Bordeaux & South West France

Question 1

What are the Bordeaux first growths?

Answer 1

Haut-Brion, Ch. Margaux, Lafite Rothschild, Mouton Rothschild, Latour

Question 2

Which otherwise popular red grape variety is not planted in Bordeaux vineyards?

Answer 2

Syrah

Question 3

What’s in a white Bordeaux?

Answer 3

Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle (Ugni blanc too)

Question 4

What are the two principle grape varieties grown in St Emilion and Pomerol?

Answer 4

Merlot and Cab Franc

Question 5

Which communes are on the left bank of the Gironde?

Answer 5

St-Estèphe, Pauillac, St-Julien and Margaux

Question 6

True or False: Unlike Burgundy which is made from the single grape varieties of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Bordeaux wines are mostly made from a blend of grapes.

Answer 6

True

Question 7

Fill in the blank: The commune of _________ is typically cooler and is the last to harvest where __________ experiences warmer climates so it is often first to begin harvest.

Answer 7

St. Estephe & Margaux

Question 8

True or False (Sauternes and Barsac): Sugar is added to the must because the grapes are harvested early to avoid botrytis.

Answer 8

False

Question 9

Fill in the blank: __________ is the home to three chateaux that earned the distinction of being classified as a First Growth in the 1855 Classification of the Medoc.

Answer 9

Pauillac

Question 10

Fill in the blank: St. Julien is sandwiched between the regions of ________ and _________.

Answer 10

Margaux and Pauillac

Question 11

Fill in the blank: __________ is the sole appellation outside of the Medoc to have a chateau classified in the 1855.

Answer 11

Pessac Leognan

Question 12

Where would you find larger plantings of Malbec?

Answer 12

Cahors & Côtes de Blaye

Question 13

Fill in the blank: _______ is the only classified region in Bordeaux that updates its classification every ten years.

Answer 13

St. Emilion

Question 14

Fill in the blank: _________ is the only major Bordeaux appellation that is not classified.

Answer 14

Pomerol

Question 15

Fill in the blank: Sauternes is made from ________, ________, and ________ grapes that have been affected by Botrytis cinerea.

Answer 15

Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle

Question 16

How many Bordeaux Premiers Crus are currently classified under the 1855 Medoc Classification?

Answer 16

5

Question 17

Fill in the blank: The most significant revision to the 1855 Médoc Classification was in 1973 with the promotion of ________ from the rank of Deuxième Grands Cru Classé to that of Premier Grand Cru Classé.

Answer 17

Château Mouton Rothschild

Question 18

Fill in the blank: In the Southwest of France, ________ is the full bodied tannic red wine of Gascony made predominately from the Tannat grape.

Answer 18

Madiran

Question 19

Name France’s only Basque region

Answer 19

Irouléguy

Question 20

Fill in the blank: The minor blending grape of _________ has mostly fallen out of favor in today’s Bordeaux wines and now almost only found in Chile.

Answer 20

Carménère