Week 2a: Burgundy - General Facts Flashcards
How long has wine been made in Burgundy?
2000 years
When did the Romans arrive with vines?
First century CE
Who took power and the supported viticulture after the Roman Empire fell?
Catholic Church
Where and when did the Benedictines have their Abbey in Burgundy?
Cluny - 10th and 11th century
What did the Benedictines do to the land in Burgundy?
Converted the land in Burgundy to viticulture and worked the vines for centuries.
Describe the status of Burgundian wines in the 15th century.
Wine: powerful symbol and export.
When did the Benedictines return the land to the French crown?
1477
Describe the Napoleonic Code of 1804.
Required that inheritance be split amongst heirs, both male and female
Fractured vineyard ownership - some only held one row of vines
Rise of négotiants
What do négotiants do?
Houses that purchase grapes or wine from growers and combine them to make a commercially viable product.
When did Domaine bottling begin?
1920’s
What is the attitude of Domaine owners?
“I own this land and I am making my own wines, thank you very much.”
How is a Domaine different from a Négotiant?
Domaines:
* Produce own wines, often in limited amounts
Négotiants:
* Tend to be less expensive but also less expressive
* Better at managing tough vintages: they have more fruit to work with
Who makes better quality wine:
Domaines or Négotiants?
Some say Domaines, but in Burgundy not that simple
List the appellation system from $ to $$$$$$$
- Bourgogne AOC
- Village AOC
- Premier Cru AOC
- Grand Cru AOC
Describe a Bourgogne AOC:
Most basic level.
Grapes from any area in the region can have this label
Cheapest
Least sense of place
