Bordeaux Flashcards
What percentage of the Bordeaux winegrowing area has/is working toward environmental, organic and/or biodynamic certifications that reduce agrochemical use and promote biodiversity?
60%
What measures have the Bordelais taken toward climate action?
- Implemented a region-wide climate action plan to manage their carbon footprint and reduce water and energy consumption.
- Environmentally friendly measures are included in 80% of the appellation specifications
- First wine region to petition the INAO to approve new grape varieties to mitigate climate change.
How much area do the vineyards in Bordeaux cover?
273,800ac/110,800ha (2019)
Almost 4x the size of Bourgogne.
How many estates, wine merchants, brokers, co-ops and co-op unions are there in Bordeaux?
- 5,660 estates
- 300 wine merchants
- 72 brokers
- 29 co-operatives
- 3 co-operative unions
How much wine does Bordeaux produce annually?
553 million bottles/4.15 million hectolitres of wine (2019)
What historical maladies ailed the vineyards of Bordeaux?
- Powdery mildew (1852)
- Phylloxera (1865)
- Downy mildew (1880)
- Deep freeze (1956)
What influence did the deep freeze of 1956 have on the vineyards of Bordeaux?
- Malbec was replaced with Merlot
- White cultivars were replaced with red
What percentage of France’s AOC plantings are located in Bordeaux?
25%
It also produces most of France’s luxury/prestige bottlings.
How is the majority of Bordeaux wine sold?
70% is sold through a network of 300 wine traders that deal with importers in over 165 countries.
How are most of the top chateaux grands vins of Bordeaux sold?
On the futures market. The wines are pre-sold while still in barrel.
The initial asking price, per case, is intended to be significantly lower than its final release price. Only a portion of the total is released first.
The remaining wine is sold off in stages (tranches), with each subsequent offering increasing in price until the wine is sold.
How does the Bordeaux futures sale structure influence different sellers?
Different retailers often have widely disparate prices for the same product.
What percentage of Bordeaux wine is consumed in France?
56% (2019)
44% is exported
How many growers belong to one of the co-ops or co-op unions?
44% (5,660 growers)
What percentage of Bordeaux wine is produced by the co-ops?
23% of Bordeaux’s harvest each year.
Where is Bordeaux located?
This region lies in the Gironde departement in the southwestern quadrant of France. It is situated within the region of Aquitaine, a word whose Latin roots mean “well-watered place.”
It is a large region stretching 63mi/100km from north to south; 78mi/125km from east to west.
Where are the left/right banks in Bordeaux?
- Left bank: stretches from the tip of the Medoc Peninsula south to the Graves-Sauternes area
- Right bank: runs southeast from Blaye to Castillon
- Entre-deux-Mers: lies between the Dordogne and Garonne rivers
What is the meaning behind the name Entre-deux-Mers?
Translated as “Between Two Seas,” the name alludes to the fact that the rivers are tidal; the salt water reaches 75mi/121km inland from the coast.
What is the climate in Bordeaux?
Maritime
- Areas nearer the Atlantic Ocean and the Gironde (Medoc, Haut-Medoc) have more moderate temperatures.
- Appellations south and east (Sainte-Foy Cotes de Bordeaux) have more continental influences with slightly warmer summers and cooler winters.
What topographical features contribute to the climate in Bordeaux?
- The Atlantic’s Gulf Stream warms & regulates temperatures.
- Les Landes: a large pine forest provides a barrier to ocean winds and storms, protecting the vineyards from inclement weather
- Encroaching sand dunes: act as a protective barrier from harsh weather
- Network of rivers that empty into the Gironde Estuary: helps keep tempertures both constant & moderate
Note: Les Landes is the largest man-made forest in western Europe. Planting started in the 18th century, with extra focus in the 19th century. Almost 2.5 millionac/1 million ha of pine forest.
What are the seasons like in Bordeaux?
- Summers are warm; often cloud cover due to oceanic influences
- Winters: not typically severe, but freezes can occur
How much rainfall does Bordeaux receive?
Average of 37in/940mm per year.
Rain falls all year round, including at harvest time.
Note: the name of the region is apt: Aquitaine (well-watered place)
Is irrigation permitted/required in Bordeaux?
It is not needed, nor is it legal.
Many estates when replanting vineyards have inserted drainage tiles to eliminate excess ground water.
In rare circumstances (dought of 2022), irrigation is possible and must be granted by the INAO.
What are some threats to the vineyards in Bordeaux?
- Humidity: engenders rot
- Spring frost
- Summer hail
What soil types are found in Bordeaux?
Primarily sedimentary, featuring gravel terraces interspersed with sand, silt and clay, plus both fresh-water & salt-water limestones.
The last Ice Age and its periods of inter-glacial melt (2 million to 10,000BCE) left extensive river deposits and marine sediments (due to coastal flooding) across the entire Gironde.
What is the elevation of the land in Bordeaux?
This region is mostly flat.
Elevation peaks at 377ft/115m in Sainte-Foy Cotes de Bordeaux, the easternmost appellation on the Right Bank.
The Left Bank’s elevation is only 100-140ft/30-43m above sea level.
Describe the topography of Bordeaux.
- Right Bank: Characterized by a string of small hills that stretch from Blaye to Castillon. These hills are interspersed by low-lying plateaus and deep valleys.
- Left Bank: A relatively level expanse of gravel mounds.
- Entre-deux-Mers: Has some significant slopes that are ideal for vineyard sites.
What are the warm & cold soils of Bordeaux are where are they located?
- Warm soils(gravel & sands): found primarily on the Left Bank of the Gironde and Garonne, and in parts of Entre-deux-Mers; they warm up quickly in the spring, radiate warmth back up into the vine canopy and are well-drained
- Cool soils (clay & limestone): Primarily found on the right bank of the Gironde & Dordogne, and hillsides of Entre-deux-Mers. They are dense, and retain moisture.
Which grape varieties are planted to the warm or cold soils in Bordeaux?
- Warm soils (gravel & sands): Late-ripening varieties; Cabernet Sauvignon & Petit Verdot, which need the warmth to mature their fruit.
- Cool soils (clay & limestone): Early-ripening varieties; Merlot, Malbec & Cabernet Franc.