Maps Review France Major AOC Wine Producing Regions Champagne, Alsace, Burgundy, Rhone Valley, Provence, Languedoc, Bordeaux, Loire Valley Chris and Bored Raj Played Little Balls Loudly Major Topographical Features: Massif Central ( Central highlands of the country), Alsp in SE, Loire, Garonne, Dordogne , Rhone and Rhine Rivers and Vosges Mountains – NE France – Shields vineyards of Alsace , Champagne and Chablis Mediterranean climate : Rousillion, Languedoc, Provence and Rhone Regions Red Grapes dominant: Full Bodied, Moderate acidity
Maritime Climate: Western part of France, Loire Valley White Grapes dominate: high acidic, low to medium body, low in alcohol White Grape Varieties 1) UGNI BLANC ( Trebbiano), Chardonnay, Sauv Blanc, Melon de Bourgogne ( Muscadet), Muscat ( Vin Doux Naturales), Chenin Blanc Red Grape Varieties: 1) MERLOT ( Bordeaux and Languedoc), Grenach, Syrah ( N. RHONE), Carignan, CAB ( Bordeaux), Cab Frank ( tolerates cool weather – Loire), Gamay, Pinot Noir ( Burgundy), Cinsaut ( blending grape of South), Pinot Meunier ( other Red grape of Champagne), Mourvere ( Languedoc & Provence)
Vin de Table, Vin de Pays, VDQS, AOC (300, ? of French Wine) Bordeaux Highlights ( SW FRANCE) Known for Long Lived, High Quality Reds & Sweet White Dessert Wines Varieties: Melot, Cab, Cab Frank, Malbec & Petit Verdot, Garonne and Dordogne Rivers form the GIRONDE, flows into Atlantic River divided region in 3 Sections 1) Left Bank – West a. Upper End Left Bank Reds : Cab Territory, Medoc Region – World’s Finest b. Sweet White Wines comes from Sauternes on Left Bank, Botrytis Condition/ Noble Rot 2) Right Bank – East . Upper End Right Bank Reds : Top Quality, Long Lived Reds i. Pomeral & St. Emilion AOC’s 3) Entre – Deux – Mers a. Dry White Wine Area – Graves, Area of Left Bank North is called MEDOC, south and west of the city is called GRAVES – Most White Varietals are found here… Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, Muscadelle Bordeaux AOC vs Bordeaux Superior – Can be used for Red and Sweet White, tighter restrictions, older vines ,lower yields, several months of aging, higher minimum ripeness at harvest, half degree higher alcohol
MEDOC: Four of the most esteemed villages – St. Estephe, Pauillac, St. Jullien, Margaux GRAVES: Sauternes – Sweet Wines, Pesac – Leoganan – split off from Graves to establish its own identity – most highly regarded Ch. Of District Bordeaux Classifications Top Level – Premier CRU comprised of 4 Chateaus : Haut Brion (Graves ), Lafite – Rothschild, Latour & Margaux , WHITES – FIRST SUPERIOR GROWTH = Chateau d’ Yquem St. Emilion Grand Cru: only classification system on Right Bank: Grang Cru Class and Premier Grand Cru Classe: Ch.
Ausone and Ch Cheval Blanc – Category A RANKING LOIRE VALLEY Loire River = Longest River in France, Flows NORTH Known for Crisp White Wines, Light Red Wines and some Fine Sweet & Sparkling Valley Divides into Three Winegrowing regions, West to East… Pays Nantais ( Nantes County) – Chilly maritime Climate, Melon de Bourgogne ( muscadet), 4 MUSCADET AOC’s Central Loire ( Anjou and Touraine) – Humidity remains high from sea, Botrytis Development, Chenin Blanc & Sauvignon Blanc, Cab Frank for Reds and Roses, Malbec / Cot, Grolleau and Gamay FINES BULLES ( Fine BUBBLES) : Specialty here, made in Traditional Champagne Method but uses Chenin Blanc and either Cabs as Main Ingredients – Anjou AOC ( primarily Cab Frank), Raose d’ Anjou ( Rose/Mainly Grolleau ) Cabernet D’Anjou ( 2 Cabs ony), Rose de Loire ( Dry Rose) Sweet dessert wines are the specialty , botrytis favors conditions – Coteaux de Layon AOC : Subregions are Bonnezeaux and Quarts-de- Chaume (100 % Chenin Blanc), Premier Dry White Appelation = Savennieres ( 100 % Chenin Blanc) SAUMUR: Known for its sparkling wines – Chief Source of Grapes for Cremant de Loire – Sparkling wine – TOURRAINE: Bourgueil & Chinon – regions that are known for excellent red wines , 90 % Cab Frank , Vouvray – uses 100 % Chenin Blanc and can be dry or sweet, also Montlois Su Loire – produces similar wines – Sancerre & Pouilly – Fume : 100 % Sauvignon Blanc Wines, Also Pinot Noir Eastern , Upper Loir ,( Sancerre/Pouilly – Fume) Continental climate, Sauvignon Blanc- minerally with high acidity and fine aromatics , flinty soil makes SMOKIER flavor CHAMPAGNE Four Zones : Montagne de Reims ( Chard), Vallee de La Marne (Pinot Meunier &Pinot Noir), Cote des Blancs (Chardonnay), Cote des Bar (Pinot Noir) Kimmerdigian Clay: In Cote de Bar Region, Clay created during the Jurassic period, Chalky soil formed by Microscopic Shellfish – High Water Retention capacity, heat retention and heat reflection Chardonnay, Pinot Noir & Pinot Meunier
Champagne Styles: Non Vintage ( Blend of Wines from Several Vintages – MUST age for 1 year on lees in the bottle), Vintage (Single Year Harvest – min 3 years aging), Prestige Cuvee (Top of Line produced by Champagne House), Blanc de Blancs (Chard), Blanc de Noirs, Rose Dry to Sweet: Brut, Extra Dry, Sec, Demi Sec, Doux ALSACE NE Corner of France, Vosges Mnt & Rhine River ,Lies Across German Region of Baden, Cold Continental Climate, Dry because of shadow of Vosges Grape Varieties: Reisling, Gewurtztraminer, Pinot Gris & Pinot Noir 2 Styles of Dessert Wines ) Selection de Grapes Nobles: Sweet, Sauternes Style , Botrytized Wine 2) Vendange Tardive: Late harvest grapes, may or may not be affected by Botrytis Alsace AOC: 100 % of any of the following; Riesling, Gewurtztraminer, Pinot Gris, Auxerrios, Pinot Noir, Sylvaner, Muscat and Chasselas – Blends of these varieties are called EDELZWICKER CREMANT D’ ALSACE AOC: sparkling wine – Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Auxerrois BURGUNDY Known for elegant, silky and complex Pinot Noirs and complex dry white wines from Chardonnay Distinct Vineyard Areas Chablis ( Makes STILL wine) Cote d’ Or – Lies SW of city of DIJON Divided into 2 Segments: Cote de Nuits – North (Pinot NOIR DOMINATES), Cote de Beaune – South Cote Chalonnaise Macconnais (Gamay) Grape Varieties: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir – CLAIM TO FAME, Gamay, Aligote (Minore white Variety of BURGUNDY) Burgundy Wine Styles: All Dry and Still, Moderate in Alcohol, Acidity & tannin , Earthiness, Oak Aging is Norm, South of Chablis – Chardonnay is Richer and Less Acidic, Cotes d Or – Wet Earth Wine Style
