France - Burgundy - Beaujolais Flashcards
What is the main grape variety (incl. percentage)?
Gamay (98%)
What is the quantity compared to the rest of Burgundy?
Similar volume than the rest of Burgundy together
What two other styles of wines are produced?
- Tiny amount of rosé (Gamay)
- Tiny amount of white (mainly Chardonnay)
How is the climate? How compared to Burgundy?
- Continental
- Slightly warmer than Burgundy
What is the avg. yearly rainfall?
740mm
What are two factors that influence the climate? In what way?
- Saone River -> moderating influence
- Cold Mistral wind -> cooling influence
What effect can the cold Mistral wind have on grape growing?
- Can affect flowering in cold, damp early summer weather
- Can damage leaves and grapes towards the end of the ripening period
What can be done to mitigate the risks of the cold Mistral wind?
- Vine orientation
- Training low to the ground
What are the three classifications? (descending in quality)
- Beaujolais Cru
- Beaujolais-Villages
- Beaujolais
Describe the location, topography, and soils for Beaujolais Cru and Beaujolais-Villages
- Northern part
- Hilly (200–500 m)
- Fast-draining granite, schist and sandy soils
- South and south-east facing slopes
Describe the location, topography, and soils for Beaujolais AOC
- Southern part
- Richer soil
- Flatter
Gamay
What is the budding/ripening time?
- Early budding -> spring frost
- Early ripening -> early harvest
Gamay
What is it susceptible to?
- Spring frost
- Millerandage
- Rot (delicate skin)
- Wind
Gamay
On what does the style depend on?
Ripeness of grapes (incl. skins and seeds)
Gamay
Describe a fully ripe and less-ripe wine
- Fully ripe: Intense fruit character
- Less ripe: Green leafy character
Gamay
What is important to produce concentrated ripe grapes?
Yield control, e.g., restrain number of buds
Gamay
How were vines traditionally trained, why, and where is it still done like that?
- Bushes
- Protection from wind
- Steeper slopes