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67. The Story Behind Bordeaux’s Famous (and Controversial) Wine Classifications

Wine Educate: Wine Tasting, Wine Tips, Wine Enthusiast, WSET

Release Date: 08/14/2025

77. Super Tuscans 101: Tuscany’s Bordeaux Blends and the Sassicaia Story show art 77. Super Tuscans 101: Tuscany’s Bordeaux Blends and the Sassicaia Story

Wine Educate: Wine Tasting, Wine Tips, Wine Enthusiast, WSET

Description: In Episode 77 of the Wine Educate Podcast, Joanne Close explores the fascinating rise of Super Tuscans—wines that broke Italy’s traditional rules and became some of the most sought-after bottles in the world. In Tuesday’s episode, we covered Chianti and Chianti Classico. Today, we’re heading about 75 miles southwest to Bolgheri, the coastal home of Super Tuscans. Though close in distance, Chianti and Bolgheri couldn’t be more different in climate, grape varieties, and wine styles. We’ll dive into: What makes a wine a “Super Tuscan” (hint: it’s all about those...

info_outline 76, Chianti vs. Chianti Classico: History, Laws, and Key Differences Explained show art 76, Chianti vs. Chianti Classico: History, Laws, and Key Differences Explained

Wine Educate: Wine Tasting, Wine Tips, Wine Enthusiast, WSET

Hello and welcome back to the Wine Educate Podcast. I’m your host, Joanne Close, and this is episode 76. Today we’re diving into the history and wine laws of Chianti and Chianti Classico. This is a Level 3 topic, but I’ve added context and stories that bring the region to life. Chianti has one of the longest and most fascinating histories in Italian wine. As early as the 13th century, the region was known as “Chianti,” and in 1716, Grand Duke Cosimo III of Tuscany officially delineated the boundaries of what is essentially Chianti Classico today. This was done to protect quality and...

info_outline 75. Wine History in Context: Alto Piemonte’s Revival and Valle d’Aosta’s Alpine Charm show art 75. Wine History in Context: Alto Piemonte’s Revival and Valle d’Aosta’s Alpine Charm

Wine Educate: Wine Tasting, Wine Tips, Wine Enthusiast, WSET

Resources & Links: Sign up for the Wine Educate Newsletter: www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup Visit our website: www.wineeducate.com How to Contact Us: Email: [email protected] Instagram: @wineeducate Hello friends, and welcome back to the Wine Educate Podcast. I’m your host, Joanne Close, and today we’re doing something a little different. This episode won’t be heavy on exam prep, but it will give you important context about Piedmont and its history through two fascinating regions: Alto Piemonte and Valle d’Aosta. This topic is fresh on my mind because Jim and...

info_outline 74. Amarone & Recioto: The Passito Wines & Laws of Valpolicella Explained show art 74. Amarone & Recioto: The Passito Wines & Laws of Valpolicella Explained

Wine Educate: Wine Tasting, Wine Tips, Wine Enthusiast, WSET

Welcome back to the Wine Educate Podcast, where we explore WSET education, study tips, and practical advice for wine enthusiasts and professionals. I’m your host, Joanne Close, and this is episode 74. Today, we’re heading to Northeast Italy, into the Veneto, to explore Valpolicella—a region whose wines feature prominently in both WSET Level 2 and Level 3. While you may not think “Valpolicella” sounds familiar, chances are you’ve heard of or even tried Amarone, one of its most famous styles. Valpolicella produces a wide range of wines, from light and easy-drinking reds to powerful,...

info_outline 73. Barolo & Barbaresco: Wine Laws at the WSET Level 3 Level show art 73. Barolo & Barbaresco: Wine Laws at the WSET Level 3 Level

Wine Educate: Wine Tasting, Wine Tips, Wine Enthusiast, WSET

Barolo & Barbaresco: Wine Laws at the WSET Level 3 Level Welcome back to the Wine Educate Podcast, where we explore WSET education, study tips, and practical advice for wine enthusiasts and professionals. I’m your host, Joanne Close, and this is episode 73. Today, we’re diving into two of Italy’s most legendary regions: Barolo and Barbaresco, through the lens of WSET Level 3 wine laws. These two Nebbiolo-based DOCGs may sit just two miles apart, but their histories, elevations, soils, and styles each tell a fascinating story. Barolo spans about 2,000 hectares, while Barbaresco is...

info_outline 72. Italian Wine Laws at the WSET Level 2 Level show art 72. Italian Wine Laws at the WSET Level 2 Level

Wine Educate: Wine Tasting, Wine Tips, Wine Enthusiast, WSET

Resources & Links Sign up for the Wine Educate Newsletter: www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup How to Contact Us Email: [email protected] Website: www.wineeducate.com Instagram: @wineeducate Hello and welcome to the Wine Educate Podcast, where we explore WSET education, study tips, and practical advice for wine enthusiasts and professionals. I'm your host, Joanne Close, and this is Episode 72. Last week in the newsletter, I asked what wine laws you wanted me to cover next, and over 75% of you said Piedmont. But before we dive into that beautiful (and complex!) region, it’s...

info_outline 71. Wine Laws of Burgundy: Côte Chalonnaise & Mâconnais show art 71. Wine Laws of Burgundy: Côte Chalonnaise & Mâconnais

Wine Educate: Wine Tasting, Wine Tips, Wine Enthusiast, WSET

Resources & Links Sign up for the Wine Educate Newsletter: www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup How to Contact Us Email: Website: Instagram: @wineeducate Episode 71 – Wine Laws of Burgundy: Côte Chalonnaise & Mâconnais In this episode of the Wine Educate Podcast, we conclude our Burgundy wine law series with two often-overlooked but fascinating regions: the Côte Chalonnaise and the Mâconnais. These southern Burgundy appellations may not always command the same prestige as the Côte d’Or, but they deliver remarkable value and unique expressions of Chardonnay and Pinot...

info_outline 70. The Wine Laws of Burgundy – Côte d’Or & The Importance of Slope show art 70. The Wine Laws of Burgundy – Côte d’Or & The Importance of Slope

Wine Educate: Wine Tasting, Wine Tips, Wine Enthusiast, WSET

70. The Wine Laws of Burgundy – Côte d’Or & The Importance of Slope   Resources & Links Sign up for the Wine Educate Newsletter: www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup How to Contact Us Email: [email protected] Website: www.wineeducate.com Instagram: @wineeducate Today’s episode continues our Burgundy series with a focus on the Côte d’Or—and more specifically, the role that slope plays in vineyard quality and classification. This concept is key not just in Burgundy but also in other cool to moderate regions like Germany’s Mosel and Alsace. We’ll...

info_outline 69. The History of Burgundy Wine Laws: How Monks and the Napoleonic Code Shaped Today’s Vineyards show art 69. The History of Burgundy Wine Laws: How Monks and the Napoleonic Code Shaped Today’s Vineyards

Wine Educate: Wine Tasting, Wine Tips, Wine Enthusiast, WSET

Resources & Links Sign up for the Wine Educate Newsletter: How to Contact Us Email: Website: Instagram: Welcome to episode 69 of the Wine Educate Podcast. This week, we’re continuing our Burgundy series, focusing on the fascinating history behind the region’s wine laws. Understanding this history really helps explain why Burgundy looks the way it does today—with its extreme fragmentation and complex vineyard ownership. We start by looking at the early role of the monks. The monks not only planted and maintained the vineyards, but also took careful notes over...

info_outline 68. WSET Level 2: Intro to Burgundy Wine Laws and Classifications show art 68. WSET Level 2: Intro to Burgundy Wine Laws and Classifications

Wine Educate: Wine Tasting, Wine Tips, Wine Enthusiast, WSET

Resources & Links: Sign up for the Wine Educate Newsletter: Visit our website: How to Contact Us: Email: Instagram: In this episode, Joanne introduces the fascinating world of Burgundy (or Bourgogne) and unpacks the wine laws at the WSET Level 2 level. This is the start of a four-part series on Burgundy, where history, geography, and classification come together to shape one of the most famous wine regions in the world. You’ll learn about: How Burgundy compares to Bordeaux in size and production. The climate differences between Chablis, the Côte d’Or, and the...

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In this episode, we continue our exploration of Bordeaux wine laws—this time at the WSET Level 3 level—focusing on the complex and sometimes controversial classification systems. Unlike appellations, which are based on geography, grape varieties, and winemaking rules, classifications rank individual estates (châteaux), functioning more like brands. This distinction, along with changes in ownership and vineyard size over time, has created ongoing debates about fairness and relevance.

We cover:

  • The 1855 Classification – Commissioned for the Paris Universal Exhibition, ranked by price rather than tasting, and intended to be permanent. Includes the famous upgrade of Château Mouton Rothschild after decades of lobbying.

  • Cru Bourgeois – Unique to the Médoc, established in 1932, and reshaped multiple times due to controversy and lawsuits. Now reviewed every 5 years.

  • Graves Classification (Pessac-Léognan) – Separate lists for red and white wines, with no ranking, and all classified châteaux now located within Pessac-Léognan.

  • Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classification – The only classification within the appellation system, intended to be reclassified every 10 years, but plagued with disputes, lawsuits, and recent high-profile withdrawals.

If you’re studying for Level 3, understanding the history, purpose, and controversies behind these systems can help you navigate exam questions and connect the theory to real-world wine market dynamics.

Next week, we move from Bordeaux to Burgundy—another region where wine laws and classifications are both fascinating and essential for your WSET studies.