Grape Varieties - Burgundy and Alsace Flashcards
Chardonnay is the progeny of which two grapes?
Gouais Blanc and Pinot Noir.
What proportion of plantings does Chardonnay represent in the greater Burgundy area and what is the key to its success?
48%
The key to its success is its malleability in the winery and its ability to produce quality wine in a range of climates.
Describe the characteristics and viticulture of Chardonnay in Burgundy.
A thin skinned variety with high levels of sugar.
It does well on limestone soils that are so prominent throughout Burgundy. It is a high vigour variety and vigour must be controlled through high density planting, low vigour rootstock or canopy management.
It cannot produce quality wine at yields over 80hl/ha and often serious quality wines require yields lower than 30hl/ha.
What viticultural pressures does Chardonnay face? What can be done to potentially alleviate that risk?
It buds early which can put it at risk of frost particularly in frost prone Chablis. If weather hasn’t settled down by flowering time colure and millerandage are a risk. Thin skins mean it at risk of rot if it rains at harvest time.
Delaying winter pruning can push flowering back long enough to lower this risk.
Limestone soils can cause what problem for Chardonnay vines? How is this combatted?
Limestone soils can cause Chlorosis (iron deficiency, causes lack of chlorophyll that turns vines leaves yellow and prevents photosynthesis).
This is prevented by careful rootstock selection choosing rootstocks resistant to lime such as 41B and Fercal.
Give a brief description of Aligote.
A member of the greater Pinot family Burgundy’s ‘lesser’ white variety, a high acid variety that can produce good wine in warm years on the right site, however all of the best sites go to the far more profitable Chardonnay.
Apart from Chardonnay and Aligote, what other white varieties are permitted in Burgundy?
Melon de Bourgogne, Pinot Buerot (Pinot Gris), Sauvignon Blanc (St Bris only) and Pinot Blanc.
Give a brief outline of Pinot Noir in Burgundy and its approximate plantings.
A reason for Burgundy’s fame, its wines are sought after and can age for decades. It is a member of the Noirien (related Pinot Noir) family. There are approximately 4500ha in Cote d’Or and a further 4000ha further south.
What are the physical and viticultural characteristics of Pinot Noir?
Small tight bunches, thin skins with low colour and tannin.
It is a low yielder, it buds, flowers and ripens early and performs well on limestone soils., that are deep and well drained.
What are Pinot Noir’s chief viticultural pressures?
Early flowering / budding can make it prone to frost damage and coulure, and its thin skins can make it prone to rot during rain in Autumn / harvest time, and also hail damage.
What are Pinot Noir’s most prevalent disease pressures?
- Powdery and Downy Mildew.
- Bunch rot due to tight bunches.
- Botrytis.
- The viruses Fan Roll and Leaf Roll.
How many authorised clones of Pinot Noir are there in Burgundy? Give some widely planted examples.
- Over 50.
- 777, 828, 677.
- 115 - First virus free clone in Burgundy.
What is the full name of the Gamay grape?
Gamay Noir a Jus Blanc.
What are the physical characteristics of Gamay?
Pale flesh, lightly coloured skins low in tannin.
What are the viticultural characteristics of Gamay?
An early budder / flowerer making it prone to spring frost, it also ripens early. It has high vigour and is often grown on low yielding bush vines to control this.
