WINES OF FRANCE

Compiled By-: Ashish Gupta

Class-: 4th

Semester

Roll No.-: 415

CONTENTS

Introduction

Types of Wines

Grape Varieties

Manufacturing

Process

Brand Names

Service of Wine

Conclusion

References

INTRODUCTION

Wine is an alcoholic beverage obtained from juice of grapes. It is one of the oldest cultivated plants known to mankind.

There are over 4000 varieties of grapes, however, only 40 of them have a recognizable flavour.

• There are over 20 vine species. The vine species that produces grapes is called vitis vinifera.

• Study of wines is called Oneology.• The science of growing grapes is called

Viticulture.• Best wines are produced from plants with

the age between 12-30 years, called the ‘prime life’.

• Wines from new grapes are generally light.

Types Of Wines

• Wines are classified on the basis of the following:-

Colour Taste Content

White wine Dry wine Still wine

Red wine Sweet wine Sparkling wine

Rose wine Medium Fortified wine

Blush wine Aromatized wine

Tonic wine

Grape Varieties

Cabernet Sauvignon

• Mother of all reds• Grown chiefly in Bordeaux• Blended with Merlot, Malbec,

Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc• Rich colour• Often made into Vins de pays in

the Languedoc region

Cabernet Franc• Light bodied• Mainly grown in Bordeaux• Some parts of the Loire valley

also.• Used to make Chinon and

Bourgeil

Merlot

• Bordeaux• Used as a blend generally

Pinot Noir• Primary red grape of Burgundy• Goes into famous reds of this

region- Bonnes Mares, Corton, Musigny, Pommard, Beaune, Richebourg and Volnay

• One of the three grapes used in making Champagne, the others being Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier.

Gamay

• Extensively in Beaujolais• Produces fruity, light to

medium bodied red wines.

Chardonnay• Most widely used• Also called white

Burgundy• Most great white wines

from Burgundy such as Chablis, Meursault and Pouilly-Fuisse

• Used in Champagne as well.

Chenin Blanc

• Used most widely in the Loire Valley to make Vauvray.

Riesling

• Grown in Alsace• A very famous wine called

Riesling.

Sauvignon Blanc• Mother of all whites• Grown in the Loire region• Pouilly Fume and Sancerre-

100% Sauvignon Blanc only• Also grown in Bordeaux• Blend in sweet wines.

Semillon• Rarely used on its own• Generally used in

combination with Sauvignon Blanca and Muscadelle to make Sauternes and Bordeaux Blanc.

Manufacturing Process

of WineVinification is the process in which grapes are transformed into wine.• Planting and Growing Grapes• Harvesting Grapes• Destemming Grapes• Crushing Grapes• Pressing Grapes• Primary Fermentation• Secondary Fermentation• Purifying and Refining• Preserving• Premarket Aging• Bottling• Labeling• Storing and Bottle Aging

Brand Names

Great wines of Bordeaux

•Chateau Haut Brion•Chateau Latour•Chateau Mouton Rothschild•Chateau Margaux•Chateau Lafite Rothschild•Chateau Petrus•Chateau D’Yquem (W)

Famous Wines of Burgundy [Bourgogne]

• Chablis (w)• Pouilly Fuisse (W)• Beaujolais• Pommard

Famous Wines of Alsace

• Riesling (W)• Tokay ‘D’ Alsace (W)• Sylvaner (W)• Gewurztraminer (W)

Famous Wines of Rhone

•Chateau Neuf du Pape •Cote du Rotie•Hermitage•Tavel (Rose)

SERVICE OF WINE

a) Present the bottle with the label facing the host.

oShow the label and wait for him to confirm his selection.

oUpon presentation, mention the name of the wine, size of the bottle, vineyard and vintage.

b) Hold the wine with one hand and remove the foil or wax from the top

of the bottle.

c) Carefully cut the metal or capsule below the lip of the bottle by

rotating the bottle.

d) Wipe the top of the bottle and the cork with a cloth

napkin.

e) Insert the tip of the corkscrew slightly off the

center and turn it clockwise direction until it penetrates

2/3 of the cork.

f) Place leverage on the rim of the bottle with the arm of the

corkscrew. Hold the metal grip in place with your index

finger.

g)Holding the bottle firmly in one hand, hook the lever of the corkscrew in one firm

motion until the cork is fully extracted.

h) Lift up the screw in one firm motion until the cork is

fully extracted.

i) Present the cork to the host for evaluation.

j) Wipe the mouth or lip of the bottle to remove any

cork or liquid.[Note that if the bottle has a screw cap, the cap

should not be placed on the table.]

k)Pour about 1 ounce of wine into the glass of the host for him to taste and evaluate.

Wait for his approval.

l) Proceed to serve the wine starting from the ladies, then the gentlemen and lastly the

host.[Do not pour the wine above the glass. Bring the neck of the

bottle near the glass and be careful.]

m) Place the bottle with the remaining contents on the right side of the host with the label

facing him.

CONCLUSION

• Wine drinking is a common habit to most civilisations. France as one of the super powers is known for the contribution to alcoholic beverage that generates the maximum revenue. Other fruit brandies & wines, both sparkling & table wines are produced. France, more than any other country in the world, produces all types of wine, in fact it has more than one million hectares of vineyards. The best known wine producing regions are burgundy and bordeaux. Burgundy is the most northerly area in the world where great red wine is produced. Bordeaux is the largest fine-wine district in the world, it has a good position near the sea with a moderate climate. It’s red wines are superlative and its white wines are considered very good.

References

TextBook

• Oxford [R. Singaravelavan]• The World Atlas of Wine [Hugh Johnson]• The Wine Opus [Jim Gordon]• The Bar & Beverage [Kartsigris Thomas]• Handbook of Alcoholic Beverages [Alan J. Buglass]

WebSites

• Wikipedia• Winemag• AuthorStream• About-france• Slideshare

THE END

BY- ASHISHGUPTA