1. Intro to France Flashcards
France has a long history of large-scale vine growing since the Greek colonies in the area now known as…
Marseille. Initially, vines were planted in the south of the country (in the 1st century CE in the Rhone Valley and probably near BDX).
Name two periods post-Roman empire that saw a major expansion of vineyards in France.
- Charlemagne’s Rein (Holy Roman emperor 800 CE)
- Monastery period (post 1000 CE)
When did France start exporting its wines, and where were their key markets?
The Middle Ages to England, Scotland, Flanders (Belgium), and Holland. The major rivers and sea facilitated the movement of wine.
The 17th to 19th centuries saw a huge expansion of exported wine from France, especially from _______/
Bordeaux.
In common with other EU countries, France reduced its land under vine considerably through the impetus of the……..
EU vine pull scheme. The total area under vine (inc table grapes and brandy) fell by 1/3 between 1970 and the early 2010s.
What white grape is used for Cognac and Armagnac in SW France?
Ugni Blanc.
France’s current day wine industry has been shaped by the ____________, founded 1935.
INAO - Institut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité.
Formerly known as the Institut National des Appelations d’Origine.
Define AOC.
The Appelation d’Origine Contrôlée system was created by the INAO to embed a commitment to geographically defined appelations. It includes detailed rules about methods of production (varieties allowed, planting density, allowing training systems, max yields, min ABV, required length of maturation of wine, earliest date wine can be sold).
The system is based on the idea of “terrior.”
Define IGP.
Created in 2009 - Indication Geographique Protégée.
Due to the commercial success of varietally labelled wine from new world countries, France (along with the rest of the EU) agreed to allow what in 2009?
It allowed the name of the grape variety to appear on the label alongside the name of the appelation.
Ex. Bourgogne AOC Chardonnay
The average size of vineyard holdings in France is much higher than Italy or Spain. True or False?
True.
60% of the wine production in France is from co-operatives. True or false?
False. Just 40%.
Wine consumption per capita is now less than half the level it was a century ago. True or false?
True. It has been on a long term and fairly steep decline for some time.
France’s wine sales is highly fragmented between small and medium-sized local companies or private label. Name three large companies.
Castel Frères (12%), Carrefour France, ITM Enterprises.
