Bordeaux

Question 1

Bordeaux Climate

Answer 1

Maritime

moderated by waterways and proximity to the Atlantic coast

Gulf Stream current brings warm waters up from the Caribbean, keeping weather mild yet humid

Question 2

Largets AOC in france

Answer 2

Bordeaux

Question 3

Rivers in Bordeaux

Answer 3

Gironde Estuary (main one coming in from Atlantic)

Dordogne (North of Entre-deux-mers, south of right bank)

Garonne (south of Entre-deux-mers, north of Graves)

Question 4

Bordeaux historical background

Answer 4

wine production dates back to 4th century AD

1600s Dutch merchants drained marshes and made land more suitable for viticulture

Question 5

Bordeaux white grapes

Answer 5

Sauvignon Blanc
Semillon
Muscadelle (small quantities)

(super minor grapes, but still allowed)
ugni blanc
colombard
merlot blanc
sauvignon gris

Question 6

Bordeaux red grapes

Answer 6

Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Franc
Merlot
Petit Verdot- small quantities

Malbec (cot) rarely seen
Carmenere (Grande vidure) rarely seen

Question 7

Most planted grape in Bordeaux

Answer 7

Merlot (60% of all planted acres)

Cabernet (20%- 2nd most planted)

Cabernet Franc (10%- 3rd most planted)

Question 8

Which grape variety is often planted in clay

Answer 8

Merlot- because it tends to ripen early and have less tanic structure

Question 9

Important soil in Bordeaux

Answer 9

Gravel (best for cab, good drainage- medic and graves on left bank)

Gravel/limestone/sand- Saint emilion

Iron pan under sand and clay- Pomerol

Question 10

Cabernet Franc is parent to..

Answer 10

Cabernet sauvignon

Malbec

Carmenere

Question 11

Chateau, cuverie, chai

Answer 11

Chateau- building attached to vineyards, from a farmhouse to a garage

cuverie- within chateau, building where wine is made

chai (pronounced “shay”, cellar where wine is stored and aged)

Question 12

Bordeaux major regions

Answer 12

Medoc and Haut Medoc (together referred to as medoc, Haut Medoc is upper)

Graves (pessac-Leognan famous smaller inside appellation

Sauternes and Barsac

St. Emilion

Pomerol

Question 13

6 communes in Haut médoc

Answer 13

St. Estephe
Pauillac
st Julien
Listrac
Moulis
Margaux

Question 14

Largest Commune of the Medoc

Answer 14

Margaux

Question 15

breakdown of Bordeaux appellation sizes

Answer 15

Commune appellation (ex: Pauillac)

Sub-regional Appellation (Ex: haut-medoc)

Regional appellation (Bordeaux)

Question 16

Where in Bordeaux is both red and white wine commonly made at the same chateaux

Answer 16

Graves

Question 17

Sweet wine regions of Bordeaux

Answer 17

Sauternes
Barsac

Bommes
Fargues
Preignac

Question 18

% sugar Sauternes and Barsac usually have

Answer 18

10-15%

Question 19

what two rivers border sauternes

Answer 19

Garonne

Ciron

Question 20

“entre-deux-mers”

Answer 20

between two seas

dry white wines only

fertile silt soil

Red wines made here fall under Bordeaux AOP appellation

Question 21

Fronsac

Answer 21

North and slightly west of Pomerol and st Emilion

Question 22

What appellations in the right bank make white wines

Answer 22

Côte de Blaye and Côte de Bourg

Question 23

How are high quality wines from Haut Medoc labeled?

Answer 23

Appellation Haut-Medoc Contrôlèe

Note:
Are often high quality wines

Question 24

“boulbenes”

Answer 24

Graves soil type…mixture of sand, gravel, and clay