PRODUCTS
INTERMEDIAIRES :
The term PRODUCT INTERMEDIAIRE
corresponds to a European tax classification. They are
sometimes also called "transferred".
The final degree of these products is located between
15 and 22% vol.
LIQUEUR
WINES : VDL
It is a
moût (fruit juice) in wich we add an alcohol.
Quality of the fruit juice, alcohol used (beet or Brandy
of wine or marc) and techniques of ageing, will depend
organoleptic qualities on the finished products. If must
is apple and the alcohol of the Apple-brandy, we have
a VDL naming Pommeau of Normandy. If alcohol is Cognac
and the must of the grape juice, we have Pineau of Charentes.
The famous VDL are: Pineau of Charentes (containing Cognac),
Floc de Gascogne (based on Armagnac), Ratafia de Champagne
and of
Burgundy, Riquiqui, Macvin of the Jura, Cataroise de Béziers,
the Pommel of Normandy (containing Apple-brandy).
The "moût" must weigh potential alcohol
12° before the addition of safe alcohol exemption
as it is the case for the VDL in Appelation d' Origine
Controlée or on standby of this Appelation... they
answer the definitions of the decree then (or future decree)
with regard to them.
MISTELLE :
It is a
moût (fruit juice) in which we add an alcohol.
If the moût did not
undergo any departure in fermentation, we have a MISTELLE.
These Mistelles have two possible uses :
consumption
or if the natural flavours are rather neutral, the pharmacopeia
as bases drugs.
The European legislation did not make any difference
between Mistelles and
Liqueur wines. It now differentiates them by the fact
that a Liqueur wine must must undergo a light departure
in fermentation of 1,2° during its development.
Mistelles, the Liqueur wines can be also used for the
development of Wine-based A.B.V.(Apéritif)
SWEET APERITIF WINES : VDN
It is a Liqueur wine which must correspond to certain
criteria
1) In certain cases, to have
more than 85% of a given type of vine
such Grenache, Muscatel, Maccabéo etc... in the
development of one Liqueur wine is regarded as a Sweet
aperitif wine.
2) can be only in one zone
defined as such like VQPRD. Prohibition to manufacture
some apart from these zones.
3) Theoretically, must undergo
a beginning of front fermentation
addition of alcohol.
4) Have a sugar potential
of 212 grams.
Currently, the Community réglements regard the
Sweet aperitif wines as pertaining to the family of the
Liqueur wines.
The elaborate Sweet aperitif wines apart from the zones
of Appelation are taxed in France like the VDL and not
like the VDN!
Wine-based APERITIFS (A.B.V.):
The wine-based Aperitifs are containing Liqueur wines
(in general) in which we add a various flavours.
Though it is, they must have 80% of their Wine base of
Liquor, Mistelle or Wines suited to consumption.
We can add to it to little meadows all that one wants,
of the wine, sugar, caramel, the dyes, the various flavours
(generally the quinquina is used, or of the crushed red
fruit flavours).
It is not an agricultural produce... it is classified
like Industrial product.
Theoretically, this kind of product is interdict to manufacture
for the wine growers, unless they are not attached to
the Chamber of Commerce... unless cultivating themselves
their plants and their fruits...
Much ABV is elaborate starting from the bad vintages
of the Liqueur wines, the bad tastes being masked by the
added flavours.
Many is also of excellent products.
The famous ABV are: Martini,
Noilly Prat, Cinzanno, Saint-Raphaël etc...
On the label is indicated then wine-based ABV or Aperitif.