In case you were wondering...

Here is a partial look at what we covered in class yesterday and today. Keep in mind that this is just the framework for the French regions and wines we are studying. We need to learn all this, plus the classification systems for each sub-region, the characteristics of the wines, their pairings, and more. Great fun! (sort of...)

Actually, I am really enjoying the class in spite of the complexity of it all. The wine tastings are very enlightening, and I feel like I might actually have a fighting chance at buying the right wines in the future!

AOC Alsace
(labeled by varietal; wines must be 100% of the labeled varietal)
   Permitted Grand Cru wine grapes:
      Riesling (w)
      Gewurtztraminer (w)
      Pinot Gris (w)
      Muscat (w)
   Other wines:
      Pinot Noir  (r)
         Red and Rose
      Late Harvest
         Vendage Tardive
      Botrytis   
         Selection de Grains Nobles
      Sparkling, methode champenoise
         Cremant d'Alsace
         
AOC Champagne
   Permitted grapes:
      Pinot Noir (r)
      Pinot Meunier (r)
      Chardonnay (w)
   Regions 
      AOC Montagnes de Reims 
      AOC Cote des Blancs 
   Labeling 
      Non vintage - 15+ months
      Vintage - 36+ months
      Blanc des Blancs - only Chardonnay
      Blanc de Noir - only Pinot Noir and/or Pinot Meunier
      Rose - can be all three grapes   

Loire
   West
      AOC Muscadet - light Melon de Bourgogne (w)
          AOC Muscadet Sevre et Maine  - 
           Melon de Bourgogne (w)
          "Sur lie" - labeled, if left on the lees
   Central      
      AOC Savennieres - dry Chenin Blanc (w)
      AOC Vouvray - semidry Chenin Blanc (w)
          "Mosseaux" (sparkling) and "Moelleaux" 
           (sweet)
      AOC Chinon - Cabernet Franc (r)
   East
      AOC Sancerre - Sauvignon Blanc (w)
      AOC Pouilly-Fume - Sauvignon Blanc (w)

Rhone
   Northern Rhone 
      AOC Hermitage - Syrah (r)
      AOC Crozes-Hermitage - Syrah (r)
      AOC Cote Rotie - Syrah (r)
      AOC St. Joseph - Syrah (r)
      AOC Condrieu - Viognier (w)

   Southern Rhone 
      AOC Chateauneuf du Pape - GMS/13 variety 
       blend (r)
      AOC Tavel - Rose GMS/other blend (r,w)
      AOC Beaumes de Venise 
         AOC Muscat de Beaumes de Venise - Muscat, 
          botrytis/late harvest

AOC Burgundy
   AOC Chablis - very light Chardonnay (w)
   AOC Cote d'Or
      AOC Cote de Nuits - Pinot Noir (r)
         AOC Vosne Romanee 
               Romanee Conti - Grand Cru
         AOC Gevrey Chambertin
               Le Chambertin - Grand Cru
      AOC Cote de Beaune - Pinot Noir (r) and 
       Chardonnay (w)
         AOC Meursault - oaked Chardonnay (w)
         AOC Aloxe-Corton - oaked Chardonnay (w)
               Corton Charlemagne - Grand Cru
         AOC Puligny-Montrachet - 
          oaked Chardonnay (w)
               Montrachet - Grand Cru
         AOC Chassagne-Montrachet - 
          oaked Chardonnay (w)
               Montrachet - Grand Cru
         AOC Volnay - Pinot Noir (r)
   AOC Cote Chalon - Pinot Noir, Gamay (r), 
    Chardonnay, Aligote (w)
         AOC Rully - (various)
         AOC Mercury - (various)
   AOC Maconnais/Macon - mostly Chardonnay (w)
         AOC Puilly-Fuisse - oaked Chardonnay (w)
         AOC Macon Villages - unoaked 
          Chardonnay (w)
   AOC Beaujolais - mostly Gamay (r)
         AOC Beaujolais Noveau - light 
          Gamay (r)
         AOC Beaujolais-Villages - light 
          Gamay (r)
         AOC Cru Beaujolais - fuller bodied 
          Gamay (r)
            AOC Fleurie 
            AOC Brouilly
            AOC Moulin A Vent
            AOC Morgon

AOC Bordeaux
   Permitted grapes:
      Cabernet Sauvignon (r)
      Merlot (r)
      Cabernet Franc (r)
      Malbec, Petite Verdot, some Carmenere (r)
      Semillion (w)
      Sauvignon Blanc (w)
   Left Bank - mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (r)
      AOC Graves  - dry red, dry white (r,w)
      AOC Pessac-Leognon - dry red, dry white (r,w)
      AOC Medoc - all dry reds, mostly Cabernet 
       Sauvignon (r)
         AOC Haute-Medoc
            AOC Saint-Estephe
            AOC Pauillac
            AOC Saint-Julian
            AOC Margaux
               Chateau Margaux - 1er classe
      AOC Barsac - botrytis sweet wines
      AOC Sauternes - botrytis sweet wines
               Chateau d'Yquem - 1er Grand Cru 
                superior
      AOC Entre deux Mers - dry whites, mostly 
       Semillon (w)
   Right Bank - dry reds, mostly Merlot (r)
      AOC Pomerol - Merlot (mostly), Cabernet 
       Franc (r)
      AOC St. Emilion - Merlot (mostly), Cabernet 
       Franc (r)

P.S. Wine pros - if you see any mistakes, please let me know!
Thanks!