Armagnac/Brandy/Calvados/Pomace Brandies/Eau de Vie

Question 1

Islands that produce Pineau des Charentes (2)

Answer 1

Ré
Oléron

Question 2

Comte de Guyon is a great producer of ____

Answer 2

Bas Armagnac

Question 3

Commune of Calvados (22)

Answer 3

Auvillars
Beaufour-Druval
Beuvon en Auge
Bonnebosq
Cambremer
Crevecouren Auge
Formentin
Le Fournet
Gerrots
Hotot en Auge
La Houblonniere
Leaupartie
Monteille
Montreuil en Auge
Notre dame d’estrees
etc

Question 4

How did brandy get it’s name?

Answer 4

derived from the Dutch brandewijn, or “burned wine”—as a method of preserving its essence, or soul, on voyages northward from Spain and France to Holland.

Question 5

General Requirements for Brandy

Answer 5

distilled from wine, minimum abv of 36% and a minimum oak aging period of six months

Question 6

Three geographical regions of Armagnac (South East of Bordeaux)

Answer 6

Haut-Armagnac, Bas-Armagnac, and Armagnac-Ténarèze

Question 7

Grapes of Armagnac

Answer 7

Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Folle Blanche (called Picpoul locally, but distinct from Picpoul de Pinet), and Baco Blanc (the only hybrid grape authorized in any French AOC/P appellation)

Question 8

Although Armagnac may go through two distillations and a charantais still, this % of wine from the region goes through one distillation in a continuous still

Answer 8

Approximately 95% of Armagnac goes through one distillation in a continuous still

Question 9

Who invented the continuous still ?

Answer 9

Aeneas Coffey 1831 model. The one used in Armagnac is simpler and predates this version

Question 10

What is Blanche Armagnac AOC?

Answer 10

a clear spirit that achieved appellation status in 2005, bottled after 3 months in an inert container

Question 11

What is the BNIA?

Answer 11

Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l’Armagnac

Question 12

As of 2013, In Armagnac, what does VS or *** mean?

Answer 12

indicates that the spirit rested in barrel for between 1 and 3 years

Question 13

As of 2013, In Armagnac, what does VSOP mean?

Answer 13

signifies 4 to 9 years of age

Question 14

As of 2013, In Armagnac, what does XO or Hors d’Age mean?

Answer 14

denotes spirits that spend at least 10 years in barrel.

Question 15

Map of Armagnac, Southeast of Bordeaux

Answer 15

Question 16

What is coupage in Armagnac and Cognac?

Answer 16

barrel selections in order to achieve a desired style that remains consistent throughout the years

Question 17

When would one employ petites eaux in the production of Armagnac?

Answer 17

A mixture of distilled water and Armagnac added to the blend prior to bottling, to achieve the appropriate strength of spirit—a minimum 40% abv

Question 18

Prominent Armagnac producers

Answer 18

Larressingle and Château Laubade are two prominent producers, with the latter concentrating on vintage release

Question 19

There is more Vintage dated Armagnac than Cognac: T or F?

Answer 19

True.

Question 20

Brandies made outside Armagnac and Cognac

Answer 20

Fine de Bordeaux, Fine de Bourgogne, and Fine de la Marne (Rarely seen today)

Question 21

What is Weinbrand (Germany)

Answer 21

German distiller Asbach produces brandy in Germany with a Charentais pot still, using base wine produced from Cognac grapes

Question 22

Brandy de Jerez is distilled in this:

Answer 22

copper stills (alquitaras)

Question 23

Brandy de Jerez is made from these grapes, and aged in solera in these casks

Answer 23

Airén and Palomino grapes. Used American oak sherry casks comprise the solera, which allows Brandy de Jerez producers to achieve excellent consistency year after year

Question 24

Brandy de Jerez labeled Solera:

Answer 24

will have been aged for one year on average

Question 25

Brandies labeled Solera Reserva in Brandy de Jerez aged this long:

Answer 25

brandies age for an average three years

Question 26

Solera Gran Reserva brandies in Brandy de Jerez:

Answer 26

age for an average ten years

Question 27

Producers of Brandy de Jerez

Answer 27

Domecq, Emilio Lustau, and Osborne

Question 28

Producer of Brandy in Catalonia

Answer 28

Miguel Torres

Question 29

This Italian producer makes Cognac from Trebbiano grapes—the Italian synonym for Ugni Blanc

Answer 29

Buton

Question 30

Is Pisco typically aged in wood?

Answer 30

no

Question 31

Pomace brandies (grappa style) throughout Various countries

Answer 31

Marc (France, Particularly Champagne, Alsace, and Burgundy) grappa (Italy), and bagaceira (Portugal)

Question 32

First Italian producers to distill a single varietal for Grappa

Answer 32

Jacopo Poli and Giannola Nonino, for Picolit

Question 33

Styles of wood aged Grappa

Answer 33

Riserva, stravecchia (more than 18 mos wood) vecchia or invecchiata (12-18 mos wood)

Question 34

Is aromatizing Grappa permissable?

Answer 34

Grappa may be aromatized, with the addition of herbal, spice, or fruit flavor.

Question 35

AOCs of Calvados

Answer 35

Calvados AOC, Calvados Domfrontais AOC, and Calvados Pays d’Auge AOC.

Question 36

For whom is Calvados named?

Answer 36

Supposedly named for the Spanish galleon El Calvador, which sank along the rocky coast of Normandy

Question 37

How long is Calvados aged

Answer 37

traditionally distilled twice in copper two years in oak casks.

Question 38

Premier AOC of Calvados production

Answer 38

Calvados Pays d’Auge is the premier region of production and limits pear cider (perry) to a maximum 30%.

Question 39

Calvados Domfrontais, the most recent appellation for Calvados, has these requirements:

Answer 39

requires a minimum 30% perry (pear) and a minimum three years of aging in cask always produced by continuous distillation

Question 40

In Calvados, Vieux or Réserve means this:

Answer 40

Three years age

Question 41

In Calvados, Vieille Réserve or VSOP means this:

Answer 41

Four years of age

Question 42

In Calvados, XO, Hors d’Age, Extra, or Napoléon means this:

Answer 42

minimum six years of age

Question 43

"Fine" on a bottle of Calvados means this:

Answer 43

Youngest Calvados bottlings

Question 44

Map of Calvados and Normandy

Answer 44

Question 45

These producers of Poire Williams Eau de Vie attach a glass bottle to a pear before it grows (Regardless, Poire Williams is always aged in Glass)

Answer 45

Miclo in France and Clear Creek in Oregon, include a pear in the bottle—accomplished by attaching the bottle to the tree before the pear grows

Question 46

National drink of Tunisia

Answer 46

A fig eau-de-vie, Boukha

Question 47

Hungarian apricot eau de vie

Answer 47

Barack Palinka

Question 48

Age indications for Calvados

Answer 48

VS / *** / de Luxe / Grand Choix / Surchoix: 2 years Supérieur: 3 years VO / VSOP / Réserve: 4 years VVSOP / Grande Réserve: 5 years Napoléon / Extra / Royal / Très Vieux / Vieille Réserve: 6 years XO: 10 years XXO: 14 years

Question 49

What is Kirsch de Fougerolles?

Answer 49

Established 2010, first AOC for fruit brandy. Cherry Brandy from Fougerolles (near Jura) produced from red and black cherries Table cherries, sour cherries, and Montmorency cherries are not permitted 45% abv

Question 50

Bottle of Kirsch de Fougerolles

Answer 50

Traditionally, the Kirsch de Fougerolles is released in a mouth-blown artisan bottle called the Bô, with an approx. capacity of 70 cl Sandstone soil cherry must be in contact with pit. Irrigation prohibited!

Question 51

Vintage Armagnac must be age this long in oak

Answer 51

Min 10 years

Question 52

A continuous still in Armagnac may not exceed this capacity

Answer 52

40 hl