Burgundy is one of the more Romantic of all wine regions. They have mastered the growing of the finicky Piont Noir grape, and created the creamiest of Chardonnay's. Enjoy walking the dusty vineyards of the famous region of Burgundy France.
2. Week 4- Understanding French Burgundy’s
Week 5- The elegance of Bordeaux
Week 6- Discovering the treasured wines of Italy
Week 7- Wine and food pairing
3. Name the three grapes used in champagne.
What is the purpose of champagne’s second
fermentation.
Name three champagne styles.
What is the purpose of, pump over's and punch
downs?
What is the second fermentation in the barrel called?
What is the result of the fermentation?
4.
5. The word terroir, which means: sun entity, effect of soil and rainfall was
first used in Burgundy; it’s emphasized most in this region of France.
The history of Burgundy begins with the the Romans conquering Gaul
(in 51 BC) from the Celtic.
The Benedictine Monks became the first to control the land for the
purpose of viticulture through the Abbey’s and monasteries.
In 1789 at the end of the French Revolution, Burgundy was split and
sold off in plots. These plots have now been fragmented and are still
held within the family. Today Burgundy looks more like a jigsaw puzzle
with its may producers.
Burgundy was never as well know as Bordeaux in the Middle ages due
to its location. Burgundy is inland which creates difficulty when
transporting wine; Paris was as far as the barrels would be transported.
It was not until Burgundy’s infamous Dukes came to power, the wine
started to circulate.
6. In Burgundy there are two grapes used predominantly. If it’s
white it’s Chardonnay if it’s red it’s Pinot Noir. Gamay and
Aligote are also cultivated in the area, in small amounts.
One vineyard could be owned by five different growers, each
owner cultivates his wine, his own separate way. (For example a
grower may own 2 rows of grapes.)
A grower may own seven different plots of land within Burgundy,
but will never blend his wine outside the village in which it
grows. Why, because of terrior.
Burgundy is known for their negociants/ cooperatives- a wine
broker who would buy up grapes from growers blend them
together and make their own label.
Within Burgundy’s 4 sub-regions there are other regions; within
these regions are your appellations.
7. It’s very cold in Burgundy, and the growers constantly
have to worry about the grapes reaching their full
ripeness due to the lack of sunshine. The result is a
weakly flavored wine, that tastes flabby.
September is known as the month of rain, and can be
hazardous to theripening of the grapes. Prior to
harvest, the grapes can become water logged and thin.
Rot, is a challenge in Burgundy with its cold, rainy
days. Producers must beparticularlycareful when
harvesting. They must sort though the rotten
grapes, to prevent the chances of the wine tasting off.
8. Chablis- Which is the most northern sub-region is
100% devoted to growing Chardonnay.
Cote d’Or (Golden Slopes)- Home to Burgundy’s
legendary wines, is 30 miles long and encompasses
Cote de Beaune and Cote de Nuits. They produce both
Point Noir and Chardonnay. It is said, “Because the
vines face east, they get a perfect dose of morning sun.”
Cote Chalonnaise- Producing red and whites, is not
as expensive as its sister Cote d’Or. The most famous
village is Mercurey.
9. Maconnais- Just south of Cote Chalonnaise, produces
good everyday drinking Chardonnay. The three most
well know wines are, Macon Village, Pouilly-Fuisse and
St. Veran. Many simple Bourgognes Blanc and Rouge
are also produced here.
Beaujolais- The southernmost sub-region of
Burgundy is devoted to making fruity, red wine from
the gamay grape.
10. Northernmost region,
closer to Champagne than
Cote d’Or
Made of limestone slopes
An adorable town, very
quaint
Produces only Chardonnay
Chablis has seven, Grand
Cru vineyards and
seventeen, Premier Cru
11. The most famous of the
regions of Burgundy.
Within the sub-region of
Cote d’Or there are two
other well know regions;
Cote de Nuits (9
appellations) and
Cote de Beaune
(16 appellations)
• Any wine you partake
offrom Cote d’Or will be
fantastic.
12. This area, while not as
elite as its northern
sister, still produces
fantastic basic
Bourgogne wines.
Cote Chalonnaise has
several well know
villages, the most famous
being Mercureys.
13. Maconnais is primarily a
white region.
Maconnais is well known
for the areas of Macon,
Pouilly- Fuisse and St.
Veran.
There are no Grand Cru or
Premier Cue vineyards in
Maconnais.
More than 75% of Macons
come from cooperatives.
14. The grapes grown in Beaujolais
havenothing in common with
Burgundy. The grape varietals as
well has the climate are
completely different.
Beaujolais is both the name of
the wine and the place from
which the wine comes from.
Beaujolais Nouveau (new wine)
is released yearly in
November, of the present years
harvest.
The process of makingBeaujolais
differs form Burgundy. Whole
grape clusters are put into tanks
and the fermentation takes place
within the grape cluster.
15. Burgundy’s classifications Burgundy has four levels:
are geographically-focused. Burgundy rouge and blanc,
A specific vineyard or Village wine, Premier Cru,
region will bear a given Grand Cru
classification, regardless of Premier Cru-Premier Cru
the wine's producer. The wines comprises 12% of
focuson the wine's labelsis production. These wines
the appellation. are often aged 3-5 years.
Theproducer's name often Grand Cru-comprisesonly
appears at the bottom in a 2% of total production.
much smaller text. Prior to being released,
these wines are normally
aged 5-7 years.
16. Village- appellation Regional- appellation
wines are produced from wines are wines which
a blend of wines. These are allowed to be
lower ranked vineyard produced over the entire
sites are within the region, or over an
boundaries of1of 42 area, significantly larger
villages. These wines than that of an
should be aged in 2-4 individual village.
years. Within the regional
appellationthere
arethree categories;
AOC Bourgogne, Sub-
regional, these wines are
a specific style.
17. However sad, it may be, tobuya good wine from
Burgundy will cost you. There is no such thing as
barginshopping in Burgundy.
Wines from Cote d’Or are the most famous. Being the
highest ranked in Burgundy as well as the world.
Village wines are a great starting place. Fromhere, try
to identify differentcharacteristicsin the wine from the
different neighboring villages. Burgundy prides itself
on terroir.
18. Louis Jadot Macon – Villages Blanc 2010
Joseph Drouhin- SaitVeran Blanc 2008
Blason de Bourgogne Rouge 2009
George Duboeuf Beaujolais-Villages 2009