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Wine Regions of France
Champagne Loire Valley Alsace Burgundy Bordeaux Côtes de Rhône Languedoc-
Roussillon
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Wine Regions Major Grapes
Champagne – sparkling Loire Valley – white Alsace-white Burgundy -red & white Bordeaux - red & white Cotes de Rhone - red Languedoc-Roussillon -
red & white Provence
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay Sauv. Blanc, Chenin Blanc,
Cabern. Franc Riesling, Gewurztraminer Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Gamay Cabern. Sauv., Merlot, Cabern.
Franc, Sémillon Syrah, Grenache Merlot, Cabern. Sauv., Sauv.
Blanc, Chardonnay Granache, Syrah
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A.O.C.
Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée
Laws established in 1930s set minimum requirements for each wine-producing area in France.
There are more than 350 A.O.C. French wines
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A.O.C.
1. Geographic origin
Chablis Pommard
2. Grape variety which can be planted
Chardonnay Pinot Noir
3. Minimum alcohol content
10% 10.5%
4. Vinegrowing practice: max. wine per acre
40 hectoliters / acre
35 hectoliters / acre
1 hectoliter = 26.42 U.S. gallons
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Burgundy (Bourgogne)
Begins about 60 miles south-east of Paris Extends for 225 miles (North-South) Weather: continental with cold winter and warm
summer Population of 1.6 million
Dijon (150,000) Chalon sur Saône (50,000) Auxerre (37,000) Macon (34,000) Beaune (21,000)
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History of Burgundy Wine (Greek traders brought vines to Marseille in 600 BC) Roman invasion brought beginning of wine
production in 51 BC (Celts had vines there already) (Greek traders brought vines to Marseille in 600 BC) Sixth century; King Guntram gave his vineyards to
church in 587 Benedictines through Abbey of Cliny (founded in 910)
became 1st large vineyard until the 19th century Another order, Cistercians (1098) created first walled
vineyard, Clos de Vougeot (in 1336) Since Burgundy is land-locked, little wine was
transported in medieval times except Chablis which could reach Paris by Yonne River
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Burgundy History cont.
In 14th century, during Papacy in Avignon, wine was transported over land and via Saône and Rhône rivers south; considered the finest wine in Rome at the time
In 1370, first mention of Pinot Noir By 18th century, French roads improved and
Burgundy began competing with Champagne wines in Paris
Revolution of 1789, confiscated vineyards from Church and fragmented them into small plots
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Burgundy
Burgundy has more appellations (A.O.C.) than any other French region (150)
Vineyards are delineated by terroir
400 types of soil in Burgundy Classifications are geographically-focused
Regions runs from Auxerre to Mâcon (Lyon) Separate from Chablis (in the north) is the Côte d’Or
25 miles long and 1.2 miles wide Côte de Nuits (of Dijon to south of Nuits-St.-
Georges) Côte de Beaune (Ladoix to Dezize-les-Maranges)
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Burgundy
Classification of the qualities of the land in the Côte d’Or is the most elaborate on earth.
The classification dates back to the med 19th century Grand Cru: first class; 31 in operation today; mainly
in Côte de Nuits. Each Grand Cru has its own appellation; single, simple vineyard name. Example: Musigny, Corton, Montrachet
Premier Cru: 635 (of varying quality); name of commune followed by name of vineyard. Example: Chassagne-Montrachet (les Calliers)
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Burgundy
Many tiny villages surrounded by flat and sloped vineyards
Villages on eastern side of a hilly region (sheltered from prevailing westerly winds)
Grand Cru come from higher slopes (most sun and best drainage)
Premier Cru come from less favorable sites Village wines produce from flat territory nearer
villages
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Burgundy
Côte de Nuits contains 24/25 red Grand Cru appellations in Burgundy
Côte de Beaune contains all the white Grand Cru
appellations South of Côte d’Or is Côte Chalonnaise
Produce both red and white wines Mercurey, Rully and Givry
Further south is Mâconnais Produces larger quantities of affordable white wine
Even further south is Beaujolais Fruity red wine made from Gamay grapes
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White Wines of Burgundy
Main regions of Burgundy Chablis Côte d’Or Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beune (Montrachet,
Meursault) Côte Chalonnaise Mâconnais (Pouilly-Fuissé) Beaujolais
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White Wines of Burgundy
Types of white Burgundy - In Chablis, because of its northerly climate, its
wines have more acidity than Mâconnais of the south.
- 95% of grapes from Chablis and Mâconnais are fermented and aged in stainless steel.
- Grapes from Côte de Beaune are fermented and aged in oak barrels adding complexity, depth, body, flavor and longevity
All white Burgundies have one trait in common: They
are dry.
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Wines of Burgundy
Classification of Burgundies Village Wine (36%) Bears name of a specific village. Consumed
within 2-4 years ($ = good) Premier Cru (12%) Specific vineyard, bears name of both
vineyard and village. Name of village and vineyard. Aged for 3-5 years. ($$ = better)
Grand Cru (2%) Specific vineyard meets or exceeds established
requirements. Bear name of vineyard. Meant for cellaring >15 years ($$$$ = best)
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How can we understand Burgundy?
Vineyard defined by terrior not ownership Ex: 125 acres of vineyard Clos de Vougeot has 80 owners of parcels.
Grower could own just a few rows, enough to make a single barrel (25 cases)
Growers have parcels from different vineyards Ex: Grower Domaine Roumier 3 wines Chambolle-Musigny
Village wine: Domaine Roumier Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru: Domaine Roumier Chambolle-Musigny Les
Amourseuses Grand Cru: Domaine Roumier Les Musigny
Négotiants • Brokers rose to power after French revolution due to small
acreage, growers could not bottle, market, sell own wine • Combine small lots a bottle under their name • Since 1960-1980, negotiants bought growers
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Chablis
Quality levels of French Chablis Petit Chablis - ordinary quality, rarely seen in US Chablis - comes from grapes grown anywhere in Chablis
district - drink within two years of vintage Chablis Premier Cru - comes from specific high-quality vineyard - drink between two and four years of vintage Chablis Grand Cru - comes from one of seven designated vineyards - Les Clos, Vaudesir, Valmur, Bourgros, Blanchot,
Preuses,and Grenouilles
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Côte d’Or
To really understand the Côte d’Or Burgundy wines, one has to become familiar with the most important villages, Grand Cru vineyards and some of the Premier Cru vineyards.
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Côte d’Or
• Quality of Wines • Grand Cru • Premier Cru • Village • Generic
• Region • Côte de Beune (8 Grand Cru) • Côte de Nuits (24 Grand Cru)
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Cote d’Or
The Côte lies on an important geological fault
line where the sea-bed deposits of several
different geological; epochs, each rich in
calcium from defunct shellfish, are exposed like
a sliced layer cake.
Exposure has weathered their rocks into soils of
different ages and texture.
The varying degrees of slope have mixed them
in different proportions.
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Cote d’Or
Classification of the qualities of the land in the Côte d’Or is the most elaborate on earth.
The classification dates back to the med 19th century
Grand Crus: first class; 31 in operation today; mainly in Côte de Nuits. Each Grand Cru has its own appellation.
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Cote de Beaune – White Wines This is one of the two major areas of the Cote d’Or. Very
limited amounts of wine from this areas are white, but they are some of the finest examples of dry white wine produced in the world and are considered a benchmark for winemakers everywhere.
The four most important white wine villages of the Cote de Beaune are:
Aloxe-Corton Meursault Puligny-Montrachet Chassagne-Montrachet All produce wines that are 100% Chardonnay grapes The primary difference is in the location of the vineyard:
soil and slope of the land.
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Villages of Côte de Beaune
Aloxe-Corton (2) Beaune Pommard Volnay Meursault Puligny-Montrachet (4) Chassagne-Montrachet (3) Santenay
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Santenay
Most confused geologically Complex faults make radical changes of soil
and subsoil Chassagne-Montrachet; excellent white wines
– succulent, golden white wine scented with flowers and hazelnuts; produces some red also
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Côte de Beaune: Meursault
Main sub-regions Chassagne-Montrachet St-Aubin Puligny-Montrachet Meursault Auxey-Duress Monthelie Volnay
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Meursault
Considered the best white wines in the world Perfect exposure to east (sun shine down rows
as late as 9 pm in summer) Limestone soil Grand Cru Montrachet: more scent, golden
color, longer flavor, more succulent and more density than any other Chardonnay in the world
Puligny tends to be more delicate than Meursault
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Beaune
No Grand Cru in either Pommard or Beune North of Beune lies Corton
Produces some amount of white, Corton-Charlemagne (which can rival Montracher
Simpler wines labeled Aloxe-Corton are produced on lower slopes; red – big, fruity sometines tannic
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Côte de Beaune: Beaune
Main sub-regions Pommard Beaune Savigny-lès-Beaune Chorey-lès-Beaune Pernand-Vergelesses Aloxe-Corton
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Villages of Côte de Nuits
Dijon Fixin Gevrey-Chambertin (9) Morey-St-Denis (5) Chambolle-Musigny (2) Vougeot (1) Vosne-Romanée (7) Nuits-St-Georges
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Nuits-St-Georges Intense, deeper color, larger life characterize these
Pinot Noirs Long line of Grand Crus, from Prémeaux to Vosne-
Romanée and Vougeot Some of the world’s most expensive wines
Romanee-Conti, la Romanee, le Richebourg, Clos de Voygeot
Clos de Vougeot 125 acres 80 owners (vineyards), some no more that 1-2 rows On a slope with higher regions producing best wines Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin
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Gevrey-Chambertin
Archeological evidence of plantings as early as 1st century BC
310 acres of Pinot Noir 33 of Burgundy’s Grand Crus Musigny wines have a delicacy of perfume
over classic Pinor Noir characteristics; can age 10-20 years aging
There are more famous vineyards in this region than any other in Burgundy
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Cote Châlonnaise
Least known major wine district of Burgundy
Mainly know for value Pinot Noir as Mercurey,Givry and Rully
Value white wines Montagny Rully
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Mâconnais The southernmost, white-wine-producing
area in Burgundy Pleasant, light, uncomplicated table wines Most famous: Pouilly-Fuissé Other Quality Wines (Basic-Best):
Macon Blanc Macon Superieur Macon-Villages St-Veran Pouilly-Vinzelles Pouilly-Fuisse
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Pouilly-Fuisse
Wave-shaped limestone hills rich in alkaline clay, loved by Chardonnay grapes
Use a variety of wine making techniques Type and length on oak Lees-stirring Use of second crop fruit to add acidity
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Beaujolais
• Made from 100% Gamay grapes • Light and fruity • Served chilled • Very affordable • Consumed very young
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Quality Levels of Beaujolais
Beaujolais Basic Beaujolais (Cost $) Beaujolais–Villages Blend from certain villages (Cost $$) Cru Name of one of 10 villages (Cost $$$) Brouilly, Chénas, Chiroubles, Côte de
Brouilly, Fleurie, Juliénas, Morgon, Moulin-a-Vent, Régnié, Saint-Amour
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Beaujolais Nouveau
• Lighter and fruitier • Picked, fermented, bottled, sold • Best drunk within 6 months • Released on 3rd Thursday of
November