67. The Story Behind Bordeaux’s Famous (and Controversial) Wine Classifications
Wine Educate: Wine Lessons, Travel & WSET Study Prep
Release Date: 08/14/2025
86. What Is Beaujolais Nouveau? History, Release Day Rules, and Carbonic Maceration
Wine Educate: Wine Lessons, Travel & WSET Study Prep
Sign up for the Wine Educate Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/6648859973ba/newsletter How to Contact Us Episode Summary In this episode, Joanne dives into Beaujolais Nouveau and why the third Thursday in November is one of the most unique days in the wine world. She explores what Beaujolais Nouveau is, how it originated, how it is made, and why it became one of the most recognizable wine traditions in the world. From Parisian celebrations to American Thanksgiving tables, Beaujolais Nouveau is more than just a wine. It is a global moment of shared release, tied to history, marketing, and...
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85. Exploring Five Key Southern Rhône Crus: Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Lirac, and Tavel
Wine Educate: Wine Lessons, Travel & WSET Study Prep
Resources & Links Newsletter Sign-Up: Receive weekly Level 2 quizzes, Level 3 essay questions, study tips, and podcast updates. How to Contact Us Email: Website: Episode Overview In today’s episode, Joanne wraps up the Rhône series with a deep dive into the Southern Rhône appellations, focusing on the Crus and how they differ from the broader Côtes du Rhône wines. This region is warm, Mediterranean, and heavily dominated by Grenache-based blends, though rosé and white wines also play a meaningful role. Joanne also shares a quick story about last night’s nine-wine Barolo...
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84. The Southern Rhône: Climate, Grapes, and Winemaking
Wine Educate: Wine Lessons, Travel & WSET Study Prep
The Southern Rhône: Climate, Grapes, and Winemaking Resources & Links Sign up for the Wine Educate Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/6648859973ba/newsletter (Weekly study tips, essay questions for Level 3 students, class announcements, and upcoming wine trips.) Visit: Email: Episode Overview Hello, and welcome to the Wine Educate Podcast and YouTube channel. This is Episode 84, and I’m your host, Joanne Close. In the last few episodes, we’ve been exploring the Rhône Valley — first the Northern Rhône, and now turning our attention to the Southern Rhône. While they...
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83. The Northern Rhône, Part 2: Saint-Joseph, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage & Cornas
Wine Educate: Wine Lessons, Travel & WSET Study Prep
The Northern Rhône, Part 2: Saint-Joseph, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage & Cornas Resources & Links 📬 Sign up for the newsletter: 📧 Contact Joanne: Episode Overview Hello, and welcome to the Wine Educate Podcast! This is Episode 83, and I’m your host, Joanne Close. Today we’re continuing our Northern Rhône series and diving into the middle and southern parts of the Northern Rhône—covering Saint-Joseph, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, and Cornas. It’s late October here in New Orleans, and after a long hot stretch, it’s finally cooling off just enough to think about...
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82. The Wines of the Northern Rhône: Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu & Château-Grillet
Wine Educate: Wine Lessons, Travel & WSET Study Prep
Wine Educate Podcast: Episode 82 Title: The Wines of the Northern Rhône: Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu & Château-Grillet Resources & Links Sign up for the Wine Educate Newsletter https://www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup Episode Overview In Episode 82, Joanne explores the northernmost part of the Northern Rhône, home to some of France’s most prestigious Syrah and Viognier wines. This is the first of a two-part look at the region, focusing on three key appellations: Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, and Château-Grillet. Building on last week’s episode about the Mistral wind and Rhône...
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81. Rhône Overview and the Mistral Wind Explained
Wine Educate: Wine Lessons, Travel & WSET Study Prep
Wine Educate Newsletter — Your Weekly Wine Study Boost! If you are studying wine or just love learning, this is your home base for smart, friendly study help. I keep it clear, useful, and welcoming so you actually look forward to it. Each Tuesday you’ll get Level 2 multiple choice questions you can answer in minutes Level 3 essay prompts with simple pointers on where to aim Class news, events, and trip updates Short quizzes and tasting tips to keep skills sharp Join us here: Episode 81 — Rhône Overview and the Mistral Wind Explained Host: Joanne Close Focus: A clear...
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80. Provence, France’s Rosé Powerhouse: Regions, Grapes, and Styles
Wine Educate: Wine Lessons, Travel & WSET Study Prep
Links and resources Newsletter sign up for weekly quizzes and class news: Information on upcoming trips and classes What this episode covers Provence is more than postcards and pale pink wine. In this episode, Joanne unpacks the landscape, climate, history, grapes, and key appellations that define Provence today. You will hear how a region famous for rosé has invested in research, navigates fierce winds, and still makes serious reds and characterful whites along a very glamorous coastline. Quick highlights Provence produces about 90% rosé. Classic style is very pale, light to...
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79. Roussillon Wines Explained: Grapes, History and Travel Insights
Wine Educate: Wine Lessons, Travel & WSET Study Prep
Resources & Links Sign up for the newsletter: Learn more about Wine Educate trips and sign up for the upcoming Zoom info session: Episode Overview Welcome back to the Wine Educate Podcast! In this episode, Joanne Close takes us into the wines of the Roussillon, a region often described as “rugged” and one of the sunniest in France. Surrounded on three sides by mountains and on the fourth by the Mediterranean, Roussillon has a unique climate, rich cultural identity, and a fascinating wine history that sets it apart from its neighbor, the Languedoc. Joanne shares travel tips for...
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78. Languedoc Wines Explained: PDO vs IGP and Why Languedoc Is France’s Most Underrated Wine Destination
Wine Educate: Wine Lessons, Travel & WSET Study Prep
Resources & Links If you have questions about our upcoming trips to The South of France, we are hosting a Zoom info session on October 15th. Get the Zoom link here: If you want to learn more about our upcoming trips, visit: To receive study tips, quizzes, and information on upcoming classes, sign up for our newsletter: Hello friend, and welcome to Episode 78 of the Wine Educate podcast! I’m your host, Joanne Close, and today we’re diving into the Languedoc, a region that is near and dear to my heart. As some of you know, my parents bought a vineyard here 25 years ago, so this has...
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77. Super Tuscans 101: Tuscany’s Bordeaux Blends and the Sassicaia Story
Wine Educate: Wine Lessons, Travel & WSET Study Prep
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...
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Sign up for the Wine Educate Newsletter: www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup
How to Contact Us
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Email: joanne@wineeducate.com
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Website: www.wineeducate.com
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Instagram: @wineeducate
If you have questions about upcoming WSET classes, coaching or trips book a 15 min free discovery call with Joanne! https://calendly.com/joanne-wineeducate/wset-discovery-call
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:
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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.
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Cru Bourgeois – Unique to the Médoc, established in 1932, and reshaped multiple times due to controversy and lawsuits. Now reviewed every 5 years.
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Graves Classification (Pessac-Léognan) – Separate lists for red and white wines, with no ranking, and all classified châteaux now located within Pessac-Léognan.
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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.