- Varietal Label
- AOC
- AOC: Grand Cru (100% from named vineyard)
- Vendage Tardive: late harvest, but often fermented dry
- Selection de Grains Nobles: Botrytized
What label terms are not regulated and thus may not provide useful information to the purchaser?
- Reserve
- Personelle
- Cuvee
- Special
How does Alsace’s labeling system differ from other wine regions of France?
Varieties are included (because of German influence)
Only one AOC appellation (Appellation Alsace Controllee)
How does one identify sparkling and dessert style wines made in Alsace from the dry table wines made there?
No official labeling;
Residual sugar in Gewurz/Pinot Gris > Riesling/Muscat/Sylvaner
Botrytized wines are sweet
What historic events influenced the growth of the wine industry in the Alsace?
- Wine growing introduced to region with Caesar’s conquest
- Ravaged during 30 yrs War (1600s)
- Under German rule from 1870-1945
- AOC in 1962
How does Alsace’s climate and geography influence its wine styles?
- Vosges mountains in west shelter from cold continental weather; climate is temperate, sunny, and dry
- growing season is 50 days longer than Germany; leads to aromatic wines with high residual sugar
What winemaking practices (if any) are unique to Alsace?
Chaptalization is permitted; fermentation cannot be artificially stopped (ergo, high alcohol content); botrytization to concentrate juice
What are the classifications of Loire wines and what flavor differences might one find when comparing them?
- Vielles Vignes: old vines (no legal definition)
- Production statements:
- Mis en bouteille a la Propriete (bottled on the property)
- Mis en bouteille au Domaine (estate bottled)
- Mis en bouteille par… (bottled by…) - sur lie (wine left on lees until bottled; adds flavor)
- Cremant de Loire (sparkling)
- Vin de Pays du Jardin de la France (“wine of the garden of France;” outside Loire AOCs)
What are the major grape varieties grown in Loire?
Chenin Blanc Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne) Sauvignon Blac Gros Plant-Picpoule Chasselas
What are the benchmark wines which come from the Loire?
White wines, fine sparkling wines
How does one identify sparkling and dessert style wines made in the Loire Valley from the Loire’s dry table wines?
Descriptors from Dry to Sweet:
- sec
- demi-sec
- moelleau
- doux
What are the labeling requirements and how does one decode a Loire wine label?
Wines named after places grapes are grown (villages); place dictates grape varieties 100% for most AOC, except when noted as blend
How does the Loire’s climate and geography influence its wine styles?
Loire river and Atlantic moderate temperature; west of region is more continental
What historic events influenced the growth of the wine industry in the Loire?
Romans introduce wine making; produced high quality wines in middle ages; fortresses; later nobility built pleasure palaces / chateaux
What winemaking practices (if any) are unique to the Loire?
Muscadet/Sur Lie: The wine is left on the “fine” lees after vinification until it is bottled (this adds flavor and changes the wines texture). Two specified dates for bottling.
