France Flashcards
What is the climate of Bordeaux?
Moderate maritime
What is the Gulf Stream?
warming ocean current that helps mitigate the factors in Bordeaux
Spring frosts are rarely a problem for Bordeaux…T or F?
True
What natural factors protect the vineyards of Bordeaux from the Atlantic storms?
Landes Forest and sand dunes
Why is it risky in Bordeaux to rely on one variety?
Variation in weather and ripening / risk of natural factors affecting vineyards
How many varieties are allowed in Bordeaux?
13
Most widely planted red grape in Bordeaux?
Merlot
Cabernet Franc is most grown in this appellation in Bordeaux?
Saint Emilion
Why does merlot perform better in Right Bank?
Cool clay soils
Petite Verdot ripens only in very hot years…T or F?
True
White grape of Bordeaux with a pronounced grapey, floral aroma?
Muscadelle
The Dordogne and Garonne Rivers combine to form what Estuary?
Gironde
In addition to the Left and Right Bank, what other land area makes up Bordeaux?
Entre deux Mers
Chateaus listed in the 1855 classification are known as what?
Cru Classes
Cru Bourgeois is awarded to the Chateau…T of F?
False. Award to particular vintage.
Appellation with it’s own classification system?
St. Emilion
Generic Appellations of Bordeaux?
Bordeaux & Bordeaux Superieur
Main difference between Bordeaux and Bordeaux Superiuer?
Alcohol must be higher in Superieur
Northernmost part of the Medoc?
Bas Medoc
Main soil of Bas Medoc?
Clay
4 main communes of the Haut Medoc? North to South
St. Estephe, Pauillac, St. Julien, Margaux
Most highly regarded area of Graves?
Pessac Leognan
Difference between Cab from Pessac Leognan and Haut Medoc?
Lighter in body, more aromatic
Which is larger, Pomerol or St. Emilion?
Saint Emilion
What is the difference between the wines of Pomerol and Saint Emilion?
Pomerol are richer with spicier Blackberry fruit
Blaye, Cadillac, Castillon and Francs make up what group of wines?
Cotes de Bordeaux
Cotes de Bordeaux are made mainly from this grape variety?
Merlot
True or False….Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux make dry red wines?
False…sweet wines
White wines from this region in Bordeaux can sometimes be Cru Classes?
Pessac Leognan
Major appellation of The Dordogne?
Bergerac
Where are the vineyards of the Dordogne?
East of Entre deux Mers
Sweet wines regions of the Dordogne?
Monbazillac
Where is Cahors?
East of Bordeaux
Main grape of Cahors
Malbec
Main wines from Gascogne IGP are made from this white grape?
Ugni Blanc
Main grape of Madiran?
Tannat
Natural weather and disease factors affecting Burgundy?
Spring frosts, hailstorms, grey rot (pinot noir), rain in Spring
T or F…flat land is more prone to frost?
True
Benefits of sloped vineyards in Burgundy?
Better soil drainage, less risk of frosts, protection from westerly winds
For the best Burgundian reds, this amount of time in new oak is common?
16-18 months
What is the most planted grape of Burgundy?
Chardonnay
Basic differences in Chardonnay of Chablis, Cote d’ Or and Macon?
Lean, steely, high acid
Complex, expressive, Nuanced
Full bodied, ripe
Main communes of Burgundy, North to South?
Chablis, Cotes de Nuits, Cote de Beaune, Cote Chalonnaise, Maconnais, Beaujolais
White grape of Burgundy that produces neutral, high acid wines?
Aligote
Burgundy village appellation that lies in the valley of the River Serein?
Chablis
Major climatic problem of Chablis?
frost
Basic level Chablis vineyards are usually planted on…?
North facing slopes and flatter land
Where is the Massif Central?
Runs to the west of Cote d’Or
Difference in pinot noir of Cote de Nuits and Cote de Beaune?
Cote de Nuits generally more structured, while Cote de Beaune fruitier
How many white grand cru in Cote de Nuits?
one
How many red grand cru in Cote de Beaune?
one
How many grand crus in Cote d’ Or?
33
T or F…white wines are made in Pommard and Volnay?
False
Why do the wines of Borgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits and Borgogne Hautes Cotes Beaune typically have less body and concentration?
Higher elevation, cooler climate, more exposure to winds
Why are the wines of the Cote Chalonnaise less premium than their northerly neighbors?
Higher altitude of vineyards, not as prime slopes, harvest is later, less reliable
Rully, Mercurey, Givry, and Montagny make up this regional appellation?
Cote Chalonnaise
Rully produces more red wine than white…T or F?
False
Montagny produces only white wines?
True
Pouilly-Fuisse and Saint-Veran are the main appellations of the village?
Maconnais
Gamay is ____ budding and _____ ripening?
early, early
These soils produce the best gamay in Bojo?
Granite
Traditional method of pruning in Bojo?
Gobelet
Region located on the alluvial plain of the River Saone?
Beaujolais
Four crus of Bojo with greatest production?
Brouilly, Morgon, Fleurie, Moulin-a-Vent
What is the climate of Alsace?
moderate continental
Mountain range that shelters Alsace?
Vosges
The Vosges Mountain ranges helps Alsace with these climatic factors?
Protects from westerly winds, reduces cloud cover to ensure sunny summers and dry autumns
Where are grapes for Cremant d’Alsace usually grown?
flat plain
Why does most of Alsace farm organically?
Low disease pressure due to sunny, dry conditions
4 main grapes of Alsace?
Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Muscat
If a wine is labels as Edelzwicker or Gentil, what is inside the bottle?
A blend of varieties
Region in France where classic producers use barrels for fermentation that could be more than 100 years old?
Alsace
MLF is often encourage in Alsace…T or F
False. Aromatic varieties might lose those awesome aromas
SGN wines are always sweet…T or F?
True
Most widely planted ‘Noble’ variety in Alsace?
Riesling
T or F….German rieslings show more floral characters than those from Alsace?
True
‘Noble’ grape from Alsace that produces aromatic, full bodied, low to medium acidity, and high alcohol wines?
Gewurztraminer
Pinot Gris from Alsace tends to have these characteristics?
Rich, full bodied, high alcohol, medium acidity (more than Gewurz for comparison)
Variety often used for Cremant d’Alsace
Pinot Blanc
Only black grape permitted in Alsace?
Pinot Noir
If a label in Alsace uses a variety, what percentage must be of the grape?
100%
Alsace Grand Cru must come from a single grape variety…T or F?
True
Vendanges Tardives means what?
Late harvest
Which is usually sweeter, Vendanges Tardives or Selection de Grains Nobles?
Selection de Grains Nobles
True or False…Touraine produces more Sauvignon Blanc than the Central Vineyards?
True
Menetou-Salon is located to the west and south of what appellation?
Sancerre
Prominent vineyard in Sancerre?
Les Monts Damnes
Chavignol is a village which produces Sauvignon Blanc within this region?
Sancerre
Sauvignon Blanc is mainly grown where within the Loire Valley? (2 regions)
Central Vineyards
Touraine
Why do Loire Valley vintages vary?
Variations in weather patterns
Huge risk of fungal disease due to rainfall
Why is it important Touraine has a cooler, wetter climate than Anjou?
Further inland, should be opposite
What is the IGP of the Loire Valley?
Val de Loire
What are the four subregions of the Loire Valley, East to West?
Nantais, Anjou-Saumur, Touraine, Central Vineyards
Soil type of Sancerre?
Chalky, well drained stony soils
The main appellations of Central Vineyards?
Sancerre
Pouilly Fume
Smallest production of Loire subregions?
Central Vineyards
White variety of Loire Valley with uneven ripening?
Chenin Blanc
Chenin grapes that produce a wine of only 10 to 11 % are generally used for what?
Sparkling
Vouvray is located within what area?
Touraine
Savennieres is located where?
Anjou
Is Saumur located within Anjou or vice versa?
Saumur is located within Anjou
Vouvray is often fermented and matured in new oak…T or F?
False
Renowned appellation for sparkling in Loire?
Saumur
Anjou wines are often matured in ____ oak?
new
Renowned sweet wine region in the Loire?
Coteaux du Layon
2 prominent sweet wine sites within Coteaux du Layon
Bonnezeaux and Quarts de Chaume
Melon Blanc ripens _____ and is _____ resistant?
early, frost
Maximum alcohol % in Muscadet?
12
Cabernet Franc flowers _____ and ripens _____?
Early, early
Chinon and Bourgueil are located in what area?
Touraine
Cabernet Franc from Saumur Champigny tend to be lighter in ____ and _____ than wines from Touraine?
Body and tannin
Second most black variety planted in Loire?
Gamay
Rose in the Loire mostly comes from….?
Anjou-Saumur
Rose de Loire must have at least 30% of this or that grape?
Cab Sauv, Cab Franc
Where is the mistral wind located?
Northern Rhone
Vines in this region are often single staked or supported by a teepee like set of stakes?
Northern Rhone
White grape that produces full-bodied wines with perfumed aromas of blossom and apricots, and flavors of stone fruits. Low acidity and high alcohol.
Viognier
In the Northern Rhone, _______ has the richness and weight, whereas _______ offers acidity and a perfumed fruit characteristic.
Marsanne, Roussanne
Ampuis is located in which Northern Rhone cru?
Cote Rotie
In Cote Rotie, how much viognier can be used?
20%
Syrah from Northern Rhone that is deeply colored, full bodied, spicy and aromatic?
Cote Rotie
This Northern Rhone cru can produce wines similar to Hermitage on terraced vineyards?
Saint Joseph
What percentage of white grapes can be used in Hermitage?
15%
The most important cru of the Northern Rhone in terms of volume?
Crozes Hermitage
What percentage of white grapes can be used in Crozes Hermitage?
15%
Brooting reds of Syrah similar to Hermitage and 100% Syrah?
Cornas
The vineyards of the Southern Rhone are planted on much _______ terrain than the Northern Rhone?
Flatter
Many Southern Rhone vineyards have stony soils made up of ______?
Galets
Climate of the northern Rhone?
Moderate, continental
Climate of the Southern Rhone?
Mediterranean, mild winters, dry summers
Area of France where windbreaks have to be planted? Why?
Southern Rhone, where the Mistral gains speed, no slopes to protect
In the Southern Rhone, Grenache is _____ trained, low to the ground?
Bush
Most widely planted red grape in Southern Rhone?
Grenache
The warm summers in this region help Grenache to ripen fully and produced spiced red fruit flavors?
Southern Rhone
In the Southern Rhone, this grape is at the northernmost location where it can ripen?
Mourvedre
Other main varieties in Southern Rhone besides Grenache? (3)
Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault
Which produces red fruit flavors and which produces black fruit flavors? Mourvedre, Cinsault
Mourvedre - black fruit, more tannin
Cinsault - red fruit
This grape is often used with Grenache to produce rose in the Southern Rhone?
Cinsault
Many producers feel new oak overwhelms Grenache…T or F?
True
Three main white grapes of the southern Rhone?
Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc
First appellation to have AOC status?
CDP
Only two crus on the left bank of Rhone?
Tavel and Lirac
Tavel produces rose, red, and white wine?
False, only rose
Climate of Southern France?
warm Mediterranean, hot summer, mild winters, low rainfall
Largest climatic factor affecting Southern Rhone
Draught
Most important black varieties in Southern France?
Syrah and Grenache
____________ is grown in southern France and is naturally high in tannin, acidity, and color. It can lack fruit or finesse?
Carignan
White varieties of the Southern Rhone?
3 international, 3 local
Chardonnay, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat, Grenache Blanc, Picpoul
Where is Fitou, Corbieres, Minverois located? Region…
Languedoc Rouissillon
More IGP wines are made here than any other region in France?
Languedoc Rouissillon
Bandol produces premium reds based on which grape?
Mourvedre
