Bordeaux - History Flashcards
Where did the earliest viticulture begin in Bordeaux? When?
Burdigala, founded by a Celtic tribe.
310CE
When did Burdigala become the city of Bordeaux?
507 under the control of the King of Franks
Who gained control of Bordeaux in 1137?
Elanor, the Duchess of Aquitaine
When was the Duchy of Aquitaine transferred to English control? Why?
1154 when Elanor became Queen of England
When did Bordeaux revert to French control?
1453
What significant engineering feat was carried out by the Dutch in the 17th century in Bordeaux?
A system of canals were dug out to drain the lowlands of the Médoc
What was the first wine to be sold under a brand in Bordeaux?
Château Haut-Brion
How many châteaus were selected in the 1855 classification for red wines? For whites?
57
21
How were the 1855 classifications divided for red wines? For whites?
5 grand cru classé
Second growth, first growth and 1 premier cru supérieur (Château d’Yquem)
Which châteaux were originally included in the first growth category in the 1855 classification? Which was added later and in what year?
Lafite
Latour
Margaux
Haut-Brion
Mouton-Rothschld (1973)
How are most vines trained in Bordeaux?
Vertical trellises using the Guyot system
What is the minimum vine density in the Médoc?
7000 vines/ha
What is the minimum vine density in Saint-Émilion and Pomerol?
5500 vines/ha
Why do many winemakers employ green harvesting?
To reduce to the number of grapes, leading to better-quality berries and higher concentration.
What is an optical shorter?
A machine which automatically rejects grapes that don’t meet a certain colour quality and size.
