Bordeaux - Overview & Generic Appellations

Question 1

How many vines are in Bordeaux AOC?

Answer 1

111000ha

Question 2

Roughly how many Chateaux operate in Bordeaux?

Answer 2

7000

Question 3

What is the English term for Bordelaise wine?

Answer 3

Claret

Question 4

What did the Dutch do to Bordeaux in the 17th century?

Answer 4

Drained the marshes of the Medoc

Question 5

Who sanctioned the creation of the 1855 classification and why?

Answer 5

Napoleon 3rd in order to show off the best French wines at the Universal Expedition in Paris

Question 6

How many Chateaux were classed in the original 1855 Medoc Classification? How many are there today?

Answer 6

58
61 (due to Chateau divisions)

Question 7

How many Chateaux are classed as 1st Growths in the 1855 Medoc Classification?

Answer 7

5

Question 8

How many Chateaux are classed as 2nd Growths in the 1855 Medoc Classification?

Answer 8

14

Question 9

How many Chateaux are classed as 3rd Growths in the 1855 Medoc Classification?

Answer 9

14

Question 10

How many Chateaux are classed as 4th Growths in the 1855 Medoc Classification?

Answer 10

10

Question 11

How many Chateaux are classed as 5th Growths in the 1855 Medoc Classification?

Answer 11

18

Question 12

What was the only formal change made to the original 1855 Medoc Classification?

Answer 12

The promotion of Chateau Mouton Rothschild from 2nd growth to 1st growth in 1973

Question 13

In what year was the original Cru Bourgeois system created? How many Chateaux were included?

Answer 13

1932
444 Chateaux

Question 14

How many Cru Bourgeois Chateaux were reviewed in 2003, and how were they classed?

Answer 14

247 classified
9 into Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel
87 into Cru Bourgeois Superieures
151 Cru Bourgeois

Question 15

When was the Cru Bourgeois system reversed back to the original 1932 classification?

Answer 15

2007

Question 16

What classification sits just below Cru Bourgeois in ranking?

Answer 16

Cru Artisan

Question 17

How many Chateaux are classed as Cru Artisan?

Answer 17

44

Question 18

In what year was the Graves classification established?

Answer 18

1953

Question 19

In what year was the Graves classification modified? How many Chateaux are classified?

Answer 19

1959
15 Chateaux

Question 20

In what year was the Sauternes and Barsac classification setup?

Answer 20

1855

Question 21

How many Chateaux are classed in the Sauternes and Barsac Classification?

Answer 21

25 Chateaux

Question 22

What is the only 1st Great Growth of the Sauternes and Barsac Classification?

Answer 22

Chateau Yquem

Question 23

How many Chateaux are classed as 1st growths in the Sauternes and Barsac Classification?

Answer 23

11

Question 24

How many Chateaux are classed as 2nd growths in the Sauternes and Barsac Classification?

Answer 24

13

Question 25

In what year was the Saint Emilion Classification setup?

Answer 25

1955

Question 26

What are the 3 categories of the Saint Emilion Classification?

Answer 26

Premier Grand Cru Classe (further divided into A and B)
Grand Cru Classe
Grand Cru

Question 27

What is the climate of Bordeaux?

Answer 27

Warm Maritime

Question 28

Which Oceanic factor helps maintain Bordeaux’s climate?

Answer 28

The Gulf Stream

Question 29

What are the 3 important rivers in Bordeaux?

Answer 29

Gironde, Dordogne, Garonne

Question 30

What is the name of the forest to the south of Bordeaux, and how does it help the vines?

Answer 30

La Foret des Landes
Protects the vines from strong salt-bearing winds coming off the Atlantic