Unit 2- Bourgogne

Question 1

Celt & Roman Significance

Answer 1

Bourgogne was a major trade crossroads based on four rivers: Saône, Rhône, Loire and Seine

Question 2

Significance of Monastic Order

Answer 2

After the Dark Ages, the monks and monasteries controlled the area and vineyards expanded due to their need for wine in mass (used to be white before, now red).

Question 3

Abbey of Cluny

Answer 3

Founded in 909 near Macon, it was the largest landowner in Burgundy until the French Revolution which its large cathedral was damaged by revolutionaries.

Question 4

Abbey de Citeaux

Answer 4

was a book workshop which held over 10,000 books in its library at one point; where the Dukes of Burgundy are buried

Question 5

Abbey of Pontigny

Answer 5

the monks here were the first to plant the vineyards of Chablis

Question 6

Dukes of Burgundy

Answer 6

• Ruled Ducy of Bourgogne, an area W of the Saône from 1363-1477
• boasted tremendous wealth from the textile industry
• helped the area gain its reputation by putting Burgundy wines on the tables of Popes, Kings and nobles

Question 7

Philippe the Bold

Answer 7

outlawed Gamay within the Côte d’Or in the late 14th century

Question 8

John the Fearless

Answer 8

helped King Charles VI fix the zone of production from Sens to Mâcon (1416)

Question 9

Hospices de Beaune

Answer 9

• founded 1443 by Nicolas Rolin, Chancellor of Bourgogne, under Philippe the Good
• charity for common people, a rarity of its day
• first auction 1859

Question 10

French Revolution

Answer 10

(1789) church land was confiscated and distributed to the farmers that worked the land

Question 11

Monopole

Answer 11

a vineyard with a single owner

Question 12

Napoleon Bonaparte

Answer 12

issued the Napolenic Code (1804) mandating inheritable property be divided equally among siblings

Question 13

King Louis-Philippe

Answer 13

• in the Third Empire, he granted the village of Gevrey to append its most famous vineyard to its name, and most others followed suit
• the rationale was to help buyers associate the famous vineyard with the village’s name to assist other vineyards from the village

Question 14

Ladoix-Serrigny

Answer 14

twin hamlets, the exception to the village-vineyard rule; Serrigny is not a vineyard

Question 15

Climat

Answer 15

• named parcel

- AOC legislation gave form to this in 1936

Question 16

1986 vs. Today

Answer 16

1986: 60% production was red
Today: 66% production is white
-demand for white wine skyrocketed worldwide in the 80’s

Question 17

Claim to Fame

Answer 17

1/5 the size of Bordeaux, but more AOC’s than any other French wine region

Question 18

Climate

Answer 18

Semi-Continental with Oceanic influences at both its Northern (Atlantic) and Southern ends (Mediterranean)

Question 19

Saône River

Answer 19

has no effect moderating temperature in Burgundy

Question 20

Primary Grapes

Answer 20

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

Question 21

Secondary Grapes

Answer 21

white: Aligotè, Sacy, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris (syn: Piont Beurot), Sauvignon Blanc
red: César, Gamay

Question 22

Bourgogne Gamay

Answer 22

85% min. Gamay

Question 23

Bourgogne Pinot Noir

Answer 23

85% min. Pinot Noir

Question 24

Blended Products

Answer 24

• Coteaux Bourguignons Blanc
• Coteaux Bourguignons Rouge
• regional Bourgogne Rouge
• Passe-Tout-Grains AOC: mostly Gamay, 1/3 must be Pinot Noir and/or Pinot Liebault + other ; red or rosé
• Crémant de Bourgogne AOC: blend; any of the grapes allowed in Burgundy except Sauvignon Blanc

Question 25

Bourgogne Blanc AOC

Answer 25

100% Chardonnay

Question 26

Bourgogne Aligoté AOC

Answer 26

100% Aligoté

Question 27

Bourgogne Rouge AOC

Answer 27

mostly Pinot Noir, but allows for max 15% Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris as a field blend; max. 10% César (from Yonne) and 30% Gamay

Question 28

Soils of Burgundy

Answer 28

• layers of limestone and limestone-rich clay (marl); sedimentary in nature
• youngest soils are in the North (Chablis) and oldest in the South (Mâconnais)

Question 29

Most Desired Slope

Answer 29

middle slope: moderate topsoil, adequate amount of water; aspect (direction): facing East for morning sun

Question 30

What soil does Pinot Noir prefer?

Answer 30

Limestone or high limestone Marl

Question 31

What soil does Chardonnay prefer?

Answer 31

Marly Soils

Question 32

T/F: All Bourgogne wine is AOC.

Answer 32

True; although they have their own ranking system

Question 33

What are the rungs of the Bourgogne quality pyramid?

Answer 33

Grand Cru (2%, mid-slope), Premier Cru (10%, crest), Village (36%, bottom of slope), Regional (52%, valley)

Question 34

T/F: Regional wine usually incorporates “Bourgogne” into the name.

Answer 34

True; except Mâcon and Mâcon-Villages

Question 35

What is the most general appellation in Burgundy?

Answer 35

Coteaux Bourguinons;
White: Chardonnay, Aligoté, Melon de Bourgogne and Sacy
Red: Gamay and Pinot Noir

Question 36

T/F: Premier Cru’s are incorporated into the Village AOC.

Answer 36

True; they are not considered separate AOCs

Question 37

What are the 5 regions of Bourgogne?

Answer 37

1. Chablis: Grand Auxerrois & The Châtillonais
2. Côte de Nuits
3. Côte de Beaune: & Hâutes Côtes de Beaune
4. Côte Chalonnaise: & Côte du Couchois
5. The Mâconnais