Wine Labelling Flashcards
Outside of the EU, what purpose does a GI have? (3)
- To define the limits of a region.
- At least 85% of the grapes came from that region
- ———-“—————- are of the stated vintage
What purpose do GIs serve within the EU?
- Region definitions
- The grape varieties used (must be 100% those stated)
- Grape growing practices
- Wine making practices
What are the two types of GI within the EU?
PDO - Protected Designation of Origin
PGI - Protected Geographical Indication
Differences between PGI and PDO?
PGIs are usually larger areas with fewer regulations
PDOs are smaller areas with more regulations
Why do most EU producers not state the grape(s) on a PDO label?
They rely upon the traditional Appellation d’Origin Contrôllée (AOC or AC), e.g. Appelation Minervois Contrôlée or Appelation Bordeaux Contrôlée
When do EU producers typically state grape varietals on a label?
When it’s a PGI
eg: Pays d’Oc or Vin de Pays
What is the French for PGI?
IGP
Indication Géographique Protégée
(Often used in preference to PGI)
Do all wines have to be sold with a GI?
No.
But it will have the country of origin.
Give an example of PDO regulation for Champage
The grapes must not be machine harvested
and must be gently pressed
What is Cru Classé.
- Which region does it come from?
- What does it mean?
- 61 left bank Bordeaux producers from the Medoc and one from Graves.
- Independent of AC rules, merchants classified producers into one of 5 classifications in 1855. First Growth through to Fifth Growth according to the perceived quality of their wine.
Sauternes and Barsac were included but only had two growth classifications.
———FYI———- The Medoc communes are: Saint Estephe, Pauillac, Saint Julien, Margaux, Saint Emillion (right bank) added 1955 Graves (added 1959)
What does “Bordeaux” or “Bordeaux Supérieur” mean on a wine label?
They can come from anywhere within Bordeaux. Red or white.
For Supérieur, there are slightly strict appellation rules
The alcohol level is higher
What are the four main Bordeaux regions?
Médoc
Sauternes
Graves
St. Émilion
Name the two Bordeaux rivers that feed into the Gironde
Dordogne (to the North)
Garonne (to the South)
(Defining the Entre Deux Mers region)
Name the two appelations of the Médoc
Médoc
Haut Médoc
- Name the four principle Communes (smaller appelations) within the Haut Medoc appelation.
- Are they for red wines, white wines or both?
- Saint-Estèphe
Pauillac
Saint-Julien
Margaux - Red only
Does the Cru Classé belong to the grapes or the chateau?
The Chateau.
The producer can use grapes from anywhere within the stated appelation.
Does the stated Bordeaux appelation apply to the chateau or the grapes?
The grapes.
Which can come from anywhere within the appelation and made into wine by the Cru Classé producer
- What does Cru Bourgeois mean?
2. Does it apply to the Chateau or the wine?
Wines from non-cru classé producers are submitted each year to be awarded Cru Bourgeois for that year.
Name the three Sauternes 1855 cru classé
Premier Cru Supérieur
Premier Crus
Deuxièmes Crus
Name the Cru Classé of Graves
Pessac-Léognan
Any wine, red or white, from a Graves producer with Cru Classé, comes from which appelation?
Pessec-Léognan
Saint Émilion is on which bank of which river?
The right (or north) bank of the Dordogne
Name the two cru classé within the AOC of Saint Émilion
Which classé is subdivided and what are they.
- Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé
- Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé
Premier Grand Cru Classé is subdivided into A (the best) and B.
Everything else is unclassified, or just
AOC Saint-Émilion
Why does the Saint-Émilion cru classé appear on the label when Medoc ones don’t?
Because the cru classé of St.Émilion is part of the appelation system.
The Médoc cru classé is outside of the appelation.
Burgundy has 3 types of appelations. What are they?
Regional
Commune
Single Vineyard
Name the two Regional appellations that apply to the entirety of Burgundy
Bourgogne Rouge and, er, Blanc
Name the five smaller regional appellations of Burgundy
Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuit Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune Bourgogne Côte Challonaise Mâcon Mâcon Village
In which region of Burgundy do most communes exist?
Côte d’Or
Côtes de Nuit and Beaune
Including the Hautes Côtes de Nuit and Hautes Côtes de Beaune
Name the two principle Communes in Burgundy’s Côte d’Or
Gevrey-Chambertin
Meursault
Is Chablis
a) a region
b) an appelation
c) a commune
C. A Commune
Single vineyard wines in Burgundy have two levels. Name them
Lower level: Premier Cru
Upper level: Grand Cru
How do you identify a Premier (1er) Cru Burgundy?
The label will have the:
* Commune name (eg Gevrey-Chambertin)
…and either:
* The vineyard name (eg Les Cazetiers) IF all of the grapes came from a single premier cru vineyard.
…or
- just Premier Cru if all the grapes, juice or wine came from multiple vineyards within the Commune
How do you identify a Grand Cru Burgandy?
The words “Grand Cru” will be there along with the name of the vineyard. The commune will not be there.
Eg Chambertin Grand Cru
Describe a typical Regional Burgandy red and white style
Light body, least complex. Primary fruit flavours
Red: Raspberry, red cherry
White: Lemon, apple
Oak is limited and if oaked, it’ll be in old barrels
Describe the style of a single vineyard 1er/Grand Cru from Côte d’Or
Concentrated
Complex
Oaked (some of it new)
Spicey and toast balanced by concentration of fruit
Chablis and oak… ?
Very restrained use.
Some use stainless steel instead
- All of the red Grands Crus in Burgundy (bar one) are from: ?
- All of the white Grands Crus in Burgundy (bar one) are from: ?
- Côte de Nuits
(Night is darker, so is Red) - Côte de Beaune
(Bones are white, so is Chardonnay)
A wine is “Bourgogne Rouge” (or Blanc)…
Where in Burgundy might it come from?
Anywhere.
Rouge will probably be Pinot Noir
Blanc will probably be Chardonnay
A Mâcon Village wine… red, white or either?
Only White
Generally represent excellent value for money. More ripeness,character & body than standard Mâcon.
Key village to look for: Lugny
Drop the “Village” and it could be either.
What is “monopole” in Burgundy?
The rare instance of a vineyard with a single owner
Red, white or either:
- Côtes de Nuites-Village?
- Côte de Beaune-Village?
Côtes de Nuites-Village: Either red or white
Côtes de Beaune-Village: Only RED
(Compare to Grands Cru, bar one in each case, wines from the same:
Beaune: White
Nuites: Red)
Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits
and
Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune
How do they compare to the Village versions (2) and why (2)
They are grown at a (1) higher altitude (cooler) and are (2) exposed to winds (cooler) and thus the wine has (1) less body and (2) less concentration.
- Name the four Côtes Challonaise village appelations
2. Which colour wine are they each best known for?
Rully - more white than red
Mercurey - red
Givry - red
Montagny - only white
These communes all have Premier Cru but no Grand Cru
Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise wines come from…
Anywhere on the Côte Chalonnaise, and will be Pinot or Chardonnay
Which grapes variatels are predominately grown in the Maconnais?
Red: mainly Gamay, some Pinot
White: Chardonnay
Quick description of:
- Mâcon reds
- Mâcon whites
(Not Mâcon Villages btw)
- Reds - light, fruity, for early drinking (that’ll be the Gamay)
- Whites - good balance of fresh apple & citrus, medium acidity, med to full body. Maybe some MLF creaminess.
Pouilly-Fuissé and Saint-Véran… come from:
Côtes Chalonnaise or Maconnais?
Côtes Maconnaise
Brief notes of style for Pouilly-Fuissé and Saint-Véran:
Grown on East and South-East slopes of limestone, acting as natural suntraps.
Ripe notes of tropical and stone fruits, matured in some oak for texture and toasty oak flavours
Do the terms “Réserve personnelle” and “Cuvée spéciale” on Alsace wines have any legal status?
No.
It’s an attempt to distinguish a higher quality of wine within the over-simple appelations of either Alsace or Alsace Grand Cru
How might a label indicate Transfer Method rather than Traditional?
Often states “Bottle fermented” as opposed to “méthode traditionnelle”
