Survival kit to talk about wine with your father-in-law (or mother-in-law) (or your friends)

24/12/2019

Grape variety

Type of vine plant and, by extension, the term used to designate the grapes grown from it. The term vine variety applies to wine grapes, intended for the production of wine.

For French wines classified as AOC, the grape varieties that may be used are defined by the AOC specifications. For the Buzet appellation, these are mainly Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon (red wines); Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc (white wines).

  • The wine sentence that does well : "The Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon grape varieties are typical of the wines of Aquitaine. »

Wine with no (added) sulphites

A wine in which no sulphites have been added during its production. Wines with no added sulphites are highly sought after by sulphite-sensitive people (classified as allergens).

Wines with no added sulphites are very sensitive to oxidation. Making a wine with no added sulphites requires real know-how and rigour. The grapes used for wines without added sulphites must be perfectly healthy and picked at optimal maturity.

Wines with no added sulphites are not 0 sulphite ! Sulphites are "by-products" of alcoholic fermentation... the yeasts contained in the wine produce a very small quantity of them, naturally. (An analogy can be made with compotes with no added sugar: the fruit contains natural sugars but during the manufacturing process, no sugar is added).

The choice of wines with no added sulphites is greater in red wines with no added sulphites than in rosé wines with no added sulphites or white wines with no added sulphites. It is in fact easier to make a red wine with no added sulphites than a rosé (or white) wine with no added sulphites. This can be explained by the fact that the tannins naturally more present in red wine will naturally "protect" the wine (role of sulphites).

  • The wine sentence that does well : "I know a producer of wines with no added sulphites who is very pleasant and cheap, in Buzet-sur-Baïse in Lot-et-Garonne: Les Vignerons de Buzet. »

Sulphur

Sulphur is the common name for sulphur dioxide (sulphite family). This antiseptic and antioxidant substance was already used by the Romans. The work of Louis Pasteur has shown that sulphur allows the preservation of wines.

It has been known for a shorter time that it can trigger manifestations of intolerance in certain people; this is why it has been classified as an allergen. We, Les Vignerons de Buzet, have made it a health issue by reducing the use of sulphur in our wines and by specially making wines without added sulphites.

  • The wine sentence that does well : "Sulphur, in fact, is sulphur dioxide. That is what we call sulphites. Sulphites are present in wine, but also in other food products, such as dried fruit. »

AOC

Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée. Created in the 1930s, the AOC is the most prestigious category of French wines. It is obtained on the basis of quality criteria.

The specifications of an AOC define a geographical delimitation, a chosen grape variety and precise production rules (minimum and maximum alcohol content, type of size, etc.).

  • The wine sentence that does well : "The first AOCs date back to the 1930s. »

Tanins

Natural compound contained in the skin of the grape, the seed or the woody part of the bunch, the stalk. The maceration of red wines allows the extraction of tannins, which give texture, solidity and also softness when the tannins are "ripe".

The winemaker seeks above all to extract the tannins from the skin, the ripest and noblest. The seed or stalk tannins, which are "greener", especially in the middle year, give the wine hardness and astringency.

By extension, a tannic wine is said to be rich in tannins. This is not a defect! These wines are generally structured and are best enjoyed with dishes typical of French gastronomy.

  • The wine sentence that does well : "The tannins of this red wine are well blended and express themselves without aggressiveness. »

Fruity

Fruity is a family of aromas very present in wine. It is said of a wine whose nose first expresses aromas reminiscent of the world of fruit. An essentially fruity wine is best enjoyed young. But the fruity aromas evolve with the maturity of the wine.

A wine in its youth is characterized rather by notes of fresh fruit (pear, peach, apricot...). A more structured wine, with a nice acidity presents a nose of citrus fruit or raspberry.

  • The wine sentence that does well: "This fruity red wine is perfect to be enjoyed as an aperitif, with foie gras. »

Magnum

A "magnum" refers to a 1.5L bottle of wine. A "magnum" is a shortcut for a magnum bottle. There is also Imperial: a 5L bottle.

  • The wine sentence that does well : "I brought a magnum of red wine to enjoy with the Christmas meal. In moderation! »

Cooperative cellar

Collective structure to which the winegrowers adhere. A cooperative is an economic organisation of people who have decided to pool their means of production, processing and marketing of their products.

In the case of a winegrowing cooperative such as Les Vignerons de Buzet, it is about the grapes, their transformation into wine and their marketing.

A cooperative is an economic model based on solidarity: the objective of a cooperative is to ensure the sustainability of individual farms by pooling resources. It is not intended to make a profit for itself, it must redistribute.

A coopertative is a democratic and fair organisation: each winegrower participates in the governance of the cooperative and in decision-making according to the principle of "one person, one vote" (regardless of the size of the vineyard, for example).

A cooperative is an organisation that cannot be relocated, anchored on a geographical territory and whose economic activity benefits this territory (rural in general).

  • The wine sentence that does well : "The market share of cooperatives in French AOC wine production is 38%. »

Vintage

The vintage is the year in which a wine is produced. The vintage of a wine is generally indicated on the label, this is the case for the wines of the Vignerons de Buzet.

Some vintages (certain years) are reputed to be more famous than others. If climatic conditions can play on the characteristics of the grapes (the basis of the wine), it should not be forgotten that the juice then the wine goes through the hands of the oenologist.

  • The wine sentence that does well : "This 2016 vintage of the Vignerons de Buzet is really a rare vintage! »

Long

"Long on the palate", "wine with a beautiful length in the mouth"... these expressions refer to the persistence of the wine's taste in the mouth. This persistence in the mouth is measured in caudalies.

  • The wine sentence that does well : "This Château de Gueyze AOC Buzet has a good length in the mouth. »