Bordeaux

Table of Contents
  1. French Wine Law
  2. Bordeaux
  3. The Bordeaux Climate
  4. Bordeaux Appellations
  5. The Left Bank: Médoc
  6. The Left Bank: Graves
  7. The Right Bank
  8. Bourg, Côtes de Bordeaux and Entre-Deux-Mers
  9. Review Quizzes

French Wine Law

In 1935, the Institut National des Appellations d’Origine (INAO) was created to delimit and enforce France’s wine appellation system.

The Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée system, using early, self-imposed guidelines in Châteauneuf-du-Pape as a model, stipulated limits on yields, vineyard density, training and pruning techniques, grape varieties, methods of production, minimum alcohol levels, minimum must weights, and the geographical boundaries of each appellation. AOC wines must pass a tasting panel. The Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) became a model for many other European appellation systems, as France’s controlled appellations assured authenticity and, to a degree, style. The INAO awarded the first AOCs in 1936; by 2017, 363 AOC appellations were granted for wine and brandy, while nearly 100 more were awarded to agricultural products (such as cheese and other foods). Over 75% of France’s wines and eaux-de-vie were released as AOC—hardly the intention of the system’s original proponents, who wished to protect and enshrine France’s most valuable wines. Like most appellation systems, France’s AOC had become a bloated category and one not necessarily indicative of quality.

In 2007, the INAO, which oversees the protected appellations of wines, spirits, cheeses, and other foodstuffs, became the L’Institut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité—although it retained its former acronym. The INAO brought its appellation system in line with new EU standards in 2009 and established the category of Appellation d’Origine Protégée (AOP). French AOPs fall within the EU’s Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) category, and the existing AOC and the new AOP designations

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  • I can see that on this site and in the compendium, Haut Benauge refers specifically to dry whites in the EdM region, however, other sources are indicating that the wines can also be sweet and semi-sweet.  Among them, vignobledebordeaux.com states that "This appellation covers moelleux wines, powerful, lively and well-balanced; it also produces a few dry whites similar in character to Entre-Deux-Mers."  In addition, it then says "A particularity of this area, wine producers are allowed to chose between three appellations for their dry white wine :

    • Bordeaux Haut-Benauge,

    • Entre-Deux-Mers,

    • Entre-Deux-Mers-Haut-Benauge."

    Does not this "particularity" render RS level insignificant?  

    Interestingly, in the Bordeaux AOP section of this compendium, it shows specifically higher must weights, higher alcohol, and lower yield, suggesting sweetness, and then not listed in RS section, perhaps implying wine is dry - as it says in the study guide.    

    So is Haut Benauge a type of classification, or or an appellation, or something else?  

    Thanks!

Comment
  • I can see that on this site and in the compendium, Haut Benauge refers specifically to dry whites in the EdM region, however, other sources are indicating that the wines can also be sweet and semi-sweet.  Among them, vignobledebordeaux.com states that "This appellation covers moelleux wines, powerful, lively and well-balanced; it also produces a few dry whites similar in character to Entre-Deux-Mers."  In addition, it then says "A particularity of this area, wine producers are allowed to chose between three appellations for their dry white wine :

    • Bordeaux Haut-Benauge,

    • Entre-Deux-Mers,

    • Entre-Deux-Mers-Haut-Benauge."

    Does not this "particularity" render RS level insignificant?  

    Interestingly, in the Bordeaux AOP section of this compendium, it shows specifically higher must weights, higher alcohol, and lower yield, suggesting sweetness, and then not listed in RS section, perhaps implying wine is dry - as it says in the study guide.    

    So is Haut Benauge a type of classification, or or an appellation, or something else?  

    Thanks!

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