GRAPES ENCYCLOPEDIA Aligoté Aligoté is an old Burgundy grape variety that has different names depending on the region in which it is grown: Griset blanc in Beaune, Giboudot blanc in Chalon or Troyen blanc in the Aube. This grape is mainly used to produce Burgundy-Aligoté, Bouzeron and Crémant de Bourgogne. Aligoté is a medium size white grape, quite productive, which gives clear white wines with some acidity, fresh and light. 1 600 hectares in Burgundy - France, it is also cultivated in Ukraine, Romania, California, Canada or Chile representing more than 20 000 hectares in the world. Cabernet Franc Cabernet Franc is one of the oldest red grape varieties of Bordeaux mostly growing in Libourne terroir. Due to their geographical and geological situation, the terroirs of Saint Emilion and Fronsac allow this grape to mature and develop its finest aromas. Cabernet Franc produces a wine of medium coloration with fine tannins, subtle aromas of red fruits and spicy notes. Blended with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, it develops more complexe aromas. Fruity wines when drunk young they can also age well. As Cabernet Franc mature earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon, this grape is planted further north up to the Loire Valley. In Anjou Valley, this grape makes soft rosé wines. Cabernet France is found in more than 20 countries around the world. Cabernet-Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon is a flagship grape of Bordeaux, a great red grape as per its growing area (the second most planted grape) and as per its quality. This grape variety is used for producing the most great wines of the left bank, the Cabernet Sauvignon gives its full expression in Médoc wine, excelling in Pauillac and in Graves wine. Growing in warm soils, sandy gravel that allows the fruit to mature at its best. The Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are small with a thick skin. This film protects it from spring frosts and from rotting before harvest. Cabernet Sauvignon gives the wine power, structure and complexity that will turn after several years of aging. With a rich aroma with notes of black fruit, violets and raspberries, it produced distinguished wines, known for their long lasting in the mouth. Carignan Mainly grown in Languedoc, Carignan is originally from Spain. Vigorous plant with strong branches often called hardwood, the variety produces large and compact fruit clusters. As for its berries, they have a spherical shape and take on a bluish black color. Its budding takes place mid-June with a rather late maturity between September 25 and October 25 depending on the area. It requires a lot of heat and is not sensitive to drought or wind; hot, dry hillside soils suit him perfectly. The carignan plant can live over 100 years. This wine produced is well colored, generous and powerful at once. Pepper, cherry, blackberry, banana, raspberry, almond, plum and violet are all flavors that emerges this grape. Used to produce Côtes du Rhône reds and rosés (maximum 30% of the grape varieties), Côtes du Rhône Villages reds and rosés (maximum 20% of the blend), Costières de Nîmes, Luberon, Cotes du Ventoux. Chardonnay Chardonnay is a white grape from Burgundy. It is produced well beyond its home region and enjoys worldwide fame. Chablis one of the best variety representation, it is also used in Burgundy Cru, produced in Champagne and other French wine regions. His golden grape gives great white wines with varied aromas with notes of citrus, dried fruit or brioche. According to its origin of production and winemaking, these are wines that can be kept a few years. Cinsault Cinsault is an old black grape producing white juice, probably from Provence originally. Found mostly in Languedoc and Rhone Valley, its fruits clusters are large, made of big grapes with a very juicy flesh. It is a late variety that needs sun and resistant to drought with a good productivity but is susceptible to disease. It prefers poor soils for quality production. The wines are easy to drink, usually very low acid, low in color and alcohol, developing red fruits aromas such as raspberry, dried fruit and white flowers. Cinsault is used for producing Chateauneuf du Pape, Côtes du Rhône, Côtes de Provence. Clairette Clairette is one of the oldest Southern varietals. Its cylindrical-conical fruit clusters have an average size. Its elliptical berries are either white or pink with is a very juicy flesh. Clairette grows on nearly 3 200ha. on calcareous soils, dry and poor. The grape worms, mites and mildew are the main enemies. It can be vinified alone as it can be associated with other grape varieties. This variety gives a very fresh wine alcoholic and slightly acidic. It provides a slightly bitter taste on the finish. Fennel, apple, lime, apricot and peach are the main aromas developed by this grape. Because this wine is maderized quickly, it is recommended to drink in the year. Côt The côt traveled a lot! In the Middle Ages it was indeed grown in the Yonne. In Bordeaux, he went into the development of claret wine and it is found today in Loire Valley it between more than in the AOC Touraine and Anjou rosé. It has different names: Malbec in Bordeaux or Auxerrois in Cahors, in the vineyards of Quercy where it flourishes. This ancient red grape has medium sized berries with melting flesh, sweet and juicy. Very sensitive to frost, disease and temperature changes, it is very productive if it is preserved and reaches a good maturity. The côt is used for the production of Médoc, Graves, Saint-Emilion, Pomerol, Bergerac, Pécharmant, Buzet, Malepère Marcillac ... Wines made from this variety are fruity, tannic with a good ageing potential. Cultivated on an area of 5 000 hectares in France, the côt is also present in Argentina and Chile. Colombard One of the oldest varieties of Charentes, this golden white grape is the result of a cross between Chenin and Gouais. Its medium sized elliptical berries change color to maturity ranging from a greenish white to a golden yellow. The Colombard grape is sensible to leafhoppers, grape worms, mites, mildew, powdery mildew and botrytis. It is also sensitive to water stress but is very sensitive to wind. His maturity is second late period. This grape produces full-bodied white fine wine, with citrus, nectarine aromas, with boxwood and exotic fruits notes. Colombard wine is less harsh and more alcoholic than the Folle Blanche. Been marginalized in the production of brandy (Cognac & Armagnac) for twenty years, Colombard grape is oriented towards the production of dry country wines and very aromatic as Côtes de Gascogne and Charentes wine (Pineau des Charentes). Folle Blanche Folle Blanche is a white grape. Originally from the west of France, it was used in the preparation of brandies of Cognac and Armagnac from the 17th century and was known for its finesse and fragrant nose. Replaced by the Ugni Blanc following the invasion of phylloxera, Folle Blanche is now grown in small quantities. The vine carries clusters with juicy white / green skin berries, medium sweet. Its worst enemy is gray mold. As it is an early variety and buds out early, it particularly dreads spring frosts. Folle Blanche likes short pruning that limits the production of grapes but increases quality. It also prefers soils rich in minerals. The area of the vineyard is 3 000 hectares, it is used in the production of AOC Gros plant du Pays Nantais, Pineau des Charentes wines to give a lively white wine with little alcohol but with marked acidity. Gamay Gamay is a Burgundy grape variety that has existed since the 14th century. Competing with pinot noir from Burgundy, Gamay was finally planted in Beaujolais, Macon up to Lyons. Growing in siliceous and granitic soils, it is now days planted in different regions of France, in Lorraine, the Loire Valley, Savoy, Auvergne. The Gamay is a black grape with white juice with medium size berries. Gamay grapes mature early and are very productive. The short prunning in winter and the high yeald per hectare enable to produce red wines fruity, fresh and delicious. Acclaimed “Primeur” red wine, gamay produces wines of Beaujolais as well as Crémant de Bourgogne, Macon, Anjou, Touraine, Loire Rosé, Côtes d'Auvergne, Saint-Pourçain, Bugey, Gaillac, Côtes du Luberon wines. Today, about 36 000 hectares of Gamay are grown in France, including 22 000 hectares in Beaujolais only. Grenache Blanc The Grenache Blanc is a medieval grape from Spain originally. It was called "garnache wine" means wine of Granada. Today, the grape mainly grows in southern France region close by its cousin the Grenache Noir, but its production has decreased every year to reach 10 000 hectares today. The Grenache fruit clusters are rather large and very juicy with sweet berries of medium sized. The White Grenache is resistant to drought and is particularly fond of dry soil gravel or pebbles. Its production is important if it is prune short. Thus, it produces white wines full-bodied and opulent with a low acidity. This softness enables the development of natural wines, a nice roundness and long finish like Rasteau, Maury, Rivesaltes and Banyuls. It is found as well in the appellation of Châteauneuf-du- Pape, Lirac and Coteaux-Varois. Grenache Noir The Grenache is a Spanish grape variety imported from the Middle Ages in Languedoc, the Rhone Valley and Provence. It is now one of the most cultivated varieties in the world after Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Coming from the same family as Grenache Blanc, Grenache Noir has the same characteristics. Planted on dry and stony, it is very productive, and its grape provided plenty berries giving a sweet juice.