Burgundy Fundamentals

Question 1

What is the French word for Burgundy, often seen on wine labels?

Answer 1

Bourgogne

Question 2

What is the name given to sparkling white or rosé wine made in Burgundy?

Answer 2

Crémant de Bourgogne

Question 3

Which method is used to make Crémant de Bourgogne?

Answer 3

Traditional Champagne method (or méthode traditionelle)

Question 4

Burgundy has two different climates for its north and south regions - what are they?

Answer 4

Cool in the north, moderate in the south

Question 5

What is the only grape variety permitted for Chablis wines?

Answer 5

Chardonnay

Question 6

From the following three Mâconnais wines, which ones are required to have an extra 0.5-1% potential alcohol: Mâcon AC, Mâcon-Supérieur or Mâcon-Villages?

Answer 6

Mâcon-Supérieur

Question 7

What is the unabbreviated version of AC?

Answer 7

Appellation Contrôlée

Question 8

What grape variety is the appellation of Nuits-Saint-Georges most famous for?

Answer 8

Pinot Noir

Question 9

Two types of ‘Cru’ can be found on Burgundy wine labels indicating quality - what are they?

Answer 9

Grand Cru, Premier Cru

Question 10

Which is the highest classification of quality - Premier Cru or Grand Cru?

Answer 10

Grand Cru

Question 11

In which wine region is there a real-life village names Chardonnay?

Answer 11

In Burgundy, in the department of Saône-et-Loire in the district of Mâcon

Question 12

The vineyards of Côte Chalonnaise are similar to Côte d’Or but sit at a different altitude - is it higher or lower?

Answer 12

Higher

Question 13

Would you describe Burgundian soils as highly consistent or highly varied?

Answer 13

Highly varied, giving rise to a range of wine styles across the region

Question 14

Which north Burgundy wine region is unique for its limestone soil, rich in minerals and ancient fossils from tiny shellfish?

Answer 14

Chablis

Question 15

The third Thursday of which month marks the release of that year’s Beaujolais Nouveau?

Answer 15

November

Question 16

In which geographical part of France is Burgundy?

Answer 16

Central-eastern France

Question 17

Does Burgundy produce more red wine or white wine?

Answer 17

White wine

Question 18

Which city do you find at the northern tip of Côte d’Or?

Answer 18

Dijon

Question 19

Beaujolais Nouveau is released on which day in November?

Answer 19

The third Thursday

Question 20

The word Bourgogne is often seen on wine labels, what does it mean?

Answer 20

It is the French word for Burgundy

Question 21

The grape Melon de Bourgogne is also known by what other name?

Answer 21

Muscadet

Question 22

In which AC is the well-known premium Chardonnay wine Pouilly-Fuissé made?

Answer 22

Mâconnais

Question 23

Which Burgundian term is used to describe the specific terroir (soil type, local topography and microclimate) of a vineyard site?

Answer 23

Climat

Question 24

Which US region is described as having similar growing conditions to Burgundy?

Answer 24

Oregon

Question 25

How many Grand Cru vineyards are there in Chablis?

Answer 25

7 - Blanchot, Bougros, Les Clos, Grenouilles, Preuses, Valmur, Vaudésir

Question 26

The word 'crémant' in Crémant de Bourgogne is the French word for what?

Answer 26

Creamy

Question 27

What is the name of the river that traverses Chablis?

Answer 27

River Serein

Question 28

In which AC would you find Clos des Lambrays, Clos de la Roche, Clos St-Denis and Clos de Tart

Answer 28

Morey-St-Denis

Question 29

How many liters of wine does a traditional Burgundy oak barrel hold?

Answer 29

228 liters

Question 30

What is the Roche de Solutré?

Answer 30

An unusual and prehistoric geological feature made from limestone whose steep slopes overlooking the commune of Solutré-Pouilly

Question 31

Does the loftier altitude of the Côte Chalonnaise region mean grapes ripen earlier or later?

Answer 31

Grapes ripen later, meaning harvest is later, giving them longer to develop

Question 32

In which AC is Grenouilles, a Grand Cru vineyard?

Answer 32

Chablis

Question 33

What does the term 'monopole' mean?

Answer 33

A vineyard is owned by a single owner

Question 34

Roughly how much of Burgundy's total vineyard area is Chardonnay grown?

Answer 34

50%

Question 35

One appellation is unique in Burgundy for having Appellation Contrôlée (AC) status for red, white and pink wines. What is it?

Answer 35

Marsannay

Question 36

What minimum period must crémant wines spend on the lees?

Answer 36

9 months

Question 37

Who founded the famous walled vineyard Clos de Vougeot?

Answer 37

Cistercian monks

Question 38

What is the name of the 495m high limestone rockface, whose slopes overlook the commune of Solutré-Pouilly?

Answer 38

The Roche de Solutré