On the second day of the Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) course in Napa Valley, instructor Mary Sugrue launched our coverage of the leading wine regions of the world with comprehensive classes on France and Italy, the two leading wine producing countries in the worldwide wine industry. The class on France was in the morning and it covered the grape varieties and the various styles of wine produced in the Bordeaux, Loire, Burgundy, Alsace, Beaujolais, Rhone and Champagne regions.
The class tasted representative wines from each of these areas, including:
- 2010 Chateau Couronneau, Bordeaux Superieur – a Bordeaux blend, mostly Merlot
- 2009 Chateau d’Issan – another Bordeaux blend, mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, from the Margaux appellation
- 1994 Chateau Le Bon Pasteur – a luscious red Bordeaux blend from the Pomerol appellation
- 2005 Chateau Climens – a sweet white (100% Semillon) wine like Sauternes from the Barsac region
- 2011 Louis Métaireau Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie – from Pays Nantais in the Loire Valley
- 2012 Domaine Pichot Vouvray – a demi-sec white (Chenin Blanc) from the Touraine region in Loire
- 2011 Domaine Jean-Max Roger – a dry white (Sauvignon Blanc) from Sancerre in Upper Loire
- 2009 Domaine Bechtold Grand Cru Gewurztraminer – an aromatic white from the Engelberg vineyard in Alsace
- 2008 Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Meursault – 100% Chardonnay from the Clos du Cromin vineyard in Burgundy
- 2009 Domaine Henri Gouges – 100% Pinot Noir from Nuits-Saint-Georges in the Cote de Nuits district of Burgundy
- 2010 Domaine Cheysson “Clos Les Farges” – a Cru Beaujolais (100% Gamay) from the Village of Chiroubles
- 2009 J.L. Chave Sélection “Farconnet” – a Syrah from the northern Rhône Valley appellation of Hermitage
- 2012 Domaines André Aubert Côtes du Rhône “La Sérine” – a southern Rhone blend (75% Grenache & 25% Syrah)
- N.V. Champagne R.H. Coutier – a non-vintage Grand Cru Brut from Ambonnay (70% Pinot Noir & 30% Chardonnay)
- 2000 Gosset Grand Millésime Brut – a vintage Champagne cuvée (57% Chardonnay & 43% Pinot Noir).