Labeling Flashcards
The abbreviation GI stands for
Geographical Indication
A Geographical Indication is a
legaly defined vineyard area within a country
GIs outside the EU indicate
where the grapes used to make the grape were grown.
GIs inside the EU indicate not only where the grapes were grown, but also
every GI comes with extra regulations that state what grapes may be grown, as well as how the wines should be made.
The benefit of the extra requirements of GIs inside the EU is that
a consumer can use a European GI as a relatively reliable indicator of the style of wine that they can expect.
GIs inside the EU are subdivided into 2 groups:
Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)
and
Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)
2 characteristics of a PDO
- typically cover relatively small areas
2. have tightly defined regulations
2 ways that a PGI differ from a PDO
- cover a much wider area
2. have less strict regulations
Can a PDO be in a PGI?
yes
Can a PGI be in a PDO?
no
In France, what are the 2 PDOs?
2 PGIs?
PDOs:
Appellation d’origine protegee (AOP)
Appellation d’origine controlee (AOC)
PGIs:
Indication geographique protegee (IGP)
Vin de pays (VdP)
In Italy, what are the 2 PDOs?
1 PGI?
PDOs:
Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC)
Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG)
PGI:
Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT)
In Spain, what are the 2 PDOs? 1 PGI?
PDOs
Denominacion de Origen (DO)
Denominacion de Origen Calificada (DOCa)
PGI
Vino de la Tierra
In Germany, what are the 2 PDOs?
1 PGI?
PDOs:
Qualitatswein
Pradikatswein
PGI:
Landwein
Labeling in Burgundy forms a neat heirarchy, 4 levels from bottom to top as follows:
regional appelations, the largest being Bourgogne AOC
village appelations: villages within the region; vineyards are better situated
Premier Cru Vineyards: high quality vineyard within a village
Grand Cru Vineyards: highest quality Burgundian grapes grown in the best vineyards
Labeling in Germany reflects
the degree of ripeness in the grapes at the time of harvest, measured in sugar levels.
German labeling heirarchy (in general), 3 levels from bottom to top are
Landwein - term for a PGI
Qualitatswein - PDO wines that must come from 1 of 13 wine regions in Germany; higher level of grape ripeness than Landwein
Pradikatswein - a higher level of sugar; grapes must come from a single region
In Germany, the 6 Pradikatswein categories are classified in order of the sugar levels required in the grapes at the time of harvest, listed in ascending order:
Kabinett
Spatlese (late harvest)
Auslese (selected harvest)
Eiswein (Icewine)
Beerenauslese/BA (selected berry harvest)
Trockenbeerenauslese/TBA (selected dried berry harvest)
Labeling in Alsace: 3 types
Alsace AOC - covers the entire area; wines typically labeled with grape variety
Alsace Grand Cru - covers specific vineyards mostly found on foothills of Vosges Mountains: wines made from Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Gewurz are eligible
Vendanges Tardives (VT) “late harvest” - can only be used in Alsace
Labeling in Bordeaux - Part 1 regional, in general (2):
Bordeaux AOC - grapes grown anywhere in Bordeaux
Bordeaux Superieur AOC - subject to slightly stricter rules regarding yields, ageing, minimum alcohol levels
Labeling in Bordeaux - Part 1 regional: Left Bank (3)
Medoc AOC
Haut-Medoc AOC
Margaux AOC
Pauillac AOC
Graves AOC
Pessac-Leognan AOC
Labeling in Bordeaux - Part 1 regional: Right Bank (2)
Pomerol AOC
Saint-Emillion AOC
Saint-Emillion Grand Cru AOC
Labeling in Bordeaux Part 2: 3 terms other than regional identification
Chateau - estate/producer: made from grapes grown on a producer’s land
Grand Cru Classe/Cru Classe - classifications that rank the best wine from the best Chateaux
Cru Bourgeois - from the Medoc but not Grand Cru or Cru
Labeling in Beaujolais (similar to Rhone Valley) forms a hierarchy (3 levels from low to high)
Beaujolais AOC
Beaujolais Villages AOC - a collection of villages in the north of the region
Beaujolais Crus - 10 villages within Beaujolais Villages; best known is Fleurie AOC
