A staff training infographic worth 1,000 words
NEW TO WINE ? STUDY FRANCE FIRST !
It is almost impossible to make sense of the modern wine world without grasping the influential role played by France .
The French may not have been the first to make wine , and may no longer dominate today ’ s market share , but they were first to systematically pursue quality in winemaking . On that front they faced little competition before the late 1800s . As a result , anyone anywhere looking to improve the quality of their wine has naturally turned to France for inspiration .
The French influence is manifest in every country that makes wine , and in every aspect of the wine trade . Virtually all wines made outside Europe use grapes of French origin , and follow the “ recipes ” of the French classics , like white Burgundy , red
Bordeaux and sparkling Champagne . Even in countries that have their own wealth of native grape varieties — like France ’ s closest rivals , Italy and Spain — the best wines are generally made with French grape-growing and winemaking techniques , and many are aged in French oak barrels . A great number feature famous French grapes ( like cabernet sauvignon ) in blends based on local varietals , such as Tuscan Sangiovese or Castilian Tempranillo . And , when winemaking rules were standardized throughout the European Union , the quality-oriented French system was adopted for all : naming wines by place , regulating permitted grapes and maximum yields , and establishing formal hierarchies based on wine quality . BD
ICONS OF FRANCE
Six French wine zones are far more influential than the rest , and are worth learning at least a little about . This is not only due to the prominence of their own wines in the market , but also as result of their global relevance . The vast majority of fine wines made outside of Europe are modeled on these classic French archetypes .
BURGUNDY : Chardonnay , pinot noir ( still )
BORDEAUX : Cabernet sauvignon , merlot , malbec
CHAMPAGNE : Chardonnay , pinot noir ( sparkling )
RHÔNE VALLEY : Syrah ( aka shiraz ), viognier , grenache blends ( aka garnacha )
ALSACE : Riesling , pinot gris ( aka pinot grigio ), pinot blanc
LOIRE VALLEY : Sauvignon blanc , chenin blanc , cabernet franc
MARNIE OLD is one of the country ’ s leading wine educators . Formerly the director of wine studies for Manhattan ’ s French Culinary Institute , she is best known for her visually engaging books published by DK – such as Wine : A Tasting Course . Marnie currently serves as director of vinlightenment for Boisset Collection .
www . beveragedynamics . com September / October 2021 • Beverage Dynamics 9