France * Flashcards
What is the role of the INAO, founded in 1935, for French wine?
The INAO (Institut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité) regulates yields, vine density, pruning, varieties, production methods, aging, minimum ABV, must weight, and geographical boundaries to maintain historical quality and style.
What is the modern name for the former AOC system since the 2009 EU update?
AOC became AOP (Appellation d’Origine Protégée) under the EU reforms, though many producers still use the AOC term on labels.
List France’s three main wine classification tiers.
1) AOP (Appellation d’Origine Protégée) with strict rules. 2) IGP (Indication Géographique Protégée), formerly Vin de Pays. 3) Vin de France, the lowest designation with minimal restrictions.
Which French AOP uniquely allows varietal labeling?
Only Alsace AOP typically mandates varietal labeling on the bottle (e.g., Riesling, Gewurztraminer).
Why is Bordeaux historically significant in wine trade?
Its port city and political ties (English rule, 12th–15th c.) facilitated export. Dutch drainage in the 1600s also opened up new vineyard land in the Médoc.
List the major grape varieties of Bordeaux.
Red: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc (plus Petit Verdot, Malbec, Carmenère). White: Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc (plus Muscadelle, Sauvignon Gris, Ugni Blanc, and new experimental varieties).
Where is Bordeaux located, and what are its key rivers?
Bordeaux is in southwestern France near the Atlantic. The Gironde estuary splits into two rivers: the Dordogne (Right Bank) and the Garonne (Left Bank).
Describe Bordeaux’s climate and soils.
Maritime climate with relatively high rainfall and damp springs. Left Bank soils are gravel/clay; Right Bank soils are clay/iron-rich.
Why is blending essential in Bordeaux reds?
The maritime climate can vary each vintage, so multiple grape varieties help ensure consistent ripeness, structure, and complexity.
What styles of wine fall under the Bordeaux AOP?
Dry reds, dry whites, rosé, clairet (dark rosé), and basic regional-level wines.
What is Bordeaux Supérieur AOP?
It covers red and off-dry to sweet white wines with slightly stricter rules (e.g., lower yields, higher minimum alcohol) than basic Bordeaux AOP.
Name the sparkling appellation in Bordeaux.
Crémant de Bordeaux AOP, made by the traditional method with at least 9 months on lees.
What is Côtes de Bordeaux AOP primarily known for?
Merlot-based reds across multiple subzones (e.g., Blaye, Cadillac, Castillon, Francs). Some white wine is also produced.
Explain the classification structure in the Haut-Médoc.
The 1855 Classification ranks châteaux from First Growth (Premier Cru) down to Fifth Growth (Cinquième Cru). Examples of First Growths include Lafite, Latour, Margaux, Haut-Brion, and Mouton Rothschild (promoted in 1973).
Which famous sweet wine is produced in Sauternes? List Varieties.
Botrytis-affected (noble rot) dessert wines from Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle. Château d’Yquem is the only Sauternes Premier Cru Supérieur.
Describe Saint-Émilion’s classification system.
It has a Grand Cru Classé ranking subdivided into Classé A (the highest) and Classé B. This classification is periodically revised (unlike the static 1855 Médoc classification).
Name a top estate in Pomerol, and what grape dominates there?
Château Pétrus is iconic in Pomerol, dominated by Merlot grapes on clay-rich soils.
What is Entre-Deux-Mers known for?
Dry white wines, plus sweet wine appellations in the broader area, situated between the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers.
Why is Burgundy so fragmented?
Napoleonic inheritance laws forced properties to be divided equally among heirs, creating multiple owners of small vineyard parcels.
Name the major grapes in Burgundy.
Red: Pinot Noir, Gamay (in Beaujolais). White: Chardonnay, Aligoté. Minor: Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, César, Tressot.
What are the five main subregions of Burgundy?
Chablis, Côte d’Or (split into Côte de Nuits & Côte de Beaune), Côte Chalonnaise, Mâconnais, and Beaujolais.
Describe the typical soils in Burgundy.
Limestone and marl are prevalent, especially in the Côte d’Or, with clay and granite in Beaujolais.
List Burgundy’s hierarchy of AOP levels.
1) Régionale (e.g., Bourgogne AOP). 2) Village. 3) Premier Cru (within a village AOP). 4) Grand Cru (individual vineyard AOPs).
How does oak usage typically vary by level in Burgundy reds?
Regional wines often see 0–20% new oak, Village 20–30%, Premier Cru 30–50%, and Grand Cru 50–100% new oak barrels.
Name a key sparkling AOP in Burgundy.
Crémant de Bourgogne AOP, requiring 9 months on lees, made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and other grapes.
What is “Premier Cru” labeling in Burgundy?
The label shows the village plus vineyard name (e.g., “Beaune 1er Cru Les Greves”), or sometimes just “Premier Cru” if the vineyard is not specified.
Give an example of a Grand Cru vineyard in Burgundy.
Examples: Corton, Musigny, Montrachet, Romanée-Conti. Each Grand Cru stands as its own AOP.
Why is Champagne’s climate challenging for grape growing?
It has a cool oceanic-continental climate ~90 miles east of Paris, with frost risk in spring/fall and relatively modest summer heat.
Which three major grapes are used in Champagne?
Pinot Noir, Meunier, and Chardonnay. Minor grapes: Pinot Blanc Vrai, Arbane, Pinot Gris, Petit Meslier.
List Champagne’s primary subregions.
Montagne de Reims (Pinot Noir), Vallée de la Marne (Meunier), Côte des Blancs (Chardonnay), Côte de Sézanne, and the Aube (Pinot Noir).
Explain Champagne’s minimum lees-aging requirements.
Non-Vintage (NV) must spend 12 months on lees, 15 months total aging. Vintage requires at least 36 months total aging.
Define “Prestige Cuvée” in Champagne.
It is a producer’s top bottling, often vintage-dated, like Dom Pérignon (Moët), La Grande Année (Bollinger), or Cristal (Roederer).
What is the difference between a Blanc de Blancs and a Blanc de Noirs Champagne?
Blanc de Blancs is made from 100% Chardonnay. Blanc de Noirs is made from 100% black grapes (Pinot Noir and/or Meunier).
Name the sweetness levels in Champagne from driest to sweetest.
Brut Nature (0–3 g/L), Extra Brut (0–6 g/L), Brut (0–12 g/L), Extra Dry (12–17 g/L), Sec (17–32 g/L), Demi-Sec (32–50 g/L), Doux (50+ g/L).
Explain the label “RM” vs. “NM” on a Champagne bottle.
RM (Récoltant Manipulant) is a grower who makes and bottles their own Champagne. NM (Négociant Manipulant) is a larger house that buys grapes/juice to produce Champagne.
What are “Special Club” Champagnes?
A group of grower-producers who bottle their top wines in identical packaging. It’s considered an elite grower Champagne category.
Which four noble grapes are central to Alsace Grand Cru wines?
Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Muscat (though some Grand Crus permit blends or other exceptions).
What are Vendanges Tardives (VT) and Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN) in Alsace?
VT: Late-harvest wines that can be dry or sweet. SGN: Botrytis-affected, very sweet wines from selective hand-picking of noble rot grapes.
Name two other notable grapes in Alsace besides the noble varieties.
Pinot Blanc (Auxerrois) and Sylvaner are also grown. Pinot Noir is the only red permitted for Alsace AOP.
What is unique about Alsace Grand Cru labeling vs. other French regions?
There is no Premier Cru tier. Each Grand Cru has its own AOP, and labels typically show the vineyard name and allowed varieties.
Explain Vin Jaune in Jura.
It’s an oxidatively aged Savagnin wine developed under a flor-like yeast layer for at least 6 years, bottled in a 62cl clavelin.
What is Vin de Paille from the Jura?
A sweet straw wine made from dried grapes, aged a minimum of 3 years, resulting in concentrated flavors and sugar.
Which major grapes define Savoie’s whites and reds?
Whites: Jacquère, Altesse, Roussanne, Chasselas. Reds: Gamay, Mondeuse, Pinot Noir.
Name the four subregions of the Loire Valley.
1) Central Vineyards, 2) Touraine, 3) Anjou-Saumur, 4) Pays Nantais.
What grape dominates Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé in the Central Loire?
Sauvignon Blanc for whites, known for flinty, mineral-driven expressions.
Which areas in Touraine are famous for Cabernet Franc?
Chinon, Bourgueil, and St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil produce red and rosé wines from mostly Cabernet Franc.
Name two Loire AOPs dedicated to Chenin Blanc.
Vouvray (dry to sweet, sparkling) and Savennières (age-worthy dry whites) are Chenin-focused.
What is Muscadet’s main grape, and where is it produced?
Melon de Bourgogne, grown in the Pays Nantais subregion near the Atlantic. Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine is a top-quality zone.
Describe the Northern Rhône’s primary red and white grapes.
Red: Syrah. White: Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne.
Name three key AOPs in the Northern Rhône for Syrah.
Côte Rôtie, Hermitage, Cornas produce powerful Syrah-based reds, often co-fermented with white varieties in Côte Rôtie and Hermitage.
Which variety must Cornas AOP wines be made from?
100% Syrah, no blending allowed.
What is Condrieu AOP known for?
100% Viognier white wines, often floral, full-bodied, sometimes oaked.
How does the climate shift from the Northern to the Southern Rhône?
It transitions from a continental climate in the north to a more Mediterranean climate in the south, with warmer temps and more blending possibilities.
Which grapes dominate Southern Rhône reds?
Grenache is the backbone, often blended with Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, and Carignan.
Name the first AOC in France (1936).
Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the Southern Rhône was among the earliest AOCs established, credited as the first alongside a few others in 1936.
What is the main style of Tavel AOP?
Rosé only, based primarily on Grenache and Cinsault.
What are Rasteau and Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise known for?
Both produce Vin Doux Naturel (sweet fortified wines). Rasteau from Grenache (red VDN), Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise from Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains.
Which rosé-dominant region is in southeastern France near the Mediterranean?
Provence, known for ~90% rosé production.
Name two notable red-focused AOPs in Provence.
Bandol (majority Mourvèdre) and Les Baux-de-Provence (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre) are known for structured reds and rosés.
Which subzones exist within Côtes de Provence?
La Londe, Pierrefeu, Sainte-Victoire, Fréjus, and Notre-Dame des Anges.
What are the primary grapes in Corsica’s wines?
White: Vermentino, Ugni Blanc. Red: Grenache, Nielluccio (Sangiovese), Sciaccarello.
Name a notable sweet wine AOP in Corsica.
Muscat du Cap Corse produces Vin Doux Naturel from Muscat Blanc à Petit Grains.
Which region includes Bergerac, Cahors, Madiran, and Jurançon?
The Southwest of France (including Dordogne), extending south of Bordeaux toward the Pyrenees.
Explain Cahors AOP’s primary grape.
Cahors must be at least 70% Côt (Malbec), with Merlot and Tannat as blending partners.
What is Madiran AOP known for?
Tannat-dominant reds, often requiring some micro-oxygenation to soften tannins.
Describe Jurançon AOP wines.
White wines from Gros Manseng and Petit Manseng, ranging from dry to sweet (late-harvest).
Which sweet wine AOP near Bergerac uses botrytized grapes like in Sauternes?
Monbazillac AOP is known for botrytized sweet wines from Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle.
