Brent Null
Roseville, CA
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2193
 | | 02/12/2003 11:51 PM |
| Could someone please explain what is meant by Reserve and Estate and if there are rules that govern whether a wine can be called one or the other or both?
Thanks! | | | |
|
Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2067
| | 02/13/2003 12:19 AM |
| I don't think there are any fixed rules or laws- not in NZ or Aussie anyway.
Reserve was a term used for the wines which were aged a little longer and kept back in the Winery cellars for a bad vintage- back in the old days. Nowadays I think it refers to anything where a little more effort has been made in the production of the wine- ie more oak, lower yields etc...
Estate is a literal translation of the French Domaine/ Chateau . However both definitions have loose translations dependant on region. Domaine Bollinger refers to the whole estate while the House of Bollinger is never called Chateau Bollinger. Confusing but thats the French for you.
Estate bottling used to refer to wines that have come from the Estates vineyards (often the closest owned vineyards) nowadays you have a more generic term refering to wine made at the Estate. I think.... | | | |
|
Budman
Master of Wine
Posts:11833
| | 02/13/2003 12:24 AM |
| Uh,
In the US of A, I think it works this way...
'Estate' means that you own the vineyards, all vinification is done at the winery, all aging is done in barrels maintained at the winery, as well as bottling.
In a nutshell, everything is done 'at home'.
'Reserve' in the US of A means absolutely nothing (legally).
Case in point, Kendall Jackson Vintner's Reserve. Big deal!
In other countries, the rules are different.
OK, forumites, give him the details!  | | | |
|
Vitis Vinifera
Grape Sorter
Posts:316
| | 02/13/2003 12:33 AM |
| well done, Budman.......I thought I'd for sure be spelling out the legalities of 'Estate Bottled' but you pretty much nailed it
aside from what Budman said, once the grapes arrive at the winery, the wine may not ever leave the winery until it is bottled. Also, the winery must be within the same AVA as the vineyard.
-Vitis Vinifera in Lodi | | | |
|
skwid
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5452
| | 02/13/2003 12:42 AM |
| | That last part is interesting Vitis. Would a AVA be considered the most specific AVA for this to be true. I.e. which would be considered and still fit the "estate" labeling (California, Napa Valley, Oakville, ...). | | | |
|
Vitis Vinifera
Grape Sorter
Posts:316
| | 02/13/2003 1:08 AM |
| only AVA's......not political divisions. Counties (Napa, Sonoma, etc) and state are divisions.
So, the winery and vineyard must be in an AVA in the first place to quality to use 'Estate Bottled'
Yes, some AVA's are further divided, as you metioned Napa Valley -> Oakville. In this case, if they use the Oakville appellation on the label, both vineyard and winery must be in Oakville, but if the vineyard is in Oakville but the winery in Yountville, the only way they could claim 'Estate Bottled' is if they used the Napa Valley appellation on the label.
--------at least, this is how I logically read it. I've talked to ATF agents about this before, and while I haven't asked them the exact question you asked me, I have a strong feeling this is how a Specialist or Agent would answer me.
-Vitis Vinifera in Lodi | | | |
|
Bob Bressler
Napa Valley
Wine Lover
Posts:4809
| | 02/13/2003 1:22 AM |
| a few other minor details: you don't actually have to own the vineyard - you just have to 'control' it. Also the term that is tightly controlled is 'estate bottled'. I tried hard to use 'estate grown', which is not controlled. But, after many internal conferences, the BATF said no dice. It is a loophole and they won't let you use it. sigh.
\bob | | | |
|
Vitis Vinifera
Grape Sorter
Posts:316
| | 02/13/2003 1:26 AM |
| Bressler, according to a conversation I had with my winery's Specialist, 'controlled' means either outright ownership, or a ******three year contract********
that sounded kinda arbitrary, but it's what was told to me when I inquired
-Vitis Vinifera in Lodi | | | |
|
Wineaux
New Orleans, LA
Barrel Filler
Posts:1413
| | 02/13/2003 2:37 AM |
| Brent,
You're on a roll. Keeping asking these good discussion-generating questions. | | | |
|
Brent Null
Roseville, CA
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2193
| | 02/13/2003 3:43 AM |
| | Thanks, wineaux! | | | |
|
Bob Bressler
Napa Valley
Wine Lover
Posts:4809
| | 02/13/2003 4:49 AM |
| VV,
Three years? What a great data point! Let's see, that's about the time where you run out of cash...
\bob | | | |
|
TCK
Barrel Filler
Posts:1279
| | 02/13/2003 2:34 PM |
| In Europe, depending on the region, Reserva has a legal meaning. In Rioja a wine labeled Reserva has to be aged in oak for at least 1 year and bottle aged for a year prior to release. Gran Reservas have to be bottle aged for two years at the winery and have one year in oak to carry the designation. Italy has the same type of rules - I could give the specifics if you'd like.
TCK | | | |
|
ChangeMe
Grape Stomper
Posts:196
| | 02/15/2003 6:07 PM |
| Italy, Spain and Portugal all have legal definitions of the use of Reserva on the lablel. Those are all the countries that I know of. What is interesting is that there is a move to ease up on the definitions and allow the winemaker to decide whether to classify his wine as Reserva or not.
Rioja is a good example. A winemaker has a great vintage for white but can't label his best wines as reserva unless they have spent six months in wood - which isn't always a good thing.
By the by, Resserva in Spain requires three years aging for reds. Crianza is two. | | | |
|
TCK
Barrel Filler
Posts:1279
| | 02/15/2003 11:29 PM |
| | My fault, you are correct. And Gran Reserva is 5 Years of Ageing. | | | |
|