General Burgundy Flashcards
Who first planted vineyards in Burgundy and where?
The Romans
Best guess is 1st century AD just outside Gevrey, where an old vineyard was discovered in 2008, with vines planted in pits.
Who did the Romans install as protectors of their Northern frontier posts in the early 5th century? How did they get their nickname?
A Scandinavian people that had traveled to Europe, stopping on the island of Burgundarholm on the way, settling in the Wurttemberg area by the 3rd century. The Romans called these posts, ‘Burgs’.
Alfred the Great, when translating old Roman texts, called these people ‘Burgendas’
Who pushed the ‘Burgendas’ people West as the Roman Empire crumbled?
Atilla the Hun, who famously massacred many Burgendas in 436. They pushed West, settling Geneva in 443, and Savoie soon after.
What codex of laws did the Burgendas people write before being conquered by the Franks?
Lex Burgundiorum - which set forth laws protecting viticulture. This know how was important as Europe descended into the dark ages.
Under the rule of Charlemagne and his 3 grandsons, what developed that would drive viticulture? Which one would inform Burgundy?
Monastic orders within the different Christian churches.
Benedictine
Who would establish an offshoot of the Benedictine order in the Aube, before leaving to found his own in 1098?
Where did he settle?
Robert de Molesme
founded the Abbey of Citeaux, present day Vougeot.
While growing grapes for the sacrament was important to the monks of the Church everywhere, in Burgundy especially, what motivation was there to produce excellent wines?
Wines were currency also, to be used to curry favor and accumulate power and influence.
In 1361, Philip the Bold was appointed Duke of Burgundy. What 2 important edicts did he make during his time?
In 1395, he declared Gamay disloyal, and that it should be ripped out.
In 1416 he declared that all wine made below the bridge at the River Sens should be classified as Burgundy, which includes Chablis and Auxerrois.
From the time Burgundy was reabsorbed back into France in 1477 until 1789, what was the general trend in Burgundy in terms of who had vineyards?
The influence of the Church waned, nobilities gained power, and a merchant class emerged, purchasing plots of vines from the Church and growing a wine trade.
Where exactly does the category of Bourgogne Hautes Cote de Nuits/Beaune source its fruit?
There is lots of land and side valleys beyond and perpendicular to the “Cote” itself. The Hautes category comes from those lands, typically limestone soils and a bit higher in altitude. Leaner wines.
What are the 4 Cote d’Or vineyards that can append their name to Bourgogne?
Bonus: Where are they located?
La Chapelle Notre Dame (Ladoix)
-Red, white, rose (red is whats actually made)
Cote de Couchois (technically Chalonnaise, its at the very end of the Cote de Beaune) RED ONLY, PINOT
Le Chapitre (In Chenove, a Dijon suburb)
-Red, White, Rose
Montrecul (In Chenove, a Dijon suburb)
-Red, White, Rose
What is made in the Bourgogne Mousseaux AOC?
Whats the method and lees time?
Whats the blend?
Red sparkling wine
-traditional method, 9 months lees
-min 51% Pinot Noir and Gamay
What are the grapes and required blend for Bourgogne Passe-Tout-Grains?
Pinot Noir (min 30%) and Gamay (min 15%)
White grapes allowed (max 15%)
Approved for Red and Rose
What is Coteaux Bourguignons AOC?
A generic AOC for Still white, red, and rose from all over Burgundy.
Difference between it and Bourgogne AOC is that Aligote and Melon are allowed here.
What are the main stipulations of Cremant de Bourgogne AOC?
- method
- ageing
- colors allowed
- assemblage required
1.traditional method
2. 9 months lees, 12 months total
3. blanc and rose permitted
- min 30% Chardonnay+all 3 Pinot colors
max 20% Gamay
