Bordeaux Pt 2 - Viticultural history Flashcards
What was the historic name of Bordeaux?
Burdigala. it was inhabited by the Bituriges Vivisci tribe.
Who brought the vine to Bordeaux?
The Romans.
What heralded the first golden Age for Bordeaux?
The marriage of Henry and Eleanor and the establishment of commercial ties to England for 300 years. It was ended by the Hundred Years War.
What impact did the Dutch wine buyers have in Bordeaux?
They need white wine to distill into Brandywein and for sweet wines for the table. Bordeaux shifted production to meet the demand.
What did the Dutch do in Bordeaux in the 1600’s
They drained the Medoc peninsula, raising the gravel beds and reclaiming viable land for planting the vine.
What led to the second Golden Age for Bordeaux?
Access to the new Dutch, French and British colonies expanded the Bordeaux wine market.
How did “Chateau “ become associated with winemaking in Bordeaux? First one?
Wealthy merchants began to build luxurious chateaux with surrounding vineyards. The term became synonomous with winemaking.
Haut-Brion in Pessac-Leognan.
What impact did the French Revolution have on Bordeaux wine trade?
The region was relatively unscathed however the conflict frightened trade partners who then avoided the port.
Who revived mercantile trade with Bordeaux and when?
In 1852 Napoleon III reestablished ties with England.
Which three vineyard challenges came to Bordeaux in the late 19th century?
Powdery Mildew (1852);
Phylloxera (1865);
Downy Mildew (1880).
What year did the ‘deep freeze’ strike Bordeaux? What variety was worst affected?
in 1956 killing 1/4 of the vine stock. Malbec as particulaly hard hit and was replaced by Merlot which is more cold-hardy. There was also an increase in red over white plantings.
What influence did Emile Peynaud have on the wine industry in Bordeaux?
He encouraged the use of the fruit of the young vines to make second labels. This gave a boost to the quality of the Grand Vin wines.
What does Grand Vin signify in Bordeaux?
It is the top wine of a chateau or producer.
What influence did Robert Parker have on the wine industry in Bordeaux?
His review of the 1982 vintage stimulated renewed focus on Bordeaux. This was the third Golden Age of Bordeaux.
Why has Bordeaux futures market declined/stagnated?
After a decade or so of rising prices, Chateaux decided to increase ex-cellar prices making it a less profitable venture for traders.
