France Flashcards
Wine production dates to what century in France
6th century BCE
What are the two concepts central to French wines?
(1) Terroir and (2) AOC Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée
What system replaced the AOC and in what year?
(1) Appellation d’Origine Protégée (AOP) (2) 2012
What culture brought viticulture to France?
Greeks
What did the Guals know about viticulture which takes wild vines and makes wine-producing grapes?
Pruning
Who owned and maintained the vineyards during the Middle Ages? What did they contribute to history?
Monasteries/Monks maintained vineyards and preserved wine-making knowledge and skills for future generations.
What 2 things desolated vineyards and effectively stopped the wine industry?
(1) Mildew and (2) Phylloxera
What laws were passed in 1935?
Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée was established by the INAO (Institut national des appellations d’origine) to protect winemaking and production.
What does QWPSR stand for?
Quality Wines Produced in Specified Regions
What does VDQS stand for?
Vin délimité de qualité supériure- demimited wine of superior quality- below AOC
What 3 categories in the 2012 system exist?
(1) Vin de France allowing variety and vintage on label, (2) IGP replacing Vin de Pays (Indication Géographique protégée, and (3) Appellation d’Origine Protégée replacing AOC wines.
What are the common styles of France?
Red, rosé, white (dry, semi-sweet and sweet), sparkling and fortified.
Most varieties of grapes are primarily associated with __________.
a region.
Labelling Laws
(1) If a single variety name is used it must contain 85% of the stated variety. (2) If 2 or more varieties are used, only the displayed varieties are allowed. (3) Varieties must appear in descending order.
List the main regions of France.
Alsace, Beaujolais, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Corsica, Jura, Languedoc-Roussillon, Loire, Provence, Rhône, Savoie, South West France
French Red Grapes by production %.
Merlot, Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Cab Sauv, Gamay, Pinot Noir, Cinsault, Pinot Meunier, Mourvèdre, Malbec, Alicante Bouschet, Muscat de Hambourg, Tannat, Grolleau.
Merlot and France
13.6% in France. Black grape. Bordeaux-Saint-Emilion & Pomerol. Clay soil. Medium tannins. Blending grape and varietal wines. Soft and fleshy. Early ripener. Bordeaux style- earlier harvest to maintain acidity, medium bodied with moderate alcohol.
Cool Climate Merlot
Strawberry, red berry, red plum, cedar, tobacco
Moderate Climate Merlot (Fruili-Venezi-Gulia, Italy) (Castilla-La Mancha, Navarra, Aragon, Spain) (Burgenland, Austria) (CA, NY State Long Island AVA & WA)
Blackberry, black plum and black cherry. Cassis, boysenberry, mulberry, black and green olives, bell pepper, fennel, leather, mushrooms, rhubarb and tobacco, tea, eucalyptus, mint, in oak caramel, chocolate, coconut, coffee bean, mocha, smoke, vanilla and walnutl.