Wset Advanced: Section 3/13 Introduction To France

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Introduction to France

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Appellations comes about in responese to the flod of fraudalent and adulterated wines suring and after Phylloxera crisis in France. Frst rigorous rules are set up in 1923 by Chateauneuf-du-Pape and provide the model for all furter appellations, its cover areas below:

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Production Area

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- restricted to specific plots of land within a specified area

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Permitet Vine Varieties

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- designed to protect traditional varietes and also specifies in what proportions the varietes must be used.

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Ripenes and Acoholic Strength

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- ripeness is based on minimum sugar content and minimum alcoholic streights that must be riched without enrichment.

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Viticultural Practices

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- define planting densities as well as training and pruning methods.

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Yields

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- maximum yields, expressed as hectolitre per hectare

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Winemaking Practices

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- include methods of production and minimum ageing requirements.

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French PDO Wines
or AOP - Apellation d'Origine Protegee

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in traditional terms its
* AC or AOC - Appellation d'Origine Controle
there are several hundrets of AOCs in France. There is little consistency from one region to another in matter of yields, Each year the producer can choose which appellation they wish to use, a decision is often influenced by the quality of the vintage.

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French PDO Wines
VDQS - Vins Dellmites Qualite Superiure

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- this classification was estabished as a stepping stone to full AOC status. Is disbaned at the end of 2011 and ramaning VDQS wines are redirected to AOC or Vins de Pays.

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French PGI Wines
or IGP - Indication Geographique Protegee
VdP - Vins de Pays

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VdP is set up to motivate producers of Vins de Table. Now forms the basis for PGI category, Less strenght rules and wide range of vine varieties provide to very popular appellation and most common copy from other countries.
There is three different types of Vins de Pays/IGP:

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Regionaux

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there six of these IGPs that cover large area, and the most important of these by far is:
* Pays d'Oc/IGP (or Vins de Pays d'Oc) that cover Mediteranean cosstal areas west of Rhone estuary and cover 60% of all IGP production.

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Departement

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54 of 101 departements have their own IGP. Departements that cover Bordeaux, Alsase and
Cote d'Or are notable exclusions.

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Zone

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Tehe is 93 zonal IGPs and these are smaller than departements in size. These cannot have names that are similar to the AOC wines from the same place.

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Vin de France

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This is new labelling term that cover Vins de Table wines. New category alow multi-regional, varietally labelled wines, it is opportunity to create brands that can chalenge New World wines.