Wine Classification

Question 1

Wine Classification (5)

1. GC
2. PC
3. V AC
4. Comm AC (+V)
5. Reg AC

Answer 1

1. Grand Crus (x32)
2. Premier Crus (11%)
3. Village AC (25%)
4. Communal ACs (CdB Village + CdN Village)
5. Regional ACs

Question 2

Grand Crus (4)

1. Own AC + name
2. Sites
3. W GCs CdB R GCs CdN
4. Chablis: a-d

Answer 2

Grand Crus (x32 / 1% of overall production)

1. Each has its own AC; vineyard name attached to plot of land & registered in nearest town hall
2. Sites of the greatest quality potential
3. All white GC in Cotes de Beaune while all red GC (excl. Cortons) are in Cotes de Nuit.
4. Chablis must be made: a. From permitted varieties b. >3y.o. vines c. regulated patch of land d. Not allowed to blend 2 GC

Question 3

Premier Crus (2) (a-c)

1. No own AC, ind named v/yard
2. Pos to state village + 1er Cru a-c

Answer 3

Premier Crus (x560 / 11% of overall production)

1. Don’t have own AC; normally individually named vineyard e.g. Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatieres
2. Possibility to only state village + 1er cru if

a. chosen by labeller (not compulsory)
b. Wine blended from 2 1er cru vineyards
c. declassified GC or 2xGC from same village

Question 4

Village AC (2) <25% prod

1. V name stated, pos add v/y
2. GC, 1er Cru or V

Answer 4

Village AC (under 25% of overall production)

1. Village name stated; possibility to add vineyard (even if not 1er Cru) in small lettering after Commune
2. Can be a GC, 1er Cru or village wine.

Question 5

Communal ACs (5) CdB/CdN V AC

1. yields + blend
2. Communes (exl AC,B,P&V) red
3. Minor comm in CdN white
4. Chab AC; C.Ch
5. Mac - PF,SV,VC

Answer 5

Communal ACs (Cotes de Beaune village/Cotes de Nuits villages AC)

1. Higher yields permitted and possibility to blend wines from different villages
2. Used by communes in Cotes de Beaune (excl. Aloxe-Corton, Beaune, Pommard & Volnay) for reds only
3. Used by minor communes in Cotes de Nuits; can be white.
4. Chablis AC in Chablis; Cote Chalonnaise:
5. Maconnais: Pouilly Fuissé, St-Véran, Viré Clessé, etc

Question 6

Regional ACs (7)

1. Grapes - less or declass
2. Bourg. G Ordinaire - G + PN, Wh MdB+A
3. Bourg. Passtoutgrains - min *% PN + G
4. Bourg. Rouge/ B AC: PN/Ch
5. Bourg. Hautes-CdN / Haut-CdB AC, r/w from 18 village in hills. L Bodied, less Conc, co-op
6. Bourg: C.Chal AC: covers R,M,G,M + AC
7. M-V / M+’village’ only W, one or sev of ** allowed villages

Answer 6

Regional ACs (65% of overall production)

1. Often grapes grown in lesser vineyards or declassified wines (too high yields or by choice)
2. Bourg. Grand Ordinaire AC: mainly Gamay + Pinot Noir. Whites: Melon de Bourgogne + Aligoté
3. Bourg. Passetoutgrains AC: min 30% Pinot Noir + Gamay
4. Bourg. Rouge / Blanc AC: Pinot Noir / Chardonnay
5. Bourg. Hautes-Cotes de Nuits / Haut-Cotes de Beaune AC: red or white from 18 villages in the hills; lighter bodied and less concentrated than the Cotes. Most made by cooperative cellar in Beaune.
6. Bourg. Cote Chalonnaise AC: covers Rully, Givry, Montagny, Mercurey + some nearby vineyards. Each AC on its own right.
7. Macon-Villages / Macon+’village’ AC: only whites, can be made from one or several of the 43 allowed villages