France Flashcards
Name four challenges France experienced in the vineyard in the second half of the 19th century?
Powdery Mildew
Downy Mildew
Black Rot
Phylloxera
By how much did area under vine fall in France due to the EU Vine Pull Scheme (1970s-2010s)
France reduced its land under vibe considerably - area under vine inc for table grapes and brandy fell by one third between 1979 and early 2010s
Potted history of France wine
First plantings of vines in Greek colony - today called Marseille
Initially vines only planted in the south of the country 1,000 CE/AD in Rhône Valley and probably near to Bordeaux
Major vineyard expansion under Charlemagne (crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 800CE) and then the period of monasteries after 1,000 CE
Middle Ages saw establishment of key export markets to England, Scotland, Flanders & Holland - key markets developing due to major rivers and sea
Paris supplied by area close to it (now abandoned) or on major rivers - Auxerre and Chablis and vineyards of the Loire
Draining of Médoc marshes in 17th Century provides extensive land suitable for viticultures due to fast draining gravelly soils
17-19 centuries - huge expansion of exported wines - classification of 1855 in Bordeaux
Vineyard challenges in second half of 19th century - powdery mildew, downy mildew, black rot and phylloxera
EU vine pull scheme 1970-2010s
2009 allowed name of grape variety to appear on label alongside the name of appellation following commercial success of varietals labelled wine
What latitude does France lie on?
Latitude ranges from 42-49°N
How are vines planted in France?
With the exception of bush vines in the south of France, virtually all of French vineyards are planted at high density with vines trained on trellises. Vines are often trained with cane replacement pruned Guyot system with vertical shoot positioning
What is the preferred vine training system in France?
Cane replacement pruned Guyot system with vertical shoot positioning
What proportion of vineyard area is organic in France?
10% of all vineyard area is organic in France
The no of hectares certified organic has increased nearly fourfold in the decade to 2017
What are France’s top ten varietals?
- Merlot
- Ugni Blanc
- Grenache Noir
- Syrah
- Chardonnay
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Cabernet Franc
- Carignan
- Pinot Noir
- Sauvignon Blanc
Why is Merlot by far the most planted grape in France?
It’s dominance in Bordeaux - France’s biggest wine region - 110,000 hectares planted
And it’s planting for IGP wines in Languedoc
Where was chapitalisation invented?
France
Why is chapitalisation used less in France?
Traditionally used in cooler regions, though due to warmer climate in recent years and better canopy management not as necessary
What is the INAO?
Institut National des Appellations d’Origine et de la Qualité
It was founded in 1935 and shapes the French wine industry creating AOX and from 2009 IGP wines
When was the INAO founded?
The Institut des Appellations d’Origine now called the Institut Nationals de l’Origine et de La Qualité was founded in 1935
What is AOC?
Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée system (AOC)
Embeds a commitment to geographically defined appellations and includes detailed rules about production methods, varieties allowed, planting density, allowed training systems, maximum yields, minimum alcohol levels, required length of maturation before release, earliest date the wine can be sold
What is IGP?
Indication Geographic Protégée wines (France)
When did EU agree to allow the name of grape variety to appear on the label alongside the name of the appellation? I.e. Bourgogne AOC Chardonnay
2009
Is the average side of vineyard holdings in France higher or lower than in Italy or Spain?
Higher - much higher - ave holding is 10.5ha
How much of wine production in France is processed by Co-operatives?
40 per cent
So they are very important for smaller growers
By how much has wine consumption per capita dropped in France?
Significantly. It is in long term and fairly steep decline
Consumption is now less than half the level of a century ago
How fragmented is the French wine industry?
Very. Three quarters of volume sales by producers in France are through small and medium sized local companies or private label, meaning the sector is highly fragmented
What are the top three wine producers by volume in France?
- Castel Frères (12% of total sales)
- Carrefour France
- ITN Enterprises
What type of wine does France import mostly?
Cheap inexpensive wine - much to the consternation of French growers. Mostly from Spain!
Who is the top wine export producing country by value?
France by a long margin. 50% more exported by volume than Italy and 3x as much by value as Spain
