Bordeaux Winegrowing Regions

Question 1

Permitted grapes of Saint-Émilion and Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOP.

Answer 1

Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Franc
Merlot
Malbec
Carmenère
Petit Verdot (max 10%)

Question 2

True/False:

Saint-Émilion Grand Cru wines require an extra 0.5% alcohol than the minimum potential of Saint-Émilion AOP wines.

Answer 2

True
Saint-Émilion AOP is a min potential 11%
Saint-Émilion Gran Cru AOP is a min potential 11.5%

Question 3

What is crasse de fer and where is it found?

Answer 3

Crasse de fer is iron-rich sand deposits and is found in Pomerol

Question 4

What château is known for its vineyards’ blue clay soil?

Answer 4

Château Petrus

Question 5

What type(s) of wine is produced in the Fronsac AOP and Canon Fronsac AOP?

Answer 5

Dry red wines produced mainly from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot

*Assemblage: min 50% combined Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot; plus Cot, max 10% Petit Verdot, max 10% Carmenère

Question 6

What is Fronsadais molasse?

Answer 6

A mixture of soft limestone and clay

*Found in Fronsac

Question 7

Name the 4 satellite appellations of Saint-Émilion.

Bonus: there were originally 6, name the other two.

Answer 7

Montage, Saint-Georges, Puisseguin, Lussac

Bonus: Sables, Parsac
*Sables was absorbed by Libourne and vineyards shifted to the Saint-Émilion AOP, while Parsac disappeared as an administrative commune in 1973

Question 8

Name the satellite appellation of Pomerol.

Answer 8

Lalande-de-Pomerol

Question 9

Name the sub zone of Entre-Deux-Mers.

Answer 9

Haut-Benauge

*9 communes are entitled to carry this designation, as are dry white Bordeaux AOP wines from the
same area

Question 10

Red wines produced within the Entre-Deux-Mers area are released as ______.

Answer 10

Bordeaux AOP and Bordeaux Supérieur AOP

Question 11

How does the proximity to the estuary affect the Bourg/Côtes de Bourg/Bourgeais AOP​?

Answer 11

It reduces the impact of frost and hail while creating one

of Bordeaux’s windiest winegrowing regions

Question 12

What region of Bordeaux has the highest concentration of Cot (Malbec)?

Answer 12

Bourg/Côtes de Bourg/Bourgeais AOP​

*About 10% of the vineyards

Question 13

True/False:

Crémant de Bordeaux rosé may use red grapes only.

Answer 13

True

Permitted grapes: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cot, Petit Verdot, Carmenère

Question 14

What type(s) of wine is produced in the Loupiac AOP?

Answer 14

Sweet white wines

• Min 45 g/L RS
• Grapes: Sémillon, Muscadelle, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris

Question 15

How long must Crémant de Bordeaux be aged on the lees?

Answer 15

Minimum 9 months on the lees prior to dégorgement

Question 16

True/False:

All rosé in Bordeaux may only use red grapes.

Answer 16

True

*Blending red and white base wines is not authorized