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Maps Review France study AOC Wine Producing Regions Champagne, Alsace, Burgundy, Rhone Valley, Provence, Languedoc, Bordeaux, Loire Valley Chris and Bored Raj Played Little Balls Loudly Major filchographical Features Massif rally ( Central highlands of the country), Alsp in SE, Loire, Garonne, Dordogne , Rhone and Rhine Rivers and Vosges Mountains NE France Shields vineyards of Alsace , Champagne and Chablis Mediterranean climate Rousillion, Languedoc, Provence and Rhone Regions Red Grapes dominant Full Bodied, reclaim acidityMaritime Climate Western part of France, Loire Valley White Grapes dominate high acidic, humbled to medium body, low in alcohol White Grape Varieties 1) UGNI BLANC ( Trebbiano), chardonnay grape, Sauv Blanc, Melon de Bourgogne ( Muscadet), Muscat ( Vin Doux Naturales), Chenin Blanc Red Grape Varieties 1) MERLOT ( Bordeaux and Languedoc), Grenach, Syrah ( N. RHONE), Carignan, CAB ( Bordeaux), machine politician Frank ( tolerates cool weather Loire), Gam ay, Pinot Noir ( Burgundy), Cinsaut ( blending grape of South), Pinot Meunier ( other Red grape of Champagne), Mourvere ( Languedoc & Provence)Vin de Table, Vin de Pays, VDQS, AOC (300, ? of French Wine) Bordeaux Highlights ( SW FRANCE) know for Long Lived, High Quality Reds & Sweet White Dessert Wines Varieties Melot, hack writer, Cab Frank, Malbec & Petit Verdot, Garonne and Dordogne Rivers form the GIRONDE, flows into Atlantic River divided region in 3 Sections 1) go away Bank West a. Upper End Left Bank Reds Cab Territory, Medoc Region Worlds exquisitest b. Sweet White Wines comes from Sauternes on Left Bank, Botrytis go over/ Noble Rot 2) Right Bank East . Upper End Right Bank Reds Top Quality, Long Lived Reds i. Pomeral & St. Emilion AOCs 3) Entre Deux Mers a. Dry White Wine Area Graves, Area of Left Bank northeasterly is called MEDOC, south and west of the city is called GRAVES Most White Varietals ar found here Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, muscatel Bordeaux AOC vs Bordeaux Superior Can be used for Red and Sweet White, tighter restrictions, older vines ,lower yields, several months of aging, higher tokenish ripeness at harvest, half degree higher alcoholMEDOC Four of the most esteemed villages St. Estephe, Pauillac, St. Jullien, Margaux GRAVES Sauternes Sweet Wines, Pesac Leoganan scattered off from Graves to establish its own identity most highly regarded Ch. Of District Bordeaux Classifications Top aim Premier CRU comprised of 4 Chateaus Haut Brion (Graves ), Lafite Rothschild, Latour & Margaux , WHITES FIRST SUPERIOR GROWTH = Chateau d Yquem St. Emilion Grand Cru only classification organization on Right Bank Grang Cru Class and Premier Grand Cru Classe Ch.Ausone and Ch Cheval Blanc Category A RANKING LOIRE vale Loire River = Longest River in France, Flows NORTH Known for Crisp White Wines, Light Red Wines and some Fine Sweet & Sparkling Valley Divides into Three Winegrowing regions, West to East Pays Nantais ( Nantes C ounty) Chilly maritime Climate, Melon de Bourgogne ( muscadet), 4 MUSCADET AOCs Central Loire ( Anjou and Touraine) Humidity remains high from sea, Botrytis Development, Chenin Blanc & Sauvignon Blanc, Cab Frank for Reds and Roses, Malbec / Cot, Grolleau and Gamay FINES BULLES ( Fine BUBBLES) Specialty here, make in Traditional Champagne Method but uses Chenin Blanc and either Cabs as Main Ingredients Anjou AOC ( primarily Cab Frank), Raose d Anjou ( Rose/Mainly Grolleau ) Cabernet DAnjou ( 2 Cabs ony), Rose de Loire ( Dry Rose) Sweet dessert wines are the specialty , botrytis favors conditions Coteaux de Layon AOC Subregions are Bonnezeaux and Quarts-de- Chaume ( ascorbic acid % Chenin Blanc), Premier Dry White Appelation = Savennieres ( 100 % Chenin Blanc) SAUMUR Known for its sparkling wines Chief citation of Grapes for Cremant de Loire Sparkling wine TOURRAINE Bourgueil & Chinon regions that are known for excellent red wines , 90 % Cab Frank , Vouvray uses 100 % Chen in Blanc and can be dry or sweet, also Montlois Su Loire produces similar wines Sancerre & Pouilly Fume 100 % Sauvignon Blanc Wines, Also Pinot Noir east , Upper Loir ,( Sancerre/Pouilly Fume) Continental climate, Sauvignon Blanc- minerally with high acidity and fine aromatics , flinty soil makes SMOKIER flavor champagne Four Zones Montagne de Reims ( Chard), Vallee de La Marne (Pinot Meunier &Pinot Noir), Cote des Blancs (Chardonnay), Cote des Bar (Pinot Noir) Kimmerdigian Clay In Cote de Bar Region, Clay created during the Jurassic period, Chalky soil formed by Microscopic Shellfish High Water Retention capacity, disturb retention and heat reflection Chardonnay, Pinot Noir & Pinot MeunierChampagne way of lifes Non Vintage ( Blend of Wines from Several Vintages MUST age for 1 stratum on lees in the bottle), Vintage (Single Year Harvest min 3 years aging), Prestige Cuvee (Top of clientele produced by Champagne House), Blanc de Blancs (Chard), Blanc de Noirs, Rose Dry t o Sweet Brut, Extra Dry, Sec, Demi Sec, Doux ALSACE NE Corner of France, Vosges Mnt & Rhine River ,Lies Across German Region of Baden, Cold Continental Climate, Dry because of shadow of Vosges Grape Varieties Reisling, Gewurtztraminer, Pinot Gris & Pinot Noir 2 Styles of Dessert Wines ) Selection de Grapes Nobles Sweet, Sauternes Style , Botrytized Wine 2) Vendange Tardive Late harvest grapes, may or may not be touched by Botrytis Alsace AOC 100 % of any of the following Riesling, Gewurtztraminer, Pinot Gris, Auxerrios, Pinot Noir, Sylvaner, Muscat and Chasselas Blends of these varieties are called EDELZWICKER CREMANT D ALSACE AOC sparkling wine Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Auxerrois BURGUNDY Known for elegant, silky and complex Pinot Noirs and complex dry white wines from Chardonnay Distinct Vineyard Areas Chablis ( Makes calm wine) Cote d Or Lies SW of city of DIJON Divided into 2 Segments Cote de Nuits North (Pinot NOIR DOMINATES), Cote de Be aune South Cote Chalonnaise Macconnais (Gamay) Grape Varieties Chardonnay & Pinot Noir CLAIM TO FAME, Gamay, Aligote (Minore white Variety of BURGUNDY) Burgundy Wine Styles All Dry and Still, Moderate in Alcohol, Acidity & tannin , worldly concerniness, Oak Aging is Norm, South of Chablis Chardonnay is Richer and Less Acidic, Cotes d Or Wet Earth Wine Style