Wine Law (General) Flashcards
What is the Griffe Law, and why was it passed?
A law passed in 1889 defining wine as the product of fermentation of fresh grapes and outlining acceptable winemaking practices (chaptalization, fining, etc.).
It was a reaction to the rampant and dangerous fraud in the wake of phylloxera.
What were the first three delimited areas in France for wine?
Bordeaux
Banyuls
Champagne
What were the first delimited areas in France for spirits?
Cognac
Armagnac
When did the Syndicate of Chateauneuf du Pape create their appellation rules, and what did they govern?
1923-1926
Varieties (10)
Minimum alcohol
No Chaptalization
No Rose
Who was the leader of the CDP appellation movement?
Baron le Roy of Chateau Fortia
How long must a DOC be extant before it can apply for DOGC status?
5 years
What is Naturwein?
“Natural wine,” or wine that is unchaptalized.
What is Verbesserte?
“Improved” or chaptalized wine.
When were the terms Naturwein and Verbesserte abolished?
1971
When the VDP was founded in 1910, what was its original aim?
It was dedicated to the production of Naturwein.
What is Qualitätswein garantierten Ursprungs (QgU)?
“quality wines of guaranteed origin” - a category of German wine law from 1994-2007
When did the European Economic Community (EEC) become the European Union (EU)?
1993
What did the first EEC Common Market Organization (CMO) for wine do?
Divided all wine into Quality Wines Produced in a Specific Region (QWPSR) and Table Wine.
When was the EU CMO reformed?
2008
What are the main CMO reforms (2008)?
Liberalization of planting rights (ban on planting rights lifted, though planting/replanting is limited)
Grubbing Up Scheme
End of Distillation Subsidies
National Envelopes (annual funding for each member nation)
Liberalization of Winemaking Practices (oak chips, MCR permitted)
Lower Limits on Chaptalization
New Labeling requirements (all wines are now either with or without Geographical Designation)
What is the limit for chaptalization in Climate Zone A?
3% (Germany, Czech, UK)
What is the limit for chaptalization in Climate Zone B?
2% (Alsace, Champagne, Loire, Austria)
What is the limit for chaptalization in Climate Zone C?
1.5% Bordeaux, Burgundy
RS for Sec/Trocken/Száraz
0-4 (or 0-9)
RS for Demi-sec/Halbtrocken/Abboccato
4-12 (or 9-18)
RS for Moelleux/Amabile
12/18-45
RS for Doux/Dolce/Édes
> 45
Must US wines exported to the EU meet the 85% varietal requirement?
NO, there is a bilateral agreement between the EU and USA.
What are the legal requirements for PDO?
Quality and characteristics are essentially or exclusively due to a particular geographic environment with its inherent natural and human factors.
100% of grapes come from this area
Produced in the area
Vitis Vinifera only
What are the legal requirements for IGP?
Possesses a specific quality, reputation, or other characteristic attributable to that geographical origin
85% of grapes come from this area
Produced in the area
Vitis Vinifera or Vitis Hybrids only
What hybrids are banned from use in IGP wines?
Noah
Othello
Isabelle
Jacquez
Clinton
Herbemont
May PDO and PGI wines label by varietal?
YES (was NO pre-2009)
What are the compulsory particulars for PDO and PGI wines for the front label?
PDO/PGI (may be spelled out), + name of said PDO/PGI
Actual alcoholic strength (+/-.5%)
Country of Origin
Name of Bottler/Producer
Indication of Importer
Indication of sugar content for sparkling wines
Indication of allergens (egg whites, dairy for fining, etc.)
What is a “tied-house”?
A situation wherein a producer of alcohol offers a retailer an inducement to sell his product (pre-prohibition, many saloons were owned by brewers, etc.)
What information is mandatory on bottles of wine in the USA?
Class or type of wine
Brand name
Bottler’s name & address
ABV
Net contents
Surgeon General’s warning
Contains Sulfites (at more than 10ppm)
What are the tolerances for abv listing?
1.5% for wines 14%
Ranges are acceptable:
3% under 14% (11-14%)
2% above 14%
Wines under 14% may label simply as “table wine” or “light wine”
100% Organic
Contains only organically grown grapes and has no added sulfites
Organic
Contains at least 95% organically grown grapes, and has no added sulfites. Added yeasts must be certified organic.
Made with Organically Grown Grapes
Contains at least 70% organically grown grapes and may contain up to 100ppm of sulfites. Added yeasts need not be organic.
Must European wines labeled Organic meet USDA standards to use the term on bottles for export?
YES
