WINES OF THE WORLD 🇫🇷 France - Beaujolais

Question 1

Climate of Beaujolais

Answer 1

Continental climate. Adequate rainfall with 740 mm. Cold Mistral wind.

Question 2

Key elements in the topography of Beaujolais

Answer 2

The Saone River moderates the extreme temperatures. Hills (200-500 m) in the northern part and flat land in the south.

Question 3

Type of soils in Beaujolais

Answer 3

Fast-draining granite, schist and sandy soils in the N, while the S has rich soils.

Question 4

Hazards in Beaujolais

Answer 4

Problems of flowering, damaged leaves and grapes due to the Mistral wind.

Question 5

Main grape varieties of Beaujolais

Answer 5

Gamay (98%), Chardonnay.

Question 6

Main training systems in Beaujolais

Answer 6

Bush vines on the steeper slopes, low training due to the Mistral wind. Increasing of trained and trellised vines to aid mechanisation.

Question 7

Harvest for wines from Beaujolais

Answer 7

Early in the N and then in the S. Hand harvest.

Question 8

Main appellations within Beaujolais

Answer 8

• Beaujolais Nouveau AOC or Beaujolais Villages Nouveau AOC
• Beaujolais AOC
• Beaujolais Villages AOC
• Beaujolais Crus

Question 9

Main crus of Beaujolais

Answer 9

• Brouilly AOC
• Chiroubles AOC
• Fleuries AOC
• Moulin-à-Vent AOC
• Morgon AOC

Question 10

Brouilly AOC

Answer 10

One of the two largest crus of Beaujolais, the most southern, warmer area.

Question 11

Chiroubles AOC

Answer 11

One of the crus of Beaujolais, at the highest altitude

Question 12

Fleuries AOC

Answer 12

One of the crus of Beaujolais, sandy soils in the S while the N have more clay.

Question 13

Moulin-à-Vent AOC

Answer 13

One of the crus of Beaujolais.

Question 14

Morgon AOC

Answer 14

One of the two largest crus of Beaujolais, S aspect.

Question 15

Types of wines made in Beaujolais

Answer 15

Mainly red wine, tiny amount of rosé and white. 25% Beaujolais Nouveau.

Question 16

Key winemaking operations for Beaujolais and Beaujolais Villages

Answer 16

Mainly semi-carbonic maceration. Chaptalisation is common. Maceration of 4-5 days for Beaujolais and Beaujolais Villages (6-9 days for top Villages). Stainless steel.

Question 17

Key winemaking operations for Beaujolais Crus

Answer 17

Longer maceration (10-20 days) for Cru Beaujolais wines, otherwise, traditional red winemaking process (destemming, crushing and fermentation).

Question 18

Key winemaking operations for Beaujolais Nouveau

Answer 18

Made by carbonic or semi-carbonic maceration. Bottled 3-5 days after fermentation.

Question 19

Key maturation practices in Beaujolais

Answer 19

Wines made in a Burgundian style can age in small or large barrels (small % of new oak).

Question 20

Style for wines in Beaujolais AOC

Answer 20

Fresh and fruity.

Question 21

Style for wines in Beaujolais Villages AOC

Answer 21

Purple colour, med int of red cherry, raspberry, red plum (kirsch and banana if semi-carbonic maceration), med+/high acidity, low/med tannin, med alcohol, low/med- body. If wine from old vines, med+/pron intensity, med tannin.

Question 22

Style for wines in Brouilly AOC

Answer 22

Lighter and more perfumed style.

Question 23

Style for wines in Chiroubles AOC

Answer 23

Lighter and fragrant wines with marked acidity.

Question 24

Style for wines in Fleuries AOC

Answer 24

Lighter and more fragrant wine in the S, lower acidity and fuller body in the N.

Question 25

Style for wines in Moulin-à-Vent AOC

Answer 25

The most powerful and long-lived wines, similar to Côte d’Or.

Question 26

Style for wines in Morgon AOC

Answer 26

Pron int of black cherry and sufficient tannin to age.

Question 27

Types of businesses that operate in Beaujolais

Answer 27

Avg size of holdings is 10 ha. Many growers sell to co-operatives (25% of the sales) or négociants.
George Duboeuf was important in the promotion of Beaujolais Nouveau.

Question 28

Days of maceration on the skins for Beaujolais and Beaujolais Villages

Answer 28

4-5 days, also 6-9 days for top Villages

Question 29

When Beaujolais Nouveau can be sold

Answer 29

From the third Thursday in November

Question 30

Number of Beaujolais Crus

Answer 30

10

Question 31

When Beaujolais AOC wines can be sold

Answer 31

From mid-January after the harvest.