Bordeaux (General Knowledge) Flashcards
Where is Bordeaux?
Southwest France near the Atlantic Ocean
Which river or rivers cross through Bordeaux?
The Dordogne (northern most) and the Garonne (southern most)
What estuary can be found in Bordeaux? How was it formed?
The Gironde estuary was formed by the merging of the Dordogne and Gironde
What is the area between the Dordorgne and the Garonne called?
Entre-Deux-Mers (‘Between two seas’)
What is the area to the east of the Gironde and Dordogne called?
The Right Bank
What is the area to the west of the Gironde and Garonne called?
The Left Bank
What happened in Bordeaux that expanded its area under vine? When?
Bordeaux, formerly dominated by marshland, was drained by Dutch residents in the 17th-18th centuries.
Who distributed Bordeaux wines in the mid-18th Century? How is it distributed today?
Specialized merchants purchased the wines from distributors and resold them to merchants.
They were primarily based out of Britain, Ireland, Germany, Holland, and elsewhere.
The system is still in place, though today the merchants are based around the world.
What happened in Bordeaux in 1855?
The Exposition Universelle de Paris was scheduled, inspiring the Bordeaux chamber of commerce to ask wine brokers to classify the region’s wine by price. Five classification levels were made for Medoc and Haut Brion in Graves, with three levels in Sauternes. This official classification remains in effect.
How many hectares are under vine in Bordeaux?
Around 111,000
How much of Bordeaux’ production is dedicated to inexpensive and mid-priced wine?
70% is used in Bordeaux and Bordeaux Superieur
How much of Bordeaux wine is premium and super-premium?
30%
How many hectares does Appellation Pomerol cover?
Around 800 hectares
What is the climate in Bordeaux?
Moderate Maritime
What provides the greatest cooling influence on Bordeaux?
The Atlantic Ocean
What is the ideal growing season in Bordeaux?
Gentle heat throughout the growing season
Sufficient rainfall to promote growth and ripening
Relatively dry and warm autumn
Is the Left Bank protected from Atlantic storms? Why or why not?
Yes. The Landes pine forest protects much of the Medoc by shielding it from oceanic influences. Estates nearer the forest are generally cooler than others. The Northern Medoc is less protected.
What amount of rain can be expected in Bordeaux?
The average is 950mm per year, but there is a significant deviation among vintages both in quantity and timing.
What effect has climate change had on Bordeaux?
Summers are hotter and drier with less rainfall.
How do Bordeaux varieties handle extreme dry, hot climates?
Well, though they produce wines that lack acidity and balance (as with 2003) and possess more alcohol
What is the Libournais?
An area of the Right Bank that includes
- Pomerol,
- Saint-Émilion,
- Fronsac, and the
- Côtes-de-Bordeaux
What is the influence of the Atlantic ocean on the Libournais?
Not as pronounced as on the Left Bank, but it remains a factor
Where would you typically find the vineyards for Bordeaux’ most prestigious wines? Why?
Close to the Gironde Estuary due to the moderating influence it has on the climate.
What happened in 1956, 1991, and 2017 in Bordeaux and what does it tell us about the growing conditions?
Vines in Bordeaux were decimated by frost in those years. The cool growing conditions lead to increased frost and hail risk that is often mitigated in vineyards close to the Gironde.