WINES OF

FRANCE -Jerson Fernandes

Accor Management Trainee-Culinary

Introduction

• France has always been considered the heart land of the wines of the World. It has traditionally been know as the best Wine producing Region of the world.

• France is also the largest wine producing country of the world

Wine laws of France• The Wine laws in France are controlled by INAO

( Institue Nationale des Appellation d’ Origine )

• Classification of the Wines:AOC- Appellation d’ Origine Controlee 1935

– This classification is given to the best wines of France

– The government guarantees the place ( district or a Chateau ), name, grape of the Wine, and that it has been made according to the growing and making standards specified by the Government.

VDQS – Vin de limite de Qualite Superior– Better Quality of wine from a specific region. Taste tests

were introduced to determine the quality of the Wine.

VIN DE PAYS – Country Wines, guarantees that wine comes from the

specified area, from the permitted grape, but gives the wine maker the freedom to make the wine as he sees fit

 

VIN DE TABLE– These are ordinary table Wines, made with some degree of

quality and could be a Blend of other wines.

Wine laws of France

Champagne

Alsace

Burgundy

Rhone

Loire

Wine regions of France

        Bordeaux

        Burgundy

        Cotes du Rhone

        Loire Valley

        Alsace

        Champagne

BORDEAUX

BORDEAUX• Bordeaux is the Largest Wine producing region of

France

• The river GIRANDE flows through Bordeaux, its 2 estuaries GARONNE & DORDOGNE are responsible for the Terrior of this region

• 80% of the Wines produced in Bordeaux are Red.

BORDEAUXCLIMATE & SOIL• Bordeaux has Mild winters and Warm summers. The

soil is mainly pebbly, not very fertile but very rich in minerals.

GRAPES• Red – Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot,

Malbec & Petit Verdot• White – Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc

• Bordeaux Red wines are usually delicate, Light bodied, mostly Dry. They are popularly know as CLARETS.

• WHAT MAKES GREAT BORDEAUX REDS– Soil

– Good grape variety

– Right balance of sugar and acid

– Careful vinification, fermentation temperature and wines used for blending

– Bottling at the right time ( 18 – 24 months after fermentation )

BORDEAUX

Main Wine producing districts of Burgundy :

• Medoc– Haut Medoc

– Bas Medoc

• Graves• Sauternes• St. Emilion• Pomerol

BORDEAUX

Champagne

Alsace

Burgundy

Rhone

Loire

Pomerol

Haut Medoc

Bas Medoc

GravesSauternes

Districts of BordeauxMEDOC• Medoc Reds are medium bodied wines, they require

longer maturation because they are higher in tannins.

• Medoc is divided into 2 Sub- Districts:– Haut Medoc and Bas Medoc

• Haut Medoc produce better wines. Some quality Chateau’s – Margaux– Paulliac– St. Julien– St. Estephe.

• In 1855 Medoc was divided into 70 best properties or Chateau. Some of the best Chateau’s of Medoc are :

– Chateau Lafit Rothschild Pauillac

– Chateau Latour Pauillac

– Chateau Margaux Margaux

– Chateau Mouton Rothschild ( 1973 ) Pauillac

Districts of Bordeaux

GRAVES• Graves soil is predominantly GRAVEL. • Graves produces good quality Dry White wines and

Excellent light Red wines.

• Premier / Grand Cru – Chateau Haut Brion

• The Grave White range from Sweet to Extremely Dry. Some of the grave wines are labeled as Superior, this just means that they have higher alcoholic %.

Districts of Bordeaux

SAUTERNES • This region is very famous for its Sweet white wines.

The grape used for production is SEMILLON.

• The most famous wine from this region is Chateau d’yquem.

St. EMILION• This region only produces Red wine. The grape used

for production is MERLOT.• The quality of wine produced is re-assessed every 10

yrs.

Districts of Bordeaux

POMEROL• Mainly produces Red wines. • The wines are more tannic in nature and have to be

aged longer. • The wines are more robust and full bodied and are

sometimes referred to as Burgundies of Bordeaux.

• The main grape used for production is MERLOT & CABERNET FRANC.

• Produces the most expensive wine of the world in good vintage year from CHATEAU PETRUS.

Districts of Bordeaux

• Some Great wines of Bordeaux are :

– Chateau Haut-Brion Graves– Chateau Lafit Rothschild Pauillac– Chateau Latour Pauillac– Chateau Margaux Margaux– Chateau Mouton Rothschild ( 1973 ) Pauillac– Chateau D’ Yquem Sauternes– Chateau Petrus Pomerol– Chateau Cheval Blanc St. Emilion– Chateau Ausone St. Emilion

BORDEAUX

BURGUNDY

• Burgundy is a narrow strip of Land along the river SAONE. This region is about 75 miles long in the Middle of Eastern France.

• Burgundy Reds are very Robust and Full bodied and the Whites are refined and distinguished. The White wine are mostly Dry.

• The Main Grape Varieties :– Red Grapes : Pinot Noir ( Cote d’ Or and Chalonnais )

Gamay ( Maconnais and Beaujolais )– White Grapes : Chardonnay ( Chablis and Maconnais )

Aligote

BURGUNDY

Climate :• The Region has very harsh, severe and mild winters. The

summers are sometimes very hot and sometimes unpredictable.

• In Burgundy the Grapes are picked before they have ripened because of the severe winters. This results in Grapes being higher in Acid and less Sugar content.

• The resulting Grape juice from these grapes lacks the desired sugar content. To increase the sugar levels in the juice CHAPTALISATION is done. ( Chaptalisation is the addition of sugar to Grape juice).

BURGUNDY

Main Wine producing regions of Burgundy :

• Cote d’ Or• Chalonnaise• Maconnais• Beaujolais• Chablis

BURGUNDY

Champagne

Alsace

Burgundy

Rhone

Loire

Chablis

Nuit

Chalon

Beaujolais

COTE D’ OR

• Literally translated Cote d’ Or means Golden Hills. It produces good quality Red and White wines.

• Grapes used for the production of Wines:– Red Wines – Pinot Noir

– White Wines - Chardonnay

Districts of Burgundy

COTE D’ ORIt is further divided into two regions : • Cote de Nuits

– This region has Chalk and clay as soil composition. This region is better know for its Red wines.

– Gevery Chambertain, Musigny, Vougeot, Romanee-conti.

• Cote de Beaune– This region has Clay, Chalk and Marl as soil composition.

This region produces good quality White wines.– Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet

Districts of Burgundy

CHALONNAISE

• This region produces a range of Red, White and Sparkling Wines.

• Grapes used for the production of Wines :– Red Wines – Pinot Noir and Gamay– White Wines – Chardonnay & Aligote

• This region produces fragrant full bodied Red wines and crisp white wines.

 • Better known wines of this region are:

– Givery, Mercury, Rully, Bouzeron & Montagny.

Districts of Burgundy

MACONNAIS • The most famous wine from is region is Pouilly

Fuisse, one of the Worlds best Chardonnay Whites.

 • Grapes used for the production of Wines:

– Red Wines – Gamay

– White Wines – Chardonnay

• Some of the better known wines of the region are:– Macon, Pouilly Fuisse, Pouilly Vinzelle and St. Veran.

Districts of Burgundy

BEAUJOLAIS• Grapes used for the production of Wines:

– Red Wines – Gamay– White Wines – Chardonnay

• The fermentation in this region is done through CARBONIC MACERATION ( fermentation is done without the pressing of Grapes ). This results in wines being fresh and fruity. The BEAJOULAISE NOUVEAU is made by this method. These wines have lesser shelf life and are best had chilled.

• The wines from this region are light, fresh and delicate and are sometimes called the Bordeaux’s of Burgundy.

Districts of Burgundy

BEAUJOLAIS• Beaujolais “Cru” Villages:

• These are the best know villages and produce the best wines in the region.– Bouilly– Cote de Bouilly– Chenas– Chirobule– Fleurie– Julienas– Moulin a vent– St. Amour– Morgon

Districts of Burgundy

CHABLIS• One of the Worlds best white wine producing

region. The White wines are of great quality and finesse.

• This region uses CHARDONNAY. Nowhere else in the world does Chardonnay achieve such greatness. Chardonnay produces very dry wines.

• The soil type is mainly Limestone and Chalk.

Districts of Burgundy

CHABLIS• The Appellation divides Chablis into Four categories:

– Chablis Grand Cru – It consists of 7 Climats, which produce the best wines in this region.

– Chablis Premier Cru – These are fine wines and take their names from 27 villages.

– AC Chablis – The basic appellation and the best of the rest of the wines. These wines are good value for money.

– Petit Chablis – Harvested from an area which is entitled for this classification. These wines should be consumed as young and fresh as possible.

– Some well know Grand Cru wines : Les Clos, Le Pruese, Blanchots, Bougros.

Districts of Burgundy

COTE DU

RHONE

Champagne

Alsace

Burgundy

Rhone

Loire

Cote du Rhone• The region is situated around the River Rhone. This is

one of the Oldest wine producing region of France.

• This region produces the best Rose wines of France TAVEL & LIRAC. This region also produces the World Famous Chateauneuf du pape.

• The climate of this region is warm and steady, thus, resulting in consistent wines. The wines have stability and good keeping quality, they have distinctive character and favour.

Cote du Rhone

Northern Rhone• The soil in this region is predominantly GRANITE. • Grapes used are:

– Red Wines – Syrah– White Wines - Voigner

• Better known wines of this region are:– Hermitage & Cote Roti ( Red & White )– Condrieu ( W )– Chateau Grillet ( W )

Cote du RhoneSouthern Rhone• The soil in this region is predominantly CHALK

• Grapes used are :– Red Wines – Grenache– White Wines – Ugni Blanc & Clairette

• Better know wines of this region are:– Chateau neuf du pape ( Popes new house )– Cote du Rhone– Tavel & Lirac– This region also produces a very good sweet wine called MUSCAT

DE BEAUME DE VENICE

LOIRE VALLEY

Champagne

Alsace

Burgundy

Rhone

Loire

Loire valley• This region is situated on the most Majestic river of France.

• The region produces Crisp White wines, Golden Sweet dessert wines and some fine Sparkling wines. This region is also well known for its fine Rose wines.

• Grapes used for making wines:– Red Wines – Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Franc– White Wines – Muscadella

Chenin BlancSauvignon Blanc

Loire valley

Districts of Loire :

NANTES

• The grape used in this district is MUSCADELLA. It produces a fine wine called MUCADET it is a very light acidic White wine.

 

Loire valleyANJOU – SAUMUR

• The grape used in this district is Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc. It produces good quality Red, White, Rose and Sparkling wines.

• Anjou is famous for Red, White, Rose and Sparkling wines.

 • Saumur is famous for dry and sweet Red, White, Rose and

Sparkling wines.

Loire valleyTOURAINE• The better known wines from this region are VOUVRAY

( Dry and Sweet White Wines ) & CHINON.• This region also produce a well known sparkling wine called

VOUVRAY MOUSSEAUX ( This wine is made by Method Champanoise )

 

CENTRAL VINEYARDS• The grape used for the production of wines is

SAUVIGNON BLANC. This region produces the world famous Dry White wines POUILLY FUME & SANCERRE.

ALSACE

Champagne

Alsace

Burgundy

Rhone

Loire

Alsace

• This wine region of France borders Germany, because of which most of the Wines are very close to the wines of Germany. This region is situated on the VOSGES MOUNTAINS and is separated from BADEN by River Rhine.

 • The region has hot summers and Cold winter. The

Autumn is Dry, Sunny and long.

AlsaceMain Grape variety:White wines : Gewurztraminer ( Gewurz means SPICY )

Pinot BlancMuscat d’ AlsaceTokay d’ AlsaceRieslingSylvaner

 • The region is popular for Sweet White wines. The wine

is bottled in tall bottles called “ Flute d’ Alsace “

CHAMPAGNE

Champagne

Alsace

Burgundy

Rhone

Loire

Champagne

• This region is to the North of France.

• Champagne produces the best sparkling wine of the world

• The name CHAMPAGNE and METHODE CHAMPENOISE are protected by law and can only apply to the wines made in the region of Champagne

• This applies to all countries without exception

Champagne

• The vineyards of Champagne are divided into three main districts :– Montagne de Reims ( The Reims mountains )

– Vallee de la Marne ( The Marne valley )

– Cote des blancs ( The white hills )

ChampagneMain Grape variety:

• Montagne de Reims ( The Reims mountains )– PINOT NOIR

• Vallee de la Marne ( The Marne valley )– PINOT NOIR & PINOT MEUNIER

• Cote des blancs ( The white hills )– CHARDONNAY

Champagne

Types of Champagne :

• BLANC DE BLANC ( White wine from white grapes )• Chardonnay

• BLANC DE NOIR ( White wine from black grapes )• Pinot Meunier

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