France
France is one of the oldest wine producing regions of Europe. It also produces the most wine by value in the world (although Italy rivals it by volume and Spain has more land under cultivation for wine grapes). Bordeaux wine, Bourgogne wine and Champagne are important agricultural products.
Except for some exports from Bordeaux, until about 1850 most wine in France was consumed locally. People in Paris drank wine from the local vineyards, people in Bordeaux drank Bordeaux, those in Bourgogne drank Bourgogne, and so on throughout the country. The spread of railroads and the improvement of roads reduced the cost of transportation, but even until after World War II, the typical French person drank local wine and, although proud of France`s reputation for making some of the world`s outstanding wines, knew relatively little about them.
The Appellation System
The increase in trade and export led to increases in wine fraud, whereby inferior wines were labeled as superior wines, or inferior wines were blended with the wines of well-known producers. A number of laws to fight cheating were passed in 1935. They established the Appellation d`Origine Contrôlée system, which is governed by a powerful oversight board (Institut National des Appellations d’Origine - INAO). Consequently, France has one of the oldest appellation systems for wine in the world, and strictest laws concerning winemaking and production. Many other European systems are modelled on it. With European Union wine laws being modelled on those of the French, this trend is likely to continue with further EU expansion.
French law divides wine into four categories, with two falling under the European Union`s Table Wine category and two falling under the EU`s Quality Wine Produced in a Specific Region (QWPSR) designation. The categories are:
Table wine:
* Vin de table - Carries with it only the producer and the designation that it`s from France.
* Vin de pays - Carries with it a specific region within France (ex. Vin de Pays d`Oc)
QWPSR:
* Appelation Contrôlée (AC) - A locale within a region (ex. Côte de Beaune)
* Appelation d`Origine Contrôlée (AOC) - Indicates a specific vineyard (ex. Château Margaux)
France`s best-known regional appellation system was developed in 1855, in preparation for the Great International Exposition in Paris. At the request of the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce, the Union of Brokers Attached to the Bordeaux Market identified the Grands Crus (Great Growths) du Medoc and organized them into five categories. The rankings were based entirely on recent prices.
White wines in Bordeaux were also ranked. One (present-day Château d`Yquem) was uniquely ranked above all others in its own category, that of Premier Cru Superieur (Superior First Growth). There were 11 First Growths and 12 Second Growth white wines. These, too, were established entirely on the basis of prices in 1855.
Within two years after the classification system was published, wine sales by the classified producers increased over 250 percent. With the passage of time, many of the châteaux acquired additional vineyards far away, some sold part of their vineyards, some let their vineyards deteriorate, and many other changes occurred.
Wine critic Robert M. Parker, Jr. argues that the classification has long created an injustice to consumers because it has caused mediocre wines to be sold for too much and good wine to be sold for too little. He says that the archaic rankings ``should be regarded by both the wine connoiseur and the novice as informational items of historical significance only.``
Bourgogne`s classification system was created in 1861 for the Paris World`s Fair in 1862. It has 110 appellations in an area only one-fifth the size of Bordeaux. Complicating the system is the fact that many villages have hyphenated their names to include that of their best vineyard. This promotes sales but tends to confuse consumers.
Trivia
- A common Bordelais saying is:``The best vintage is the vintage we have to sell.``
- The wine classification system of the Douro region of Portugal was developed nearly two hundred years before that of France.
- There are 450 different wine appellations in France, a fact that tends to confuse consumers.
- Only 15% of all French wines enjoy the marketing benefits of AOC designations.
- To replace any vines, growers in Saint-Emilion need to obtain approval from eight different agencies. Heavy bureaucracy tends to hamper innovation while increasing the cost of production and reducing competitiveness.
- The use of dried cow’s blood to clarify wine is no longer permitted.
This article is based entirely or in part on the
France wikipedia article
and is licenced under the terms of the
GNU Free Documentation Licence.
Contact
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In this categoryMuscadet Château la Berriere 2007/8
Produced at this 18th century chateau from vines planted on slopes along the Loire river, facing south-west. Their wines are aged on the lees (inactive natural yeast) giving it freshness and a mineral character. Thanks to the exceptional 'terroir' the wine is very floral (acacia, white blossom) with high ageing potential. [read on...]
A B V: 12% Vintage: 2007 Color: white Country: France Region: Loire Code: 71817
Muscadet Château la Tarciere 2008
A selectedf vintage produced at Chateau la Tarciere where it was specially vinified to conserve its mouthwatering fruit and be drunk early. It has strong minerality, juicy fruit and a classic, crisp dryness with a hint of perfumed acacia. Organic [read on...]
A B V: 12% Vintage: non-vintag Color: unspecifie Country: France Region: Loire-Atlantique Code: 71773
Muscadet Cuvèe La Levraudiere 2008
Produced from younger 10-30 year old vines, the flavour of this wine has a touch of apricots and a hint of honey with fine crisp acidity. It is fuller in front than normal years because 2008 vintage produced only 30% of the normal crop. It is long in the mouth with minerals on the farewell. [read on...]
A B V: 12% Vintage: 2008 Color: white Country: France Region: Loire Code: 71764
Muscadet Cuvee Les Dadinieres 2008
A Muscadet of outstanding quality made organically without pesticides or insecticides and fermenting the wine using wild yeasts only. White fruits dominate both on the nose and palate, each and pear, complemented by citrus and crisp acidity. It makes for fine summer drinking and is the ideal partner with shell-fish. [read on...]
A B V: 12% Vintage: 2008 Color: white Country: France Region: Loire Code: 71790
Muscadet Cuvèe Les Gautroumeres 2008
A stunning Muscadet made organically without pesticides or insecticides and fermenting the fine using the wild yeast on the grape skins only. The bouquet is dominated by white flowers and citrus which follows onto the palate to be complemented by delicious minerality and crisp fruit. Awarded a clutch of top awards for excellence. [read on...]
A B V: 12% Vintage: non-vintag Color: white Country: France Region: Loire Code: 71781
Muscadet Domaine des Noelles,Sevre-et-Maine 08
Sevre-et-Maine is the largest and the best of Muscadets delimited zones, producing dry, fruity refreshing wines. This is a very fine example indeed from a domaine who consistently produce top quality Muscadet each yeqar. Very pale colour, it has a rich bouquet of green apples, acacia and jasmin, and a mouthwatering cris, firm fruity flavour with a hint of citrus. [read on...]
A B V: 12% Vintage: 2008 Color: white Country: France Region: Loire-Atlantique Code: 71756
Muscadet Schiste de Goulaine 2005
If anyone doubted the ability of Muscadet to age well this wine will certainly dispel those doubts. Produced organically from 50 yer old vines grown in a small 'lieu dit', established in 2003, on very special soil. Natural yeast is used for fermentation and the wine left on the 'lees' (yeast) for 18 months. All of which has given the wine a comkplex bouquet and a softer but persistent flavour with notes of peach, mango. A wine for the connoisseur. [read on...]
A B V: 12% Vintage: 2005 Color: white Country: France Region: Loire-Atlantique Code: 72033
Muscadet Sur Fines 2008
This wine is left in tank on the lees (inactive narural yeast) all winter following the harvest, giving the wine its specific quality, developing aromas of grapefruit and alomond. Drink young - there is a crisp fruity flavour with notes of citrus and minerals with just a gentle prickle on the tongue. [read on...]
A B V: 12% Vintage: 2008 Color: white Country: France Region: Loire Code: 71808
Muscat Bollenberg 2001 Bestheim
Muscat dAlsace is dry and very different to most other Muscats produced around the world, being much fuller and more powerful. Bollenberg is an area well suited to the Muscat vine. Fruity flora and perfurmed and richly Muscat. [read on...]
A B V: 12% Vintage: 2001 Color: Country: France Region: Alsace Code: 53754
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