1 - France Flashcards
What was the impact on vineyard area of the EU vine pull scheme between 1970 and early 2010s?
Total vineyard area (including vines for table grapes and brandy) down by 1/3
How are almost all vineyards in France planted?
High density with trellising - often with replacement cane Guyot and VSP
As of 2017, what % of France’s vineyards are organic?
10%
What are the top 10 planted grape varieties in France?
- Merlot
- Ugni Blanc (for brandy)
- Grenache Noir
- Syrah
- Chardonnay
- Cab Sav
- Cab F
- Carignan
- Pinot Noir
- Sauvignon B
Where is enrichment usually used and why has it been on the declined?
Cooler regions - warmer temperatures and better canopy management
Give the key dates in the history of the INAO
Founded - 1935
Oversaw creation of AOC - Early-mid c20th
Creation of IGP - 2009
Varietal labelling - 2009
The French system of AOC incorporates which elements of winemaking
- Geographic Boundaries
- Methods of Production (grape varieties, planting density, training systems, max yields, min alcohol, maturation length, earliest sale date)
What important changes to labelling law occured around 2009 (3)
- Creation of IGP
- Varietal Labelling
- Non-GI wines can be labelled with variety and vintage
What is the average vineyard holding in France? How does it compare to other countries?
10.5ha - much larger than Italy or Spain
What % of production do co-ops account for?
40%
Outline trends in French per capita wine consumption
Steep and long term decline - consumption 1/2 of level 100 years ago
What size/type of companies account for the largest % of wine sales?
Small and med size local or via private labels - high level of fragmentation - 75%
Name the three largest sellers of wine (by volume) in France
Castel Frères (12%)
Carrefour France
ITM Enterprises
Describe the levels of exports and import to and from France
Exports - significant volume (although lower than Italy or Spain), largest exporter by value (50% higher than Italy, 300% higher than Spain)
Imports - large importer of cheap wine especially from Spain