THE NEXT BEST THINK TO FALLING IN LOVE.

BURGUNDY

Week 4- Understanding French Burgundy’s

Week 5- The elegance of Bordeaux 

Week 6- Discovering the treasured wines of Italy

Week 7- Wine and food pairing

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Name the three grapes used in champagne.What is the purpose of champagne’s second

fermentation.Name three champagne styles.What is the purpose of, pump over's and

punch downs?What is the second fermentation in the barrel

called? What is the result of the fermentation?

REVIEW FROM LAST WEEK

BURGUNDYI encourage you to look at a map of Burgundy to locate it’s regions.

The word terroir, which means: sun entity, effect of soil and rainfall was first used in Burgundy; it’s emphasized most in this region of France.

The history of Burgundy begins with the the Romans conquering Gaul (in 51 BC) from the Celtic.

The Benedictine Monks became the first to control the land for the purpose of viticulture through the Abbey’s and monasteries.

In 1789 at the end of the French Revolution, Burgundy was split and sold off in plots. These plots have now been fragmented and are still held within the family. Today Burgundy looks more like a jigsaw puzzle with its may producers.

Burgundy was never as well know as Bordeaux in the Middle ages due to its location. Burgundy is inland which creates difficulty when transporting wine; Paris was as far as the barrels would be transported. It was not until Burgundy’s infamous Dukes came to power, the wine started to circulate.

HISTORY OF BURGUNDY

In Burgundy there are two grapes used predominantly. If it’s white it’s Chardonnay if it’s red it’s Pinot Noir. Gamay and Aligote are also cultivated in the area, in small amounts.

One vineyard could be owned by five different growers, each owner cultivates his wine, his own separate way. (For example a grower may own 2 rows of grapes.)

A grower may own seven different plots of land within Burgundy, but will never blend his wine outside the village in which it grows. Why, because of terrior.

Burgundy is known for their negociants/ cooperatives- a wine broker who would buy up grapes from growers blend them together and make their own label.

Within Burgundy’s 4 sub-regions there are other regions; within these regions are your appellations.

Five Key Points to Understanding Burgundy

It’s very cold in Burgundy, and the growers constantly have to worry about the grapes reaching their full ripeness due to the lack of sunshine. The result is a weakly flavored wine, that tastes flabby.

September is known as the month of rain, and can be hazardous to the ripening of the grapes. Prior to harvest, the grapes can become water logged and thin.

Rot, is a challenge in Burgundy with its cold, rainy days. Producers must be particularly careful when harvesting. They must sort though the rotten grapes, to prevent the chances of the wine tasting off.

The Challenges Burgundy Face

Chablis- Which is the most northern sub-region is 100% devoted to growing Chardonnay.

Cote d’Or (Golden Slopes)- Home to Burgundy’s legendary wines, is 30 miles long and encompasses Cote de Beaune and Cote de Nuits. They produce both Point Noir and Chardonnay. It is said, “Because the vines face east, they get a perfect dose of morning sun.”

Cote Chalonnaise- Producing red and whites, is not as expensive as its sister Cote d’Or. The most famous village is Mercurey.

Burgundy by Sub-Regions

Maconnais- Just south of Cote Chalonnaise, produces good everyday drinking Chardonnay. The three most well know wines are, Macon Village, Pouilly-Fuisse and St. Veran. Many simple Bourgognes Blanc and Rouge are also produced here.

Beaujolais- The southernmost sub-region of Burgundy is devoted to making fruity, red wine from the gamay grape.

Burgundy by Sub-Regions

ChablisNorthernmost region,

closer to Champagne than Cote d’Or

Made of limestone slopes

An adorable town, very quaint

Produces only Chardonnay

Chablis has seven, Grand Cru vineyards and seventeen, Premier Cru

Cote d’OrThe most famous of the

regions of Burgundy.Within the sub-region of

Cote d’Or there are two other well know regions; Cote de Nuits (9 appellations) and

Cote de Beaune (16 appellations)• Any wine you partake of

from Cote d’Or will be fantastic.

Cote ChalonnaiseThis area, while not

as elite as its northern sister, still produces fantastic basic Bourgogne wines.

Cote Chalonnaise has several well know villages, the most famous being Mercureys.

MaconnaisMaconnais is primarily

a white region.Maconnais is well

known for the areas of Macon, Pouilly- Fuisse and St. Veran.

There are no Grand Cru or Premier Cue vineyards in Maconnais.

More than 75% of Macons come from cooperatives.

Beaujolais The grapes grown in Beaujolais

have nothing in common with Burgundy. The grape varietals as well has the climate are completely different.

Beaujolais is both the name of the wine and the place from which the wine comes from.

Beaujolais Nouveau (new wine) is released yearly in November, of the present years harvest.

The process of making Beaujolais differs form Burgundy. Whole grape clusters are put into tanks and the fermentation takes place within the grape cluster.

Burgundy by ClassificationBurgundy’s

classifications are geographically-focused. A specific vineyard or region will bear a given classification, regardless of the wine's producer. The focus on the wine's labels is the appellation. The producer's name often appears at the bottom in a much smaller text.

Burgundy has four levels: Burgundy rouge and blanc, Village wine, Premier Cru, Grand Cru

Premier Cru-Premier Cru wines comprises 12% of production. These wines are often aged 3-5 years.

Grand Cru- comprises only 2% of total production. Prior to being released, these wines are normally aged 5-7 years.

Burgundy by ClassificationVillage-

appellation wines are produced from a blend of wines. These lower ranked vineyard sites are within the boundaries of 1 of 42 villages. These wines should be aged in 2-4 years.

Regional- appellation wines are wines which are allowed to be produced over the entire region, or over an area, significantly larger than that of an individual village.

Within the regional appellation there are three categories; AOC Bourgogne, Sub-regional, these wines are a specific style.

However sad, it may be, to buy a good wine from Burgundy will cost you. There is no such thing as bargin shopping in Burgundy.

Wines from Cote d’Or are the most famous. Being the highest ranked in Burgundy as well as the world.

Village wines are a great starting place. From here, try to identify different characteristics in the wine from the different neighboring villages. Burgundy prides itself on terroir.

How to Select a Wine From Burgundy

Louis Jadot Macon – Villages Blanc 2010

Joseph Drouhin- Sait Veran Blanc 2008

Blason de Bourgogne Rouge 2009

George Duboeuf Beaujolais-Villages 2009

Burgundy Tasting

Blanc- Citrus, vanilla, butterscotch, toasted butter, custard, green apples, tropical fruit, lemon, lime, herbal, pineapple…

Rouge- cherries, plums, raspberries, damp earth, mushrooms, cedar, cigars, chocolate, spice, worn leather, dry leaves…

Beaujolais- jammy, big fruit, spice, cherry, blueberry, blackberry, plum…

Tasting for Burgundy

• Familiarize yourself with Burgundy, become acquainted with its many villages and sub-regions.

Homework