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

Wine Educate: Wine Lessons, Travel & WSET Study Prep

Release Date: 08/19/2025

86. What Is Beaujolais Nouveau? History, Release Day Rules, and Carbonic Maceration show art 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...

info_outline 85. Exploring Five Key Southern Rhône Crus: Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Lirac, and Tavel show art 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...

info_outline 84. The Southern Rhône: Climate, Grapes, and Winemaking show art 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...

info_outline 83. The Northern Rhône, Part 2: Saint-Joseph, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage & Cornas show art 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...

info_outline 82. The Wines of the Northern Rhône: Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu & Château-Grillet show art 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...

info_outline 81. Rhône Overview and the Mistral Wind Explained show art 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...

info_outline 80. Provence, France’s Rosé Powerhouse: Regions, Grapes, and Styles show art 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...

info_outline 79. Roussillon Wines Explained: Grapes, History and Travel Insights show art 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...

info_outline 78. Languedoc Wines Explained: PDO vs IGP and Why Languedoc Is France’s Most Underrated Wine Destination show art 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...

info_outline 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 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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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 Mâconnais.

  • Why Burgundy’s geography and soil diversity create such nuance in its wines.

  • The pyramid of Burgundy’s appellation system: Regional, Village, Premier Cru, and Grand Cru.

  • Key appellations to know for WSET Level 2, including Chablis, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Gevrey-Chambertin, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Beaune, Pommard, Mâcon, and Pouilly-Fuissé.

  • The ongoing debate of “Burgundy” vs. “Bourgogne” — which one should we use?

Burgundy may look deceptively simple—white wines are Chardonnay, red wines are Pinot Noir—but this episode shows why its classification system makes it one of the most complex and fascinating regions to study.

Stay tuned for the next episode in this series, where we’ll take a deeper dive into Burgundy’s history and how it connects to today’s wine laws.