Burgundy and Beaujolais

Question	Answer
What are the main wine regions of Burgundy from north to south?	Chablis, Cote d'Or (Cote de Nuits and Cote de Beaune), Cote Chalonnaise, and Maconnais.
What two events in history led to the fragmentation of vineyard ownership we see in Burgundy now?	1. The French Revolution, during which the Church's and aristocracy's vineyards were redistributed to peasant supporters. 2. The Napoleonic Code of Inheritance, which dictated that land was inherited equally by all heirs, forcing the repeated division of private land among numerous people.
Today, what is the average grower's holding in Burgundy?	About 15 acres (6 ha), usually scattered among several appellations.
What is the result of so many people owning land in Burgundy?	There are now over 4,000 domaines in Burgundy. Many growers are not able to make enough of their own wine to be profitable, so they sell their grapes to negociants. Even named vineyards often have multiple owners, so that different producers create competing wines from the same vineyard that can range in quality.
What is the climate of Chablis?	Cool continental.
What are the climate hazards of Burgundy, and how are these mitigated?	The main hazards are rain, spring frosts and hailstorms. Choosing vineyard location is extremely important in reducing susceptibility to frost, damp and wind. The best sites are mid-slope with a south or east facing exposure.
Chablis is located closer to Champagne than the rest of Burgundy and shares similar climate hazards. What geological factor makes growing grapes slightly easier in Chablis compared to Champagne?	Vineyards are slightly further south and located on and around the south-facing slopes of an outcropping of Kimmeridgian marl, which provides better sun, some protection from northerly winds, and an excellent base of mineral nutrients.
What is the climate of the central and southern areas of Burgundy and Beaujolais?	Moderate continental.
Which type of soil, mainly found in the Cote d'Or, is so important to Burgundy's terroir?	Limestone.
What are the two principal grape varieties of Burgundy?	Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Chardonnay accounts for ~60% of production throughout the region.
What are the two secondary grape varieties of Burgundy?	Aligote and Gamay.
Over 90% of the wines exported from Burgundy to other markets are dry and still. The remainder is what?	Cremant.
Around 15 years ago, what became a noticeable problem with some Burgundian Chardonnays?	They were not ageing as expected. Some bottles of many premium wines showed signs of premature oxidation. The cause is still unknown.
What is the hierarchy of appellations in Burgundy?	Burgundy is made up of many climats with precise boundaries based on terroir. Ranked from lowest to highest: Regional --> Commune/Village --> Premier Cru --> Grand Cru
Grand cru sites are granted an AOC of their own, but the 600+ premier cru sites fall under the appellation of their commune. How can a consumer easily find them?	Labels can include the vineyard name and 'Premier Cru' or '1er Cru' alongside the commune name (which usually appears first in larger type).
The appellation names of the 33 grand crus and 44 communes tend to look similar on labels. How does a consumer tell them apart?	'Grand cru' often appears on the label of wines from climats with this status. However, to really know the status of a Burgundian wine, sometimes there is no alternative but to consult a list. Only experience or an inventory can truly distinguish rankings.
What is the most important regional AOC?	AOC Bourgogne. It covers the entire Burgundy region for all still wine styles, and includes 14 sub-appellations for specific parts of the region (e.g. Bourgogne Cote d'Or, Bourgogne La Chapelle Nortre-Dame, Bourgogne Tonnerre AOCs).
What appellation does the prime land in Chablis come under?	Chablis Grand Cru AOC. Located on a hill northeast of the town of Chablis, this single vineyard is divided into seven parcels whose names normally appear on the wine's label.
How many 'principal' premier crus are there in Chablis?	Out of the 40 premier cru vineyards within the Chablis AOC region, there are 17 principal or 'major' premier crus.
Do all regions of Burgundy produce the same style of Chardonnay?	No. Chablis can be lean, steely and high acid with a 'flinty' character, while wines from the Cote d'Or can be complex and expressive, and wines from Macon more full-bodied with riper fruit.
What techniques are often used to make premium Chardonnay?	Barrel fermentation, barrel ageing (typically 6-9 months), MFL, and lees contact during maturation.
How long can the best Chardonnays mature in bottle for?	A decade or more.
Where are the most important plantings of Pinot Noir?	In the Cote d'Or. This district includes all of Burgundy's grand cru vineyards excepting Chablis Grand Cru AOC. The Cote de Nuits is the spiritual home of Pinot Noir which makes up almost 90% of its production.
Describe a classic Burgundian Pinot Noir.	Red fruit flavours in youth that evolve into earth, game and mushrooms. Tend to have high acidity and low to medium tannin. The best wines are aged in barrel for 16-18 months with a proportion of new oak, depending on the producer.
Seven of the eight grand crus in the Cote de Beaune produce only white wine. What is the name of the grand cru that is mostly red?	Corton.
Why are wines from the Cote Chalonnaise not as prized as those from the Cote d'Or?	The higher altitude means the harvest is later and ripening is less reliable. Their aspect is also less consistently toward the east, so wines are lighter and tend to mature earlier.
What are the five village appellations of the Cote Chalonnaise and their corresponding wine styles?	Rully: Sparkling wines. Mercurey: Red wines with the highest reputation. Largest communal AOC. Givry: Red wines. Montagny: White wines. Bouzeron: 100% Aligote.
Describe a wine labelled as Macon-Villages.	A white wine that may come from an individual village (e.g. Lugny) or combination of villages. Often has ripe apple or citrus fruit, medium acidity and a full-body, sometimes with a creamy hint of MLF. They are generally seen as great value for money.
What are the two most famous village appellations in the Maconnais?	Pouilly-Fuisee and Saint-Veran.
What is the Yonne Departement?	Several small appellations located to the southwest of Chablis. These include the Vezelay (Chardonnay), Irancy (Pinot Noir) and Saint-Bris (Sauvignon Blanc/Gris) AOCs.
Why are granite soils important in Beaujolais?	Gamay, which makes up ~98% of plantings, is early budding and ripening, and can produce large yields. The low levels of nutrients in granite soil can limit yields and produce grapes with more concentrated flavours.
How are wines labelled as Beaujolais and Beaujolais Nouveau typically produced?	By carbonic or semi-carbonic maceration. This creates wines which are light in body and tannin, with red berry fruit and often notes of kirsch, banana and cinnamon.
What are the rules surrounding the release and sale of Beaujolais Nouveau?	It cannot be released to the consumer until the third Thursday in November after the vintage, and cannot be sold by growers after the following 31 August. Note: The 10 cru appellations cannot be sold in this way.
In order of lowest to highest quality, how are Beaujolais wines ranked and marketed?	Beaujolais AOC --> Beaujolais-Villages (under the Beaujolais AOC as of 2011) --> Cru (labelled with the village name).
Which four Beaujolais crus have the greatest production?	Brouilly, Morgon, Fleurie and Moulin-a-Vent.
What production techniques are often used in Beaujolais crus?	Crushed-fruit fermentation, oak ageing in large vats. Wines rarely display aromas or flavours of new oak. Semi-carbonic or whole bunch maceration may be used to give brighter fruit aromas.
Which four crus make fuller-bodied styles of Gamay?	Brouilly, Cote de Brouilly, Julienas, and Regnie.
Which three crus make uniquely age-worthy styles of Gamay?	Chenas, Moulin-a-Vent, and Morgon.

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	Created by Michelle Ames about 6 years ago