Wine Class 2: Appellations and Regions

Questions and Answers

What is the most common classification on named wines?

DOC

DOCG

IGP (correct)

Vino da Tavola

What does 'poggio' mean?

Hill or elevated place

What are common Italian wine label words that mean winery?

Cantina

The bottom two levels of the Italian wine pyramid are and .

IGP, Vino da Tavola Signup and view all the answers

What are the two highest qualities of wine in Spain?

Denominacion de origen (DO) and Denominacion de origen calificada (DOCa) Signup and view all the answers

What quality level does 'Crianza' refer to in Spanish wine labels?

At least one year of oak aging and one year aging in the bottle Signup and view all the answers

What is the lowest level of wine classification in Spain?

Vino de la tierra (VdlT) Signup and view all the answers

What are the two tiers of quality German wine?

Pradikatswein and Qualitätswein Signup and view all the answers

What does 'trocken' translate to in German wine labels?

Dry Signup and view all the answers

In German wine laws, how many designated wine growing areas (anbaugebiete) are there?

13 Signup and view all the answers

Eiswein is on par with sweetness classification of the German wine pyramid, but below classification.

Beerenauslese, Trocken Beerenauslese Signup and view all the answers

Match the following German Pradikatswein classifications with their descriptions:

Kabinett = Dry wines with around 10% ABV Spätlese = Late harvest wines ranging from dry to sweet Auslese = Select harvest wines with noble rot Beerenauslese = Berry select harvest with higher sweetness Trockenbeerenauslese = Dry berry select harvest wines Eiswein = Ice wine made from frozen grapes Signup and view all the answers

Who dictates the model for appellation laws in Europe?

European Union Signup and view all the answers

Quality 'pyramids' exist for which 6 major European wine producing countries?

France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Austria Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'wine lake' situation?

The continuing supply surplus of wine produced in the European Union. Signup and view all the answers

As of the late eighties, what is part of the purpose of appellation laws in France?

To encourage quality upgrades and to deter wine production in lesser areas. Signup and view all the answers

When was the first wine law passed in Chianti?

1716 Signup and view all the answers

What was the first nation to set up appellation laws for an entire country?

France Signup and view all the answers

Name the tiered quality pyramid from France from highest quality to lowest, established in 2011.

Appellation d'Origine Protégée (AOP), Indication Géographique Protégée (IGP), Vin de France Signup and view all the answers

Name the tiered quality pyramid from Spain from highest quality to lowest.

Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP), Indicación Geográfica Protegida (IGP), Vino de Mesa Signup and view all the answers

Name the tiered quality pyramid from Italy from highest quality to lowest.

Denominazione di Origine Protetta Garantita (DOP), Denominazione di Origine Protetta (DOP), Indicazione Geografica Protetta (IGP), Vino da Tavola Signup and view all the answers

What type of quality wine is the exception to the quality wine pyramid from Italy?

Supertuscans Signup and view all the answers

Name the tiered quality pyramid from Portugal from highest quality to lowest.

Denominação de Origem Protegida (DOP), Indicação Geográfica Protegida (IGP), Vinhos Regional (VR), Vinhos da Mesa (VDM) Signup and view all the answers

Name the tiered quality pyramid from Germany from highest quality to lowest.

Prädikatswein, Qualitätswein Bestimmter Anbaugebiete (QbA), Landwein, Deutscher Wein Signup and view all the answers

For the top appellation wines, what are some of the things that are regulated?

Vineyard density/yields, grape varietals, methods of production, aging requirements. Signup and view all the answers

Define 'must weights'.

A measure of the amount of sugar in grape juice (must). Signup and view all the answers

Define chaptalization.

The process of adding sugar to fermenting must. Signup and view all the answers

Define acidification.

The process of adding tartaric acid toward the end of fermentation. Signup and view all the answers

Define 'must'.

Freshly pressed grape juice containing skins, seeds, and stems. Signup and view all the answers

Name the 10 major French wine producing regions.

Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Jura and Savoie, Languedoc-Roussillon, Loire, Provence, Rhône Signup and view all the answers

What was appellation d'origine protégée (AOP) previously established as in France?

AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) Signup and view all the answers

What was the original name of indication géographique protégée (IGP) in France?

Vins de Limite de Qualité Supérieure (VDQS) Signup and view all the answers

What does 'vin de table' became in France in 2009?

Vin de France Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a higher designation of quality based on appellation laws for French Chablis?

Premier Cru Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Mis en bouteille au château' mean in French on a wine label?

Bottled at the winery Signup and view all the answers

What does 'propriétaire' refer to on a French wine label?

The owner of the winery Signup and view all the answers

In Burgundy, what does 'grand vin' indicate?

A higher quality wine based on appellation laws Signup and view all the answers

What wine grape makes 'Chianti'?

Sangiovese Signup and view all the answers

Vouvray comes from what region in France?

Loire Valley Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical southern red Rhône blend of grapes?

Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre Signup and view all the answers

What is the third level of French wine classification?

Vin de France Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean for a wine to be an AOP wine?

It means the wine came from a specific regulated region. Signup and view all the answers

What grape variety is commonly associated with a 'rosso toscano' label?

Sangiovese and Merlot blend Signup and view all the answers

What is the most planted red wine grape in Italy?

Sangiovese Signup and view all the answers

What is an Italian wine classification that may include non-Italian grapes?

IGP (Indicazione Geografica Protetta) Signup and view all the answers

What are 5 things to identify on an Italian wine label?

Wine type, region, classification, wine name, producer name Signup and view all the answers

What do Italian wineries often use in their name and what do they mean?

Tenuta (estate), Azienda (company), Castello (castle), Cascina (farmhouse) Signup and view all the answers

How is Italian wine often identified by grape?

By region, by grape variety or by name Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Appellation Laws in Europe

The model for appellation laws in Europe is dictated by the European Union.
Major wine-producing countries with quality "pyramids" include France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Portugal, and Austria.

Wine Lake Situation

The "wine lake" refers to a surplus of wine within the EU, particularly attributed to Languedoc-Roussillon.
In 2007, it was reported that the EU produced 1.7 billion more bottles than sold in recent vintages.
An annual practice, "emergency distillation," converts surplus wine into industrial alcohol.

Purpose of Appellation Laws

Appellation laws in France aim to enhance quality, limit production in less prestigious areas, and preserve the authenticity of lower-tier wines.

Historical Wine Laws

The first wine law in Chianti dates back to 1716, while Rioja's was established in 1560.

Appellation Systems

France was the first country to implement nationwide appellation laws.
The French quality pyramid ranks wines as follows (from highest to lowest): AOP (formerly AOC), IGP, Vin de France (formerly Vin de Table).
Spain's quality pyramid lists: Denominación de origen protegida (formerly DOCa), Indicación geográfica protegida (formerly Vino de Table), Vino de mesa.
Italy's classifications follow this order: DOP (formerly DOCG), DOP (formerly DOC), IGP, Vino da Tavola.
Portugal's system includes: DOP, IGP (formerly IPR), VR, VDM.
Germany ranks wines from highest to lowest as: Prädikatswein (formerly QMP), Qualitätswein, Landwein, Deutscher Wein.

Regulation of AOP Wines

AOP wines have strict regulations governing vineyard density, grape varieties, production methods, geographic boundaries, and aging requirements.

Winemaking Terms

Must weight indicates the sugar content in grape juice, relating to potential alcohol production.
Chaptalization involves adding sugar to grape juice to increase alcohol levels.
Acidification is the process of adding tartaric acid to adjust the wine's balance.

French Wine Regions

Major wine regions in France include Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Jura and Savoie, Languedoc-Roussillon, Loire Valley, Provence, and Rhône.

French Wine Labeling

AOP replaced the earlier AOC system in 2011, establishing minimum requirements for regional wines.
IGP was effective in 2011, replacing Vin de Pays (VDP), the lowest recognized wine category prior to its discontinuation in 2009.
Vin de France represents the most basic category of French wine, with no regional designation but possible vintage and grape variety mention.

Vineyard and Producer Identification

Terms like "Mis en bouteille au château" mean the wine is bottled at the winery, while "propriétaire" indicates the winery owner.
"Grand vin" signifies a higher quality wine based on appellation laws.
"Premier cru" is a designation of higher quality for Chablis wines.

Sparkling Wine Terms

"Brut" describes a dry sparkling wine, while "blanc de blancs" refers to white sparkling wines made from 100% white grapes.
"Blanc de noirs" refers to sparkling wines made entirely from black grapes.

Key Terms in French Wine Labels

"Cuvée" denotes a specific wine blend; "demi-sec" indicates an off-dry style.
"Grand cru" and "grand vin" highlight top-quality vineyards and wines in their respective regions.
Terms such as "doux" mean sweet and "sur lie" signifies aging on lees, adding complexity to the wine.

Italian Wine Regions and Classifications

Tuscany is renowned for Sangiovese, notably in the Chianti subregion.
Italian wine classification includes DOP, IGP, and Vino da Tavola.
"Rosso Toscano" indicates a red wine from Tuscany, often a Sangiovese blend.
Unique terms like "classico" denote traditional growing areas, while "riserva" fetches longer aging requirements.

Identifying Grape and Region on Italian Labels

Grape varieties often appear followed by their region, e.g., "Montepulciano d'Abruzzo."
Regions are tied to classifications where the wine must meet specific grape content.

Common Labels and Terminology in Italian Wines

Terms like "tenuta" signify estates, "fattoria" refers to wine farms, and "superiore" points to higher quality designations.
The classification system can reflect the use of both local and international grape varieties.

Conclusion

Understanding wine appellation laws, label terms, and classification systems is crucial for appreciating the complexities and qualities of wines across Europe, particularly in France and Italy.### French Wine Regions
Well-known grapes in Alsace include Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Gewurztraminer.
Bordeaux is famous for Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.
Burgundy is recognized for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Beaujolais is noted for Gamay grape.
Rhône region primarily produces Syrah and Grenache blends.
Sud Quest is best known for Malbec grape.
Languedoc-Roussillon is identified for Grenache and Carignan blends.
Provence is popular for rosé blends.
Corse (Corsica) is known for red and rosé blends.
Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, Vouvray, and Chinon originate from the Loire Valley.

Italian Wine Pyramid

The Italian wine pyramid consists of four levels: DOCG, DOC, IGT, and Vino da Tavola.
DOCG stands for Denominazione di Origine Protetta e Garantita, the highest tier ensuring guaranteed origin.
DOC denotes Denominazione di Origine Protetta, indicating registered designation of origin.
IGT means Indicazione Geografica Tipica, representing a typical geographical indication.
Vino da Tavola refers to table wine, the lowest classification.
Supertuscans are high-quality wines that do not fit into the standard Italian wine pyramid, often labeled as IGP.

Spanish Wine Laws

The two highest qualities of Spanish wine are Denominación de Origen (DO) and Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa).
Vinos de Calidad, once a stepping stone to DO, is also considered a DOP under the EU scheme.
Vino de la Tierra (VdlT) represents the lowest level within the IGP classification.
DO Pago (Vinos de Pago) signifies an estate that surpasses basic DO requirements, offering a theoretically superior appellation.
In Rioja, "Crianza" indicates a wine with specific aging requirements, with Red Rioja typically produced from Tempranillo.

Portuguese Wine Laws

The superior classification is Denominação de Origem Protegida (DOP), fitting within the framework of AOP equivalent in France.
The second tier is Indicacao Geografica Protegida (IGP), formerly known as Vinhos Regional (VR).
IGP wines must contain at least 85% of grapes grown in the stated region and meet minimum alcohol content.
Vinhos de Mesa, or table wine, is the lowest category in Portuguese wine classification.

German Wine Laws

German wine is classified into two tiers: Prädikatswein and Qualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete (QbA).
Anbaugebiet refers to designated wine-growing areas; Germany has 13 such regions.
Prädikatswein is further divided into six categories based on grape sugar levels at harvest: Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese, and Eiswein.
Sweetness levels are crucial, with Eiswein positioned between Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese in the sweetness hierarchy.
"Trocken" translates to dry, while "halbtrocken" denotes semi-dry.
Chaptalization is permitted to increase alcohol levels in lower quality German wines.
Riesling constitutes over 60% of German wine, primarily favoring regions near France, aided by rivers like the Mosel.

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Description

Test your knowledge on European wine appellations, regions, and wine labels in this engaging flashcard quiz for Wine Class 2. Discover who dictates the model for appellation laws and learn about the wine lake situation impacting supply. Perfect for wine enthusiasts looking to deepen their understanding of European wines.