Wine Class 2: Appellations and Regions

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.

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.