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
If we can be of any assistance please don't hesitate to contact us, or drop by the Rose & Crown during business hours:
email: roseandcrown@alderney.ws
phone: +44 (0) 1481 823414
fax: +44 (0) 1481 823615
The Rose & Crown Hotel
Le Huret,
Alderney
UK Channel Islands
Delivery on Alderney is free :-) we deliver Monday to Saturday between 10am and 1pm.
Please note that we cannot deliver off-island.
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In this categoryBeaujolais-Villages 2009
The 45 year old Gamay vines from which this easy drinking Beaujolais has been produced are surrounded by Morgon, Fleurie and Moulin-a-Vent. The colour is a typical dark ruby robe of Gamay. The bouquet full of fine red and dark fruit aromas with an ample round harmonious flavour with velvety tannins and just a whisper of minerality. [read on...]
A B V: 13% Vintage: 2009 Color: red Country: France Code: 76603
Beaujolais-Villages Blanc 2010 Nugues
This clasasic white Chardonnay is unoaked. It was left on its 'lees' for 2-3 months to add complexity to its flavour and early bottling ensured that its delicious fresh, youthful fruit was conserved. Intense complex aromas of white and yellow fruits (peaches) follow onto the palate to add to the citrus and white flowers. Full, round and rich, it really is a quality match for fine Burgundy. [read on...]
A B V: 13% Vintage: 2010 Color: red Country: France Code: 76595
Beaune Clos des Mouches Blanc Premier Cru 1991
On the Mont Saint-Desiré: hillside, bordering Pommard, the climat ha exposure. The name Clos des Mouches comes from the beekeeping which had been been practiced there. In the spoken French of the middle Ages ``Les Mouches`` (Flies meant ``Les Abeilles``(Bees). The white wine is produced from the highest part of the vineyard which is planted with Chardonnay and makes elegant, aromatic and classical wines. It has certain similarities with the 1er Cru wines from Puligny Montrachet and is equally highly regarded. ``Yellow fruit aromas mingled with a nice touch of oak. Good structure and long finish. [read on...]
Vintage: non-vintag Color: unspecifie Country: France Region: Beaune Code: 42311
Beaune Geves 1er Cru 2007
As the saying goes 'all roads lead to Rome, but the finest passes through Beaune'! This historic and beautiful town is regarded as the capital of Burgandy and very worthwhile a detour to visit. Their wines are distinguished, complex, intriging, beguiling and immensely pleasing. This wine from the top 'Les Greves' 1er Cru classification encompasses all the verry best qualitties. The nose reflects cherry pips, and in the mouth there in big fruit in harmony with fine silky tannis. [read on...]
A B V: 13% Vintage: 2007 Color: red Country: France Code: 73962
Beaune-Cent-Vignes,1er Cru 1992 Ch.de Meursault
The vines used to produce this wine are grown oin the top edge of the favoured Feves. It has a bouquet of cooked fruits and plums with spicy undertones and a delicious rich well-rounded mature flavour with the remotest hint of oak. For current drinking. [read on...]
Vintage: 1992 Color: unspecifie Country: France Region: Beaune Code: 41712
Blanquette de Limoux AOC 2009 Martinolles
Classic Blanquette de Limoux made up of 90% Mauzac, a grape variety unique to South West France and essential for the crisp style of this bubbly, 5% Chenin Blanc and 5% Chardonnay. The grapes are harvested manually on a selective basis to ensure maximum quality. The first fermentation in tanks is at a cool 18degC to ensure the delicious fruit. Then a secondary fermentation takes place in bottle to create fine bubbles, after which the bottles are stored on wooden slats. Three months before selling the dead yeast and sediment is disgorged, the whole process being exactly the same as for putting the bubbles in Champagne. The resultant methode champenoise sparkler is pale yellow in colour with fine bubbles. The nose is subtle with notes of ripe fruits, lime blossom and verbena. The palate is very aromatic, finely balanced with hints of cherries. A great alternative to Champagne at a much friendlier price. [read on...]
A B V: 12% Vintage: 2009 Color: white Code: 76212
Blanquette de Limoux Charme du Soleil Brut
Limoux in France is famous for the production of quality sparkling wines made by the same laborious method as Champagne. In fact they claim to have invented Methode Champenoise. Henri Guilheim, in his book 'Le Blanquette de Limoux' published in 1951 in Paris refers to a text dating back to 1531 which refers to 'flasks of Blanquette from St Hilaire' It is even said that a certain Dom Perignon, attorney cellarer from Hautevilliers near Epernay in the champagne region, went to the Abbey of Saint Hilaire a century later to take lessons in vinification from his Benedictine brothers. We offer this sparkler as an ideal alternative at a much lower price. Produced from 100% Mauzac without chemical fertilisers. Dry, clean, crisp and full in the mouth it has a good length in the finish. Fine Value. [read on...]
Vintage: non-vintag Color: unspecifie Country: France Code: 70166
Blanquette Methode Ancestrale AOC
Unique sweet hand picked sparkler, 8% alcohol! Produced from Mauzac grapes grown on 40YO vines-a grape unique to Limoux in SW France. Characteristically high in acidity which is ideal for sparkling wines & balances the sweetness of this wine perfectly. Unlike champagne & sparkling wines made by the champagne method this wine has had only one fermentation in bottle using indigenous natural wild yeast & being bottled by the third moon in March to produce the bubbles (prise de mousse). The fermentation in the bottle is arrested naturally leaving a truly delicious natural sweetness. Its robe is pale gold with a very fine bubble. The nose has an expressive aromatic range of stewed fruits, quince with a hint of soft spices & the taste is a pleasantly surprising blend of delicious grapy sweetness perfectly balanced with crisp acidity & notes of green apple. Fine match with dessert and absolutely irresustable with cakes. tart aux pommes and chocolate. [read on...]
A B V: 8% Vintage: non-vintag Color: white Country: France Code: 75100
Bollinger NV
[read on...]
A B V: 12% Vintage: -1 Color: Country: France Region: Champagne Code: 2233
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