France

Question 1

What are the quality levels of French wines available in the market today?

Answer 1

Vin de Table - simple, ordinary
Vin de Pays - general region based
Vins Delimites Qualite Superieure - (no longer used) promising region
AOC - top quality

Question 2

Why and when was the AOC system established?

Answer 2

1935, to control certain aspects of grape growing and production in certain areas

Question 3

What does the French AOC attempt to regulate?

Answer 3

• Place of origin
• grape varieties
• alcohol content
• max yields
• when harvest begins -each year
• production methods

Question 4

What assurances does AOC offer the consumer?

Answer 4

Regional and varietal authenticity

Technically no guarantee of quality

Question 5

How have the recent EU labeling regulations affected France?

Answer 5

Mostly equivalent:
Vin de Table = Vin de France
Vin de Pays = Indication Geographique Protegee
AOC = Protected Designations of Origin

Question 6

How does the US system of AVAs differ from the French AOC system?

Answer 6

• French system is more hierarchical
• Wines are generally identified by location, not varietal
• The smaller, more specific the place, the higher the rank

Question 7

Who monitors the AOC system?

Answer 7

INAO (Institut National des Appellations d’Origine)

Question 8

What are the classifications of Alsace wines and what flavor differences might one find when comparing them?

Answer 8

• Appellation Alsace Controlee
• Appellation Cremant d’Alsace (Alsace sparkling wine)
• Alsace Grand Cru (best vineyards, 100% must come from vineyard, varietal

Question 9

What are the major grape varieties grown in Alsace?

Answer 9

Whites: Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner, Pinot Gris, Muscat,
Reds: Pinot Noir.

Question 10

What are the benchmark wines which Alsace is known for?

Answer 10

Aromatic and spicy white wines:

• Gentil (50% Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Gris, and/or Gewurztraminer),
• Edelzwicker (a blend of white grapes of AOC Alsace without any indication of percentage)
• Gewurtztraminer

Question 11

What are the labeling requirements and how does one decode an Alsace wine label?

Answer 11

Varietal: 100% grape named

Question 12

What terms on an Alsace wine label are meaningful and what do they tell us?

Answer 12

• Varietal Label
• AOC
• AOC: Grand Cru (100% from named vineyard)
• Vendage Tardive: late harvest, but often fermented dry
• Selection de Grains Nobles: Botrytized

Question 13

What label terms are not regulated and thus may not provide useful information to the purchaser?

Answer 13

• Reserve
• Personelle
• Cuvee
• Special

Question 14

How does Alsace’s labeling system differ from other wine regions of France?

Answer 14

Varieties are included (because of German influence)

Only one AOC appellation (Appellation Alsace Controllee)

Question 15

How does one identify sparkling and dessert style wines made in Alsace from the dry table wines made there?

Answer 15

No official labeling;
Residual sugar in Gewurz/Pinot Gris > Riesling/Muscat/Sylvaner
Botrytized wines are sweet

Question 16

What historic events influenced the growth of the wine industry in the Alsace?

Answer 16

• Wine growing introduced to region with Caesar’s conquest
• Ravaged during 30 yrs War (1600s)
• Under German rule from 1870-1945
• AOC in 1962

Question 17

How does Alsace’s climate and geography influence its wine styles?

Answer 17

• Vosges mountains in west shelter from cold continental weather; climate is temperate, sunny, and dry
• growing season is 50 days longer than Germany; leads to aromatic wines with high residual sugar

Question 18

What winemaking practices (if any) are unique to Alsace?

Answer 18

Chaptalization is permitted; fermentation cannot be artificially stopped (ergo, high alcohol content); botrytization to concentrate juice

Question 19

What are the classifications of Loire wines and what flavor differences might one find when comparing them?

Answer 19

1. Vielles Vignes: old vines (no legal definition)
2. Production statements:
   - Mis en bouteille a la Propriete (bottled on the property)
   - Mis en bouteille au Domaine (estate bottled)
   - Mis en bouteille par… (bottled by…)
3. sur lie (wine left on lees until bottled; adds flavor)
4. Cremant de Loire (sparkling)
5. Vin de Pays du Jardin de la France (“wine of the garden of France;” outside Loire AOCs)

Question 20

What are the major grape varieties grown in Loire?

Answer 20

Chenin Blanc
Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne)
Sauvignon Blac
Gros Plant-Picpoule
Chasselas

Question 21

What are the benchmark wines which come from the Loire?

Answer 21

White wines, fine sparkling wines

Question 22

How does one identify sparkling and dessert style wines made in the Loire Valley from the Loire’s dry table wines?

Answer 22

Descriptors from Dry to Sweet:

• sec
• demi-sec
• moelleau
• doux

Question 23

What are the labeling requirements and how does one decode a Loire wine label?

Answer 23

Wines named after places grapes are grown (villages); place dictates grape varieties 100% for most AOC, except when noted as blend

Question 24

How does the Loire’s climate and geography influence its wine styles?

Answer 24

Loire river and Atlantic moderate temperature; west of region is more continental

Question 25

What historic events influenced the growth of the wine industry in the Loire?

Answer 25

Romans introduce wine making; produced high quality wines in middle ages; fortresses; later nobility built pleasure palaces / chateaux

Question 26

What winemaking practices (if any) are unique to the Loire?

Answer 26

Muscadet/Sur Lie: The wine is left on the “fine” lees after vinification until it is bottled (this adds flavor and changes the wines texture). Two specified dates for bottling.