BEAUJOLAIS Wine appellation France

In the 1^st century B.C. Roman army planted the first vines in the area. There is still evidence today in Brouilly and Morgon of those Roman vineyards.

Here in Beaujolais, the Gamay grape is in its element. Beaujolais is a young, refreshing, and fruity wine that has been so popular in the French cafes. The fruity, exuberant, intensely aromatic wines produced here, owe a lot not only to the Gamay grape, but to the style of vinification used. The strength of this method is that it extracts the maximum color and aroma from the grape without the astringency associated with red wine. The inherent fresh, fruity, and juicy characteristics of the Gamay grape make this a good marriage.

While a few white wines are made in Beaujolais, the wine produced here for all intents and purposes, are decidedly red. The 12 appelations of the region are divided into 3 categories or levels of quality - the basic Beaujolais, Beaujolais-Villages and the Crus of Beaujolais.

Beaujolais the minimum alcoholic degree is 9. These flowery and fruity wines must be drunk young, as they are not intended for keeping.
With a minimum of 10 degrees of alcohol, Beaujolais-Villages is the next level. Due to the better growing conditions, these are good wines with more complexity and depth. They can be kept from one to three years.

Within the northernmost part of this region are the 10 crus - Saint-Amour, Julienas, Chenas, Moulin-à-Vent, Fleurie, Chiroubles, Morgon, Régnié, Brouilly, and Côte de Brouilly - that have been singled out and named due to their distinctive characteristics.

Juliènas, Morgon, and Moulin-à-Vent, are full with deep flavor and more lasting power.

JURA – Wine - France

Origins of Jura vineyards can be traced back to the last years of the first millennium. Its reputation has never ceased to grow. Jura vineyards often benefit from extraordinary micro climates. Its wines are made from several grape varieties and are classified under six appellations: A.O.C. Arbois, A.O.C. Etoile, A.O.C. Château-Chalon, A.O.C. Côtes du Jura, A.O.C. Crémant du Jura, and A.O.C Macvin du Jura.

Jura vineyards stretch from the north to the south of the department, along a 50 miles strip.

Vines thrive in the favorable exposure and marly soil to produce great vintage wines.

Luminaries such as Henri IV or Napoleon appreciated this thousand-year-old vineyard, which has preserved its prestigious past, as witnessed today by its castles, abbeys, churches, towns and villages.

Vin Jaune or Yellow wine

Exceptional and unique wine characterized by its deep yellow color. It is made with Savagnin grape only, in Arbois and Chateau-Chalon. It matures for six years in oak barrels and then comes out with a peculiar "nutty" taste. This wine is sold in the "clavelins" bottle closed with wax. This wonderful wine can be aged for 50 years or more.

Rose and Red Wines

"Rosé of Arbois" and "Arbois Pupillin" have fruity aromas; they are best served slightly chilled. It is perfect throughout a meal. In its maturing process it turns pink, locally described as onion peel colored.

White Wines

White wines are made from pure "Chardonnay" and "Savagnin". These wines are dry, fine and powerful.

Jura sparkling wines

"L'Etoile", "Arbois" or "Cotes du Jura" white or rosé sparkling wines have been produced for centuries traditionally like Champagne.

These wines can be kept for maximum 10 years.

COTE DE NUITS Burgundy Wine - France

Besides Dijon start Cote de Nuits in the Burgundy vineyards landscape. They produce dry and fruity rosé. Continuing towards Beaune, there are the reputed full bodied and heavy red wines using Pinot Noir grapes. The great names such as Morey Saint Denis, Gevrey Chambertin, Fixin, Vougeot, Vosne Romanée and Nuits Saint-Georges are here.

Côte de Nuits is a bouquet of colors, scents and vine growers.

Red wines produced in the plain are generally named with their village’s name. The Côte de Nuits offers an astonishing range of first splendid vintages, and especially of great vintages with enchanter names.

Only Musigny is partly white partly red, all others are red wines.

Fixin are constructed and tannic red wines. The first vintages are famous.

Gevrey village produces the red wine which has the communal name the most important in volume which is Gevrey-Chambertin. Wines are powerful and also elegant. They are often long and very beautiful.

Morey Saint-Denis has 5 great vintages with special “Appellation Controlée”.

Chambolle-Musigny is a small commune witth a great fame. In addition to its great vintages, Chambolle-Musigny offers a wonderful range of first vintages which most famous is called the “In love” ones.

Vougeot stretches over 50 hectares. Vougeot has a very beautiful first red vintages like the Field from the Stone, or white from the white Field of Vougeot.

Nuits Saint-Georges is the “Champs-Elysée” of Burgundy. All of its wines rivals them in reputation associating subtle aromas with a large capacity of keeping.

Maconnais – Wine - France

Surrounded by 5 000 ha of vineyards producing 49 million bottles each year, Mâcon invites you to taste such famous crus.

For the white wines Macon and the Macon Village are rather light, charmers, especially in their youth and, whatever the year, they are marked by floral and fruity flavors, with some lemon tinge. They have heavier flavours of almonds and hazel nuts in the noze which is typical of Chardonnay.

Red Macon’s color is cherry with dark ruby reflects. Drunk young it offers red fruits flavors with spiced tinges.

Pouilly Fuissé has a green gold robe and is a smoothness and distinguished wine. The ground’s nature supports a harmonious development of the flavors with hazel nuts and grilled almonds taste. It is a rich and tasty wine.