57-684: Paso Robles is the third American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in San Luis Obispo (SLO) County , California . It was established by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury on November 3, 1983 based on a petition submitted by Martin Brothers Winery. The area encompasses 609,673 acres (953 sq mi) with approximately 18,500 acres (7,487 ha) cultivated with wine grapes known for their heritage varietal Zinfandel , Cabernet Sauvignon , and Rhône-style wines . The name of
114-568: A broad generalisation, Cabernet Sauvignon (Bordeaux's second-most planted grape variety) dominates the blend in red wines produced in the Médoc and the rest of the left bank of the Gironde estuary . Typical top-quality Châteaux blends are 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc and 15% Merlot. This is typically referred to as the "Bordeaux blend". Merlot tends to predominate in Saint-Émilion , Pomerol and
171-411: A major market, now imports more wine from Australia than from France. Amongst the possible causes for this economic crisis are that many consumers tend to prefer wine labels that state the variety of grape used, and often find the required French AOC labels difficult to understand. Christian Delpeuch , president emeritus of Plan Bordeaux hoped to reduce production, improve quality, and sell more wine in
228-562: A period of ageing (commonly a year). The traditional Bordeaux barrique is a 225-litre oak barrel. At some point between pressing and bottling the wine is blended. This is an integral part of the Bordeaux wine making process, as scarcely any Bordeaux wines are varietals ; wine from different grape varieties is mixed together, depending on the vintage conditions, so as to produce a wine in the château's preferred style. In addition to mixing wine from different grape varieties, wine from different parts of
285-574: A period to refer to all red wine rather than to the claret style specifically. The export of Bordeaux was interrupted by the Hundred Years' War outbreak between France and England in 1337. By the end of the conflict in 1453 France had repossessed the province, thus taking control of wine production in the region. As part of the Auld Alliance , the French granted Scottish merchants a privileged position in
342-616: A petition is accepted as complete, the TTB may choose to seek public input on the proposal and at its sole discretion may approve the proposed AVA. Before the AVA system, wine appellations of origin in the United States were designated based on state or county boundaries. All of these appellations were grandfathered into federal regulations and may appear on wine labels as designated places of origin in lieu of an AVA, such as Sonoma County . In order for
399-483: A slang term for blood. Many of the top Bordeaux wines are primarily sold by receiving the related payment in advance, the so-called selling en primeur . Because of the combination of longevity, fairly large production, and an established reputation, Bordeaux wines tend to be the most common wines at wine auctions. Market reports released in February 2009 showed that the market had increased in buying power by 128% while
456-417: A smaller proportion of Sauvignon blanc. Other permitted grape varieties are Sauvignon gris , Ugni blanc , Colombard , Merlot blanc , Ondenc and Mauzac . Recently permitted by Bordeaux wineries, three new white grapes have been added: Alvarinho , Petit Manseng , and Liliorila. In the late 1960s Sémillon was the most planted grape in Bordeaux. Since then it has been in constant decline although it still
513-401: A wine to be labeled with a state or county appellation, at least 75% of the grapes used to make the wine must have been grown within the boundary of the appellation, and the wine must be fully finished within the state in which the appellation is located. Some states have more stringent rules, such as California , which requires 100% of the grapes used to make the wine be from California and that
570-549: Is a festival focused on the wide variety of wines the area produces, held in Paso Robles' downtown city park. Attendees have the opportunity to talk with the Paso Robles vintners and taste their wines. The Harvest Wine Weekend is a celebration of the harvest season with three days of hands-on Paso Robles Wine Country activities. In 2015, the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance started a new festival, BlendFest on
627-479: Is not always the case. See map on the right showing the outline of the Paso Robles AVA , California's largest in total area, and the eleven distinct AVAs contained within it. In 2018, the second session of the 115th Congress recognized the contribution of American Viticultural Areas to the economy. The Blunt-Merkley Resolution passed unanimously. It noted that an AVA allows vintners to describe more accurately
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#1732851795427684-433: Is popular in other places. Following harvest, the grapes are usually sorted and destemmed before crushing. Crushing was traditionally done by foot, but mechanical crushing is now almost universally used. Chaptalization is permitted, and is fairly common-place. Fermentation then takes place, usually in temperature controlled stainless steel vats. Next the must is pressed and transferred to barriques (in most cases) for
741-832: Is produced in the Bordeaux region of southwest France , around the city of Bordeaux , on the Garonne River . To the north of the city, the Dordogne River joins the Garonne forming the broad estuary called the Gironde ; the Gironde department, with a total vineyard area of 110,800 hectares, is the second largest wine-growing area in France behind the Languedoc-Rousillon. Average vintages produce over 700 million bottles of wine, ranging from large quantities of daily table wine to some of
798-489: Is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon , a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat effects of climate change on viticulture in Bordeaux, though only for those wines designated as Bordeaux or Bordeaux Supérior. These newly approved grapes are Marselan , Touriga Nacional , Castets , and Arinarnoa. As
855-547: Is the most common of Bordeaux's white grapes. Sauvignon blanc's popularity on the other hand has been rising, overtaking Ugni blanc as the second most planted white Bordeaux grape in the late 1980s and now being grown in an area more than half the size of that of the lower yielding Sémillon. Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of
912-568: The Cole Ranch AVA in Mendocino County , California, at only 60 acres (24 ha). The Augusta AVA , which occupies the area around the town of Augusta, Missouri , was the first recognized AVA, gaining the status on June 20, 1980. There are currently 276 AVAs spread across 34 states, with over half (154) in California. An AVA may be located within one or more larger AVAs. For example,
969-494: The Gironde , but the French navy escorted them safely to the port of Bordeaux to protect them from Huguenot privateers. In the seventeenth century, Dutch traders drained the swampy ground of the Médoc so it could be planted with vines, and this gradually surpassed Graves as the most prestigious region of Bordeaux. Malbec was the dominant grape here, until the early 19th century, when it was replaced by Cabernet Sauvignon . In 1855,
1026-633: The Santa Clara Valley AVA and Livermore Valley AVA are located within the boundaries of the San Francisco Bay AVA , which is itself located within the Central Coast AVA . In such cases, the wine may be labeled with any of the relevant AVAs, but winemakers generally label wines with the most specific AVA allowed for each wine. Smaller AVAs are often perceived to be associated with smaller production and higher quality wines, though this
1083-460: The "leading Paso pioneers". In 2007, a proposal to split the area at the Salinas River and form a new "Paso Robles Westside AVA" was made. The proposal was withdrawn in 2009, and a new proposal was made to sub-divide the AVA into eleven viticultural areas with their separate unique attributes. Effective on November 10, 2014, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) issued a final rule in
1140-430: The 1980s, there have been increased plantings of many Rhône varieties, including the first Syrah planted in California, as well as Viognier and Roussanne to name a few. The emerging popularity of the region's wines led it to become the first site of the bi-annual "Hospice du Rhône" conference on Rhône style wine. Today, Paso Robles Wine Country is receiving attention for its unique Paso blends. These wines are unique to
1197-543: The Bordeaux region. Henry Plantagenet became King Henry II of England in 1154, and within his so-called Angevin Empire Bordeaux developed a long-lived export market for its wine in England. At this time, Graves was the principal wine region of Bordeaux, and the principal style was clairet . This accounts for the ubiquity of claret in England, though the anglicized term "claret" came to be used by English-speakers for
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#17328517954271254-580: The Coast, dedicated to the unique wine blends of Paso Robles, held on the coast in San Simeon and Cambria . 35°36′26″N 120°36′29″W / 35.6071502°N 120.6081466°W / 35.6071502; -120.6081466 American Viticultural Area An American Viticultural Area ( AVA ) is a designated wine grape -growing region in the United States , providing an official appellation for
1311-460: The Federal Register establishing eleven distinct sub-appellations within the existing Paso Robles viticultural area. The Paso Robles AVA is still acknowledged for its heritage grape, Zinfandel , but has gained recognition from a wider range of grape varietals as well. In the 1950s and 1960s, growers began to plant Bordeaux varieties, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon , in the area. Starting in
1368-480: The Gironde. These rivers define the main geographical subdivisions of the region: In Bordeaux the concept of terroir plays a pivotal role in wine production with the top estates aiming to make terroir driven wines that reflect the place they are from, often from grapes collected from a single vineyard. The soil of Bordeaux is composed of gravel , sandy stone, and clay. The region's best vineyards are located on
1425-546: The Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico. The red grapes in the Bordeaux vineyard are Merlot (62% by area), Cabernet Sauvignon (25%), Cabernet Franc (12%) and a small amount of Petit Verdot, Malbec and Carménère (1% in total). The white grapes are Sémillon (54% by area), Sauvignon blanc (36%), Muscadelle (7%) and a small amount of Ugni blanc, Colombard and Folle blanche (3% in total). Because of
1482-464: The United States. However, two years after the beginning of the program, Mr Delpeuch resigned, "citing the failure of the French government to address properly the wine crisis in Bordeaux." Delpeuch told journalists assembled at the Bordeaux Press Club "I refuse to countenance this continual putting off of decisions which can only end in failure." "Delpeuch said he was shocked and disappointed by
1539-576: The area dates from the late 18th Century, the missionary period of the area. The full Spanish name is "El Paso de Robles" or "the Pass of the Oaks." This name was given by travelers between the San Miguel mission , located within the boundaries of the viticultural area, and Mission San Luis Obispo . A land grant, in this name, was conveyed by Governor Micheltorena to Pedro Narvaez on May 12, 1844. This land grant includes
1596-457: The area, and with varietal make-ups that do not follow traditional rules and expectations of winemaking, as characteristic in other regions of the wine world. The Paso Robles Zinfandel Festival, now known as Vintage Paso: Zinfandel Weekend, is a festival focused on the Paso Robles area's heritage grape, Zinfandel. This event is held by the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, a non-profit cooperative marketing alliance. The Paso Robles Wine Festival
1653-439: The châteaux of Bordeaux were classified ; this classification remains widely used today. From 1875 to 1892 almost all Bordeaux vineyards were ruined by phylloxera infestations. The region's wine industry was rescued by grafting native vines onto pest-resistant American rootstock . The major reason for the success of winemaking in the Bordeaux region is the excellent environment for growing vines. The geological foundation of
1710-507: The existing vineyards. Commercial wine growing, however, was not started until the 1880s with the establishment of Ascension Winery, later known as York Mountain Winery , and today known as Epoch Estate Wines. In 1914, Ignacy Jan Paderewski , the famous Polish pianist, conductor, and statesman, established a vineyard on his ranch. The Zinfandel grape was introduced to the area in this vineyard. Wine produced by York Mountain Winery from this vineyard
1767-472: The first growths of the 1855 classification, and often sell for even higher prices. Bordeaux wine labels generally include: Claret ( / ˈ k l ær ɪ t / KLARR -it ) is a name primarily used in British English for red Bordeaux wine. Claret derives from the French clairet , now a rare dark rosé , which was the most common wine exported from Bordeaux until the 18th century. The name
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1824-401: The generally humid Bordeaux climate, a variety of pests can cause a problem for the vigneron . In the past, this was counteracted by the widespread use of pesticides, although the use of natural methods has recently been gaining in popularity. The vines are generally trained in either single or double guyot. Hand-picking is preferred by most of the prestigious châteaux, but machine-harvesting
1881-789: The grapes that make up the wine must have been grown in the AVA, and the wine must be fully finished within the state where the AVA is located. The boundaries of AVAs are defined by the Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), a component of the United States Department of the Treasury . The TTB defines AVAs at the request of wineries and other petitioners . Prior to the TTB's creation in 2003, the Treasury’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) received and handled petitions for viticultural areas, wine production and labeling. Section 4.25(e)(2) of
1938-492: The hotel and resort visitors was incorporated as the City of El Paso de Robles on February 25, 1889. Since that time, the entire area of the viticultural area has been referred to as the Paso Robles area. Grapes were first introduced into the Paso Robles area in 1787 by Spanish missionaries at Mission San Miguel Arcangel , founded in 1797, produced wine and it is assumed that the grapes were harvested in nearby areas. The earliest date
1995-431: The largest appellation producing fine wines, and the strong foundation of the pyramid of Bordeaux wines, Bordeaux AOC & Bordeaux Supérieur AOC today account for 55% of all Bordeaux wines consumed in the world. Plan Bordeaux was an initiative introduced in 2005 by ONIVINS , the French vintners association, designed to reduce France's wine production in order to improve profitability for the remaining producers. Part of
2052-560: The market. In November 2011 the president of the Union des Maisons de Négoce de Bordeaux announced an intention to use the term claret de Bordeaux for wines that are "light and fruity, easy to drink, in the same style as the original claret when it was prized by the English in former centuries". "Claret" is also sometimes used as a colour name to refer to the dark, purplish-red colour of Bordeaux wine . In Britain and Australia, "claret" has also been
2109-408: The mutual benefit of wineries and consumers. Winemakers frequently want their consumers to know about the geographic pedigree of their wines, as wines from a particular area can possess distinctive characteristics. Consumers often seek out wines from specific AVAs, and certain wines of particular pedigrees can claim premium prices and loyal customers. If a wine is labeled with an AVA, at least 85% of
2166-418: The origin of their wine, while helping vintners to build and enhance the reputation and value of the wines produced. AVAs also allow consumers to attribute a given quality, reputation, or other characteristic to a wine made from grapes grown in an AVA. AVAs also help consumers identify what they purchase. Bordeaux (wine) Bordeaux wine ( Occitan : vin de Bordèu ; French : vin de Bordeaux )
2223-452: The other right bank appellations. These Right Bank blends from top -quality Châteaux are typically 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. White Bordeaux is predominantly, and exclusively in the case of the sweet Sauternes , made from Sémillon , Sauvignon blanc and Muscadelle . Typical blends are 80% Sémillon and 20% Sauvignon blanc. As with the reds, white Bordeaux wines are usually blends, most commonly of Sémillon and
2280-473: The plan was to uproot 17,000 hectares of the 124,000 hectares of vineyards in Bordeaux. The wine industry in Bordeaux has been experiencing economic problems in the face of strong international competition from New World wines and declining wine consumption in France. In 2004, exports to the U.S. plummeted 59% in value over the previous year. Sales in Britain dropped 33% in value during the same period. The UK,
2337-532: The present areas of Paso Robles , Templeton , and Adelaida . The land grant was patented on July 20, 1866, to Petronillo Rios. In 1857 the Paso Robles land grant was purchased by three men. These men, capitalizing on the hot springs and mud baths of the area, set out to make the Paso Robles Hot Springs one of the finest resort spas in the Country and built the first of the famous hotels. The community serving
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2394-409: The prices had been lowered for the very best Bordeaux wines. Syndicate des Vins de Bordeaux et Bordeaux Supérieur is an organization representing the economic interests of 6,700 wine producers in Bordeaux, France. The wine lake and other economic problems have increased the salience of the winemakers' association, whose members are facing increasing costs and decreasing demand for their product. As
2451-511: The region is limestone, leading to a soil structure that is heavy in calcium. The Gironde estuary dominates the regions along with its tributaries , the Garonne and the Dordogne rivers, and together irrigate the land and provide an Atlantic Climate, also known as an oceanic climate , for the region. Bordeaux lies at the center of the confluence of the Dordogne and Garonne Rivers, which flow into
2508-400: The regulations (27 C.F.R. § 4.25(e)(2)) outlines the procedure for proposing an AVA and provides that any interested party may petition the TTB to establish a grape-growing region as an AVA. Section 9.12 of the TTB regulations (27 C.F.R. § 9.12) prescribes the standards for petitions for the establishment or modification of AVAs. Petitions to establish an AVA must include the following: Once
2565-547: The request of Emperor Napoleon III for the Exposition Universelle de Paris . This came to be known as the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855, which ranked the wines into five categories according to price. The first growth red wines (four from Médoc and one, Château Haut-Brion, from Graves), are among the most expensive wines in the world. The first growths are: At the same time,
2622-532: The sweet white wines of Sauternes and Barsac were classified into three categories, with only Château d'Yquem being classified as a superior first growth. In 1955, St. Émilion AOC were classified into three categories, the highest being Premier Grand Cru Classé A with two members: In the 2012 classification, two more Châteaux became members: There is no official classification applied to Pomerol . However some Pomerol wines, notably Château Pétrus and Château Le Pin , are often considered as being equivalent to
2679-544: The term. Claret is occasionally used in the United States as a semi-generic label for red wine in the style of the Bordeaux, ideally from the same grapes as are permitted in Bordeaux. The French themselves do not use the term, except for export purposes. The meaning of "claret" has changed and now refers to a dry, dark-red Bordeaux. It has remained a term associated with the English upper class and consequently appears on bottles of generic red Bordeaux to raise their status in
2736-586: The trade of claret. This position continued largely unchanged after the Treaty of Edinburgh ended the military alliance between France and Scotland. Even when the by then Protestant kingdoms of England and Scotland, both ruled by the same Stuart king by this point, were trying to militarily aid the Huguenot rebels in their fight against Catholic France in La Rochelle , Scots trading vessels were not only permitted to enter
2793-420: The vineyard is often aged separately, and then blended into either the main or the second wine (or sold off wholesale) according to the judgment of the winemaker. The wine is then bottled and usually undergoes a further period of ageing before it is released for sale. The Bordeaux wine region is divided into subregions including Saint-Émilion , Pomerol , Médoc , and Graves . The 60 Bordeaux appellations and
2850-431: The well-drained gravel soils that are frequently found near the Gironde river. An old adage in Bordeaux is the best estates can "see the river" from their vineyards. The majority of land facing riverward is occupied by classified estates . Red Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon , Cabernet Franc , Merlot , Petit Verdot , Malbec and Carménère . Today Carménère
2907-670: The wine be fully finished within the state. Washington requires 95% of the grapes in a Washington wine be grown in Washington, although notably the Columbia Valley AVA , Columbia Gorge AVA , and Walla Walla Valley AVA are shared with Oregon. AVAs vary widely in size, ranging from the Upper Mississippi River Valley AVA , at more than 19 million acres (29,900 square miles (77,000 km )) across four states ( Illinois , Iowa , Minnesota , and Wisconsin ), to
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#17328517954272964-406: The wine styles they represent are usually categorized into six main families, four red based on the subregions and two white based on sweetness: The vast majority of Bordeaux wine is red, with red wine production outnumbering white wine production six to one. There are four different classifications of Bordeaux, covering different parts of the region: The 1855 classification system was made at
3021-507: The world's most expensive and prestigious wines. The vast majority of wine produced in Bordeaux is red (sometimes called "claret" in Britain), with sweet white wines (most notably Sauternes ), dry whites, and (in much smaller quantities) rosé and sparkling wines ( Crémant de Bordeaux ) collectively making up the remainder. Bordeaux wine is made by more than 5,660 producers or châteaux . There are 65 appellations of Bordeaux wine. Viticulture
3078-636: Was anglicised to "claret" as a result of its widespread consumption in England during the period in the 12th–15th centuries that Aquitaine was part of the Angevin Empire and continued to be controlled by Kings of England for some time after the Angevins . It is a protected name within the European Union , describing a red Bordeaux wine, accepted after the British wine trade demonstrated over 300 years' usage of
3135-492: Was 1873 showing that approximately 40 acres (16 ha) were vineyards. One winery established in the last century is still involved in wine production, Rotta Winery, now Mid•point Wine . In addition to this winery, there are twelve others and one under construction. There were 62 existing vineyards at the establishment of Paso Robles viticultural area comprising approximately 5,000 acres (2,023 ha) with more grape plantings planned, generally adjacent to or in close proximity to
3192-550: Was awarded a gold medal at the California State Fair. Since 1990, when there were fewer than 20 wineries in Paso Robles, a large expansion of activity has seen the number rise to more than 200 wineries today. Wine critic Robert M. Parker, Jr. commented on the region's promise of quality of wine, emphasizing the wineries L'Aventure , Linne Calodo, Saxum Vineyards, Doce Robles "Twelve Oaks" Winery & Vineyard, Villa Creek Cellars, Castoro Cellars and Tablas Creek Vineyard as
3249-458: Was introduced into the Bordeaux region by the Romans , probably in the mid-1st century CE, to provide wine for local consumption, and wine production has been continuous in the region since then. During the 12th century, the popularity of Bordeaux wines in England increased dramatically following the marriage in 1152 of Henry Plantagenet and Eleanor of Aquitaine , whose Aquitaine lands included
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