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.
