Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

CSW Study Guide > Ch. 9: France > Flashcards

Ch. 9: France Flashcards

1
Q

Wine Grapes First Brought to France

A

By Greeks & Romans

5th Century – Became associated with Monasteries

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

French Monasteries Wine Production

A

Burgundy & Champagne regions

Scientific approach

Experimented with grapes, arrangements in vineyards, matching high-quality vines with growing sites

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Bordeaux in 12th Century

A

Came under rule of England

Eleanor of Aquitaine married to Henry II

Supplied England with wine

Launched France as leader in wine production

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Loire Valley in Middle Ages

A

Home of French nobility

Spurred high wine production

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Champagne in Middle Ages

A

East of Paris

Renowned in Paris & London for still Pinot Noir wines

Deliberate introduction of bubbles (Spritz) – commenced at the end of the 17th century

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

South of France in Middle Ages

A

Longest history of viticulture

Produced wine mostly for local consumption

Blended wines from other regions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Alsace History

A

On border between Germany & France

Alternated control

Retains German tradition

Use of tall, thin “Flute d’Alsace bottles for many wines

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

France – Mediterranean Coast

A

Warmest part of France

Well suited to grape growing

Largely planted red grapes

Full bodied reds

Large amount of rose

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

France – Mediterranean Coast Regions

A

Roussillon

Languedoc

Rhone

Provence

Corsica

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Western Part of France

A

1/3 of vineyard area located here

Maritime climate

Exposed to Atlantic Ocean

Humidity & rainfall higher

Less sunshine

Cooler summers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Departements

A

Western maritime-influenced counties of France

Then Romans

Spread around the Mediterranean Sea

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Bordeaux – Climate & Geography

A

Temps high enough to produce full-bodied wines with significant acidity

Reds dominate

Northern part – cooler, white grapes dominate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

France – Central & Northeastern Regions

A

Continental climate

Winters are cold, summers not very hot

South of the northern part – river valleys

White grapes planted a little more than reds

Highly acidic, light- to medium-bodied, low alcohol

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

France – French Alps

A

Alpine climate

Too cold for grapevines

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Vosges Mountains

A

Small mtn range in Northeastern France

Shields vineyards of Alsace

Alsace grapes ripen to a much greater degree

Wines can be high in alcohol

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

France – Major White Grape Varieties

A

Ugni Blanc

Chardonnay

Sauvignon Blanc

Melon

Semillon

Chenin Blanc

Muscat

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Ugni Blanc

A

Most widely planted white grape in France

Used almost exclusively for making brandy (Cognac & Armagnac)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Chardonnay

A

Grown throughout France

Primarily known for Burgundy & Champagne

More acreage in Languedoc-Roussillon than Champagne

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Sauvignon Blanc

A

Leading white grape of Bordeaux and Eastern Loire Valley

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Melon

A

Primarily grown in Western Loire Valley

Small amounts in Beaujolais, etc.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Semillon

A

Primarily grown in Bordeaux and Southwest France

Also in Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Chenin Blanc

A

Primarily grown in Loire Valley

Anjou-Saumur & Touraine

Wide range of styles – dry, sweet, & sparkling

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Muscat

A

Mainly grown in South of France

Primarily used for sweet & fortified wines

Majority of plantings are Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

France – Major Red Grape Varieties

A

Merlot

Cab Sav

Cab Franc

Grenache

Syrah

Pinot Noir

Carignan

Gamay

Cinsault

Meunier

Mouvedre

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Merlot
Most widely planted in France Found in most winegrowing parts 151k acres in Bordeaux
26
Cab Sav
More than half of Cab Sav in France grown in Bordeaux Smaller plantings in other parts
27
Cab Franc
Leading grape of Loire Valley Minor grape in Bordeaux
28
Grenache
Primarily found in South of France Needs warmer climate
29
Grenache is an Important Ingredient In…
Southern Rhone blends Wines of Languedoc-Roussillon Wines of Corsica Wines of Provence
30
Syrah
Warm climate Mainly associated with Rhone Valley Extensive plantings elsewhere
31
Syrah also Planted In…
Corsica Provence Southwest France Langedoc-Roussillon
32
Pinot Noir
Cool climate Red grape of Burgundy One of two red grapes of Champagne Main red grape of Alsace and Eastern Loire
33
Carignan
Warm climate South of France Corsica
34
Gamay
Primarily found in Beaujolais Small growths in Loire Valley
35
Cinsault
Throughout South of France and Corsica Used as a blending grape in rose
36
Meunier
Pinot Meunier Secondary red grape variety of Champagne
37
Mouvedre
Warm climate Rhone Valley Languedoc-Roussillon Corsica Provence
38
French Wine Laws – History
First country to devise a national system for legally protecting & restricting use of place names Early 20th century I’Origine et de la Qualite (INAO)
39
French Wine Laws – Basics
Mandate or prohibit a variety of procedures for wineries that plan to use a protected appellation – place-name Geographic boundaries are defined List of approved grape varieties Viticultural & winemaking practices specified
40
If a French Wine Doesn’t Meet Standards for Appellation…
Labeled with another, usually larger, appellation Or with lower classification category
41
Tiers of French Wine
Vin Vin de Pays Appellation d’ Origene Controlee (AOC)
42
Vin
Entry level of French wine Also known as vin de table Few specific regulations As long as the grapes come from France – labeled as Vin de France
43
Vin de Pays
Second tier of French wine Accounts for more than 1/3 of French wine Also labeled as Indication Geographique Protegee (IGP) Few restrictions 85% of grapes must come entirely from within the boundaries of one delimited vin de pays regions
44
IGP Levels of Geographic Specificity
Regional Departmental Zone
45
Regional IGP – Eight Designations
Pays d’Oc IGP Val de Loire IGP Comtes Rhodaniens IGP Mediterranee IGP Comte Tolosan IGP L’Atlantique IGP Terres du Midi IGP Ile-de-France IGP
46
Pays d’Oc IGP
Best known of the IGPs Covers western part of French Mediterranean coast Languedoc-Roussillon
47
Val de Loire IGP
Covers Loire Valley & Chablis
48
Comtes Rhodaniens IGP
Northern Rhone Valley & Savoie
49
L’Atlantique IGP
Bordeaux Dordgne Charentais
50
Terres du Midi IGP
Certain blended wines produced in Languedoc-Roussillon
51
Ile-de-France IGP
North-central part of France Paris & surrounding areas
52
Departmental IGPs
28 Boundaries match political boundaries of French counties
53
Vin de Pays Zone IGPs
Smaller, locally specific areas Often named after historic or geographical feature of the area
54
Appellation d’ Origene Controlee (AOC)
Top tier of French wine “Name of controlled origin” category Includes many of the great wines Restrictive regulations Ensures French place-name wine indicates wine of quality More than 300 AOCs Produce just under half of all French wine
55
Bordeaux – General
Among the world’s most famous wine regions High quality, long-lived, expensive Makes 61 million cases annually 12th in global producers if it were a separate country Almost all its wine qualifies for AOC stats – ¼ of all French AOC
56
Bordeaux – Geography & Climate
Region surrounds the city of Bordeaux Southwestern France City is on the Left Bank Proximity to Atlantic makes it a maritime climate Climate is tempered due to protective barrier of Landes Forest on western coast Blending two or more varieties not mandated but common
57
Waterways Near Bordeaux
Two rivers – Garonne & Dordogne Meet to form Gironde – flows into Atlantic Divide Bordeaux into three sections
58
Sections of Bordeaux
Left Bank – West of Garonne & Gironde Right Bank – East and north of Dordogne & Gironde Entre-Deux-Mers – Between Garonne & Dordogne
59
Medoc
Area of Left Bank north of Bordeaux city
60
Graves
Area of Left Bank south and west of Bordeaux city
61
Libourne
Main town on Right Bank of Dordogne
62
Bordeaux – Red Grape Varieties
85% are red grapes Merlot Cab Sav Cab Franc Also Malbec, Petit Verdot, & Carmenere
63
Bordeaux – Merlot
Most planted red grape in Bordeaux Mostly on Right Bank and Entre-Deux-Mers region
64
Bordeaux – Cab Sav
2nd most planted red grape Mostly concentrated on Left Bank
65
Bordeaux – Cab Franc
3rd most planted red grape
66
Bordeaux – White Grape Varieties
Sav Blanc Semillon Muscadelle (minor) Sav Gris (minor) Colombard Ugni Blanc Merlot Blanc
67
Bordeaux – April 2021
Six new red and two new white varieties approved for limited use in Bordeaux & Bordeaux Superieur AOCs Arinarnoa (red) Castets (red) Marselan (red) Touriga Nacional (red) Albarino (white) Lilorila (white)
68
Bordeaux Wine Style
Known primarily for dry reds 85% of total production Also dry & luscious sweet white wines Rose and sparkling wines in limited amounts
69
Bordeaux Wine Styles List
Basic red Bordeaux Higher-end Right Bank reds Higher-end Left Bank reds Dry white wines Sweet White Wines
70
Basic Red Bordeaux Style
Made for everyday drinking Based on Merlot Grown in Entre-Deux-Mers Peripheral areas of Right Bank Good quality Don’t have complexity or age worthiness of expensive counterparts
71
Higher-end Right Bank Red Bordeaux Style
Central areas of Right Bank around St-Emilion Top-quality, long-lived reds Contribution of all three major red varieties Merlot lead grape of blends
72
Higher-end Left Bank Red Bordeaux Style
Medoc on Left Bank Made with a majority of Cab Sav Expensive Require careful handling, ling storage before release Considered some of the world’s finest
73
Dry White Wine Bordeaux Style
Generally from Sav Blanc Minority of Semillon Majority from Entre-Deux-Mers Some from Graves, Pessac-Leognan
74
Sweet White Wine Bordeaux Style
Sauternes on Left Bank Normally Semillon-based Small amount of Sav Blanc Harvested late to achieve highest possible sugar level Sometimes botrytis Thick, intensely sweet, and honeyed character (if botrytized)
75

CSW Study Guide (9 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions