Unit 1: Foundations Flashcards
French Wine Law
- Wine Fraud dates back thousands of years romans painted amphora with tar to replicate Piedmont’s Nebs
- Classic French Wines have been blended discrimnately. Dur8 g the Middle Ages different regions (ie Bordeaux and Rhone) blended with Turkish and Spanish Wines. Wines were also sold in bulk= easy to fraud
1924- French Wine Law
Growers of CdP lead by Baron Pierre Le Roy De Boiseaumarie, President of Syndicate of CdP, decided to draw up region and set standards. Found out a year later Roquefort Cheese had appellation status.
1935- French Wine Law
Baron Le Roy helped create AOC system to guarantee authentic product. He founded Institut National of Appellations D’ Origine (INAO) with other presidents.
Appellation D’ Origine Contrôlée
Defined Area of Origin from which a specifically named (appellation) product can be created and labelled under strictly regulated (controlee) production methods.
2009- French Wine Law
EU sort to standardise the wine standard pyramids of different countries. Idea to make labels more uniform. However this may sadly added more unnecessary wording to labels.
Old French Law System
Vin De Table
Vin De Pays
VDQS
AOC
New French Wine Law System
Vins Sans IG (Wines Without Geographic Indication)
IGP (Former Vin De Pays)
AOC/ AOP
AOC/ AOP
Most restrictive of all quality designations.
- Wine has to: Come from a delimited area Made using allowed grapes Adhere to maximum yield Abide by pruning harvesting and Winemaking
- The highest tier. In reality does not mean better in quality than IGP or Vin Sans IG but can guarantee origin and attributes regarding style and regional quality.
Vin De Pays/ IGP (Country Wine/ Indication Geographique Protegee)- Protected Geographic Indication
- 1979 Created more flexibility in grape growing/ Winemaking
- 2009: EU mandated sweeping changes for this level. Called it IGP across the board. Production standards changed and certification needed through process. (Ie 150 Wines, tasted by local panels)
- Middle tier of French standards, by the INAO
VDQS (Vin Delimite Qualite Superiere/ Delimited Wines with Superior Quality)
- No longer exists
- Between Vin De Pays and AOC
- As with 2009 EU regs, members with this status were upgraded to AOC/ AOP, or downgraded to IGP
Vin De Table/ Vin Sans IG (Table Wines/ Wines without Geographic Indication)
- No links to origin
- This level allows mention of grape varieties and vintage on the label, these weren’t allowed under Vin De Table
- Comes from anywhere in France and has no maximum yields
- Wines are labeled Vin De France (NOT Vin Sans IG), designed for export
INAO (Institut National Des Appellations D’ Origine)
- Policies protect wine and Spirits AOCs from wrongful marketing or misleading labeling (internally and externally)
- Protects French Wines and other food stuffs
French Grape Varieties
Pinot, Savagnin and Gouais Blanc most commonly grown grapes in Nth East France during Middle Ages
Gouais Blanc
- Also known as Weiser Heunish, Mother of French/ German varieties
- Most evidence links it to Northeast France (Franche- Comte, Champagne- Ardenne, Lorraine, Alsace) and SthWSt Germany (Rheinland- Plafz, Baden- Württemberg)
Gouais Blanc x Pinot: Aligote, Auxerrois, Chard, Gamay Blanc, Gamay Noir, Melon, Romorantin, Sacy
Gouais Blanc x Chenin Blanc: Colombard
Gouais Blanc x Unknown: Furmint
Gouais x Various: Elbing, Blaufrankisch, Folle Blanche, Grolleau Noir, Jacquere, Menu Pineau (Arbois), Muscadelle, Riesling and St- Come
P/ N, P/ G and P/ Blanc have same genetic makeup (different phenotypes or expressions of genes) it’s impossible to determine which is connected, directly with Gouais
Savagnin
- Ancient Grape, NthEast France/ SthWSt Germany
- Might be a decendant from wild grape (hence Sauvage= Wild) or cross of Pinot and unknown, or a cross b/ ween two extinct varieities
Savagnin x Gouais Blanc: Petit Meslier and Aubin
Savagnin x Unknown (Extinct?): Sauv Blanc
Savagnin x Unknown: Chenin Blanc
Savagnin x Unknown: Petit Manseng (Parent of Gros Manseng)
Savagnin x Otherretichischweiss: Sylvaner
Savagnin x Unknown: Verdelho
Savagnin x St- Georger: Gruner Veltliner
Pinot
- 2000 yrs old used to be called Morillon, Noirien and Averntat
- 1000 clonal variations, including P/ Meunier, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc
- Still to be determined it’s origins, but may be Jura. Genetics see Pinot- Savagnin Blanc kinship
Pinot x Gansfusser: Cesar
Aligote (Beaujolais, Bourgogne, Rhone)
Aromatic, high acid, medium body, Jasmine and Vanilla (Nose), Pinot x Gouais Blanc. Vigorous, early budding, early ripening, susceptible to rots and mildew
Altesse (L- R IGP, Savoie)
Ripens late, shy producer, resistant to rot, grape linked to Chasselas (native to Lake Geneva). Altesse might be indigenous to Savoie. Lively acid, Honey and Almond, full bodied, spicy aromatics
Arbane (Champagne)
Authorised, uncommon, native to the Aube (Department). Low yielding, early budding, mid to late ripening. Susceptible to Mildew. Full bodied, floral aromas.
Arbois (Loire Syn: Menu Pineau, Orbois)
Native to Loire. Most into Cheverny and IGP Wines (Blended with Sauvignon Blanc/ Chenin Blanc). Vigorous, low- acid juice. Used as a softening agent in blends. Kinship to Gouais.
Arrufac (Also Spelled Ruffiac or Arrufiat) SthWSt
Large clusters, small berries, native to Ardour River Valley, Bearn. Almost lost during Phylloxera presence remains Pacherenc Du Vic Bilth and Saint Mont. Prized for its aroma. Vigorous and late ripening.
Auxerrois Blanc (Alsace)
Neutral white, Auxerrois Blanc ripens to higher sugar and low acid levels. Used for white blends (Alsace). Pinot x Gouais Blanc cross and believed to originated in Alsace- Lorraine
Baroque/ Barroque (SthWSt)- White
Aromatic grape, might be indigenous to the Ardour River Valley (SthWSt). Vigorous, late ripening, ripens to high sugar. Planted mainly in Tursan AOC.
Blanqueron (Provence)- White
Blending grape grown near Nice. Used in Bellet AOC. Believed to be native to Alpes- Maritimes Department. Falling out of favour.