Origin of wine varieties (Part 1)

Origins of varieties
The origins of wine are connected to an Appellation d’Origine conducted by the French, who are producing some of the most recognized wines worldwide.

The countries recognized for having the best qualities of wine are France , Italy , Spain , Argentina , Portugal , Chile and Algeria , add last certain wines California United States and other Germans .
French regions that produce the finest wines are Bordeaux , Burgundy , Champagne , Cotes du Rhone , the Loire Valley and Alsace . The codification of these wines was established by the committees of the French wine industry, and guaranteed by the constitution French and Appellations d’Origine laws. This way the wines were named after their region, district, vineyard and received the seal of Appellation controlee.

• Bordeaux
  It produces wines such as Claret appointed although no more is known by that name. T his is a white wine that was reached by mixing pink and white grapes.
  The surrounding districts were called Chateaux Bordeaux bottling wines under that name without implying a taste but if variety. His categories were divided into five, of which quality is recognized by only three, which are the Medoc, Graves, Sauternes – Barsac and St. Emilion.
  • Medoc, red wines and soft-bodied flavor.
  • Graves, who has a reputation of being white and rich sweet flavor.
  • Sauternes – Barsac, proucia sweet wines, fruity and strong flavor, proving to be regarded as the finest.
  • St. Emilion wines called male, are of great body and darker color than the Medoc.
• Burgundy
  They are located 140 km southeast of Paris, and includes wines Yonne, Cote-d’Or, Saone-et-Loire and Rhone. Including the Chablis district, the districts include Cotes de Nuits and the southern Dijon, the Beaujolais area in Lyons. It is a region of variety rather than of kind. Its dry white wines are mostly red varieties of great body. Burgundy varieties also occur in other countries like Italy , Spain , Chile , and California .

  The planting of this area goes back to Charlemagne when in the 12th century found its market.

  • Yonne produces white wines, the origin of the famous Chablis like dry wine, and soft bouquet.
  • Cote d’Or make red wines, which are known Chambertin, Morey-St. Denis, Chambolle-Musigny, Vougeot, Vosne-Romanee and Nuits-St. Georges. Due to the worldwide success of these wineries people have transformed their names to the wineries. Also known are the Clos St. Denis, Clos de la Roche, Musigny, Clos de Vougeot, Les Grands, Echezeaux, Romanee-Conti Richebourg them.
  • In Cote de Beaune to produce red and white wines , including the best Burgundies. Known communities are those of Aloxe-Corton, Savigny, Beaune, Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet and Santeny.
  • Saone-et-Loire red wines produced in the villages of Mercurey and Givry. In Macon whites are produced in good quality, being notable Rully, Mondagny Poully-Fuisse and as much dried bouquet.
  • Rhone Beaujolais wine produced in strong-tasting and fruity Gamay grapes produced in other areas must produce a very low quality. It is drunk young. The wines are known Julienas, Fleurie and Moulin-a-Vent have the characteristic of being of very good quality and good aging.
• Cotes du Rhone
  From South to Avignon Burgundy and red wines are produced great taste. These fine wines such as Cote Rotie, Hermitage and Chateauneuf-du-Pape, known as the last distinguished stronger wine of France. To the west of the region are the Tavel vineyards which produce rose wines.

• Loire Valley
  The wines of this region are typically white. The areas known as distinguished by their production are those of Muscadet, Anjou, Saumur, Vouvray, Touraine, Quincy, Reuilly, Sancerre and Pouilly.
  • The Muscadet are pale and delicate with some petillement such as Vouvray, fine and fruity.
  • Saumur produces a white semi dry
  • Anjou varidedad produces a semi-dry pink (rose)
  • Sancerre, Quincy, Pouilly Fumes Blancs and produce a white Reuilly distinguished among all French wines.
• Alsace
  The wines of this region are named for their vineyard. Riesling, Traminer, Gewurztraminer, Sylvaner and Zwicker, showing much resemblance to the wines produced in Germany on the Rhine. These are often sweet wines.

• Champagne
  Needless to say that this area produces sparkling wines , but there are areas that produce natural wines well-known for its taste ‘siliceous’. These wines are white and red Arbois and Chateau-Chalon white with some flavor of sherry.
  The best champagne comes from vineyards which are located along the Marne and Chateay-Thierry to Epernay and the Cote des Blancs to Montagne de Reims. It is made from three vineyards: The Pinot Meunier and, both red grapes and white grapes Chardonnay. It is characterized by a dry flavor attributed to the siliceous and calcareous soil.
  A variety that is produced only from white grapes is known as blanc de blancs.
  The pink champagne is produced by adding certain amount of red wine to the mix.
  The champagnes to which no sugar is added, or it adds very little, are called brut or extra dry. The slightly more sweets are called sec, the sweetest and demi-sec and doux.
  The process of second fermentation , practiced in the bottle is attributed to Dom Pierre Perignon , the Benedictine monk of the late 17th century and called the creator of Champagne .

Check to Origin of wine varieties (Part 2)
Back to Origin of wine varieties (Part 1)