France

Question 1

Characteristics of Bordeaux:

Answer 1

• Classic, moderate-climate region for wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
• The main form of branding is the château

Question 2

Define château:

Answer 2

Indicates the wine has been made from a defined piece of land.

Question 3

Define Grand Vin:

Answer 3

Often used to indicate the main wine made by the château

Question 4

Medoc Châteaux classifications:

Answer 4

• Grand Cru Classé

- Cru Bourgeois

Question 5

Graves classification:

Answer 5

• Cru Classé - best wines

Question 6

Saint-Emilion classification:

Answer 6

• Grand Cru Classé - best wines

Question 7

Classifications of inexpensive dry Bordeaux wine? And grapes for red and white wines?

Answer 7

• Bordeaux AC- Bordeaux Supérieur AC (requires a higher level of alcohol than Bordeaux AC)
• Red wines are generally Merlot dominant blends
• Whites are blends of SB and Sémillon

Question 8

Classic Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated Red Wines:

Answer 8

• Médoc AC- Haut-Médoc AC: the better part of the Medoc. Includes Pauillac AC and Margaux AC, where the best châteaux are located.
• Graves AC: includes the Pessac-Léognan AC, where the best châteaux are located.

Question 9

Classic Bordeaux Merlot-dominated Red Wines:

Answer 9

• Saint-Emilion AC: includes Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AC, for the best wines.
• Pomerol AC

Question 10

Classic sweet Bordeaux wines

Answer 10

Sauternes AC

Question 11

About Burgundy:

Answer 11

• Classic, moderate-to-cool climate for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
• Wines from the wider region are labeled Bourgogne AC- The best wines come from Côte d’Or
• Wines are generally named after the village
• Within a village, the better vineyard sites have Premier Cru status
• The very best vineyards have their own Acs are designated Grand Cru

Question 12

Define Domaine:

Answer 12

Producer that makes wine from their own vineyard. They do not buy in grapes, juice or finished wines to del under their own name.

Question 13

Classic Chardonnay-based white wines:

Answer 13

• Bourgogne AC
• Chablis AC
• Puligny-Montrachet AC, Meursault AC
• Montrachet Grand Cru AC
• Mâcon AC
• Pouilly-Fuissé AC

Question 14

Classic Pinot Noir-based red wines:

Answer 14

• Bourgogne AC
• Gevrey-Chambertin AC, Nuits-Saint-Georges AC
• Beaune AC, Pommard AC
• Chambertin Grand Cru AC

Question 15

About Beaujolais:

Answer 15

• Lies to the south of Burgundy
• Moderate climate
• Gamay grape

Question 16

Characteristics of Beaujolais reds:

Answer 16

• light and medium-bodied
• unoaked
• medium-to-high acidity
• low tannin levels
• pronounced red fruit aromas (raspberry, cherry)
• sometimes with a hint of spice (cinnamon, pepper)
• best consumed while young and fruity
• a few from Morgan AC and Moulin-à-Vent AC can improve with bottle age

Question 17

Beaujolais AC’s:

Answer 17

Beaujolais AC includes:

• • Beaujolais Nouveau AC: released in the Nov following the harvest
• • Beaujolais Villages AC:
• Superior quality wines that come from the granite hills to the north of the region
• 10 village known as Beaujolais Crus
• best wines form the region and some of the best in the world- Label their wine with the name of the village, such as Fleurie AC, Brouilly AC, Morgon AC and Moulin-à-Vent AC

Question 18

About Alsace:

Answer 18

• Vosges mountains to the west shelter the region from rain-bearing winds blowing across Northern France.
• Vines are planted on Eastern foothills and benefit from morning sun.
• Generally produces whites- Grapes are:
• • Riesling
• • Pinot Gris
• • Gewürztraminer
• • Pinot Bland and Muscat
• • Pinot Noir

Question 19

About Alsace AC:

Answer 19

• Grape variety usually appears on the label along with the appellation- Alsace Grand Cru AC: a wine from a superior vineyard site

Question 20

What are the regions that make up The Loire Valley?

Answer 20

• The Central Vineyards
• Touraine
• The Nantais

Question 21

About the Central Vineyards (Loire):

Answer 21

• Cool-climate region is the classic home of SB

- Main apellations: Sancerre AC, Pouilly-Fumé AC

Question 22

About the Touraine and main AC?

Answer 22

• Cool-climate region
• Chenin Blanc grape variety used for white wines in a range of styles
• Most are medium-bodied with medium sweetness, high acidity, unoaked with citrus, green and tropical fruit notes (lemon, apple, pineapple) and some herbaceous aromas (green leaf)
• Dry and sweet wines are also made
• Vouvray AC: main appellation for Chenin Blanc (dry, med, sweet)

Question 23

About The Nantais:

Answer 23

• Med-bodied, dry, unbaked white wines with light, almost neutral fruit and med or high acidity are made from Melon Blanc, a white grape variety
• Muscadet AC
• Muscadet Sèvre et Maine AC
• large sub-region producing superior wines
• Sur lie used

Question 24

What is sur lie:

Answer 24

Refined on the lees. The wine has been bottled from a vessel containing the dead yeast left over from fermentation providing a little more body and complexity to the wine.

Question 25

About the Rhone Valley:

Answer 25

• Moderate-to-hot climate region
• Home of Syrah and Grenache
• Northern Rhône and Southern Rhône

Question 26

Northern Rhone appellations:

Answer 26

• Crozes-Hermitage AC
• Hermitage AC
• Côte-Rôtie AC

Question 27

Southern Rhone appellations:

Answer 27

• Châteauneuf-du-Pape AC
• Côtes du Rhône AC
• Côtes du Rhône Villages AC: superior sub region of Côtes du Rhône, wines with intensity, complexity and length.

Question 28

About Languedoc-Roussillon, the grapes and AC’s?

Answer 28

• Majority of France’s IGP (Pays d’Oc IGP) wines are produced here.
• Also important AC’s.
• Most are reds, made from a blend of local grape varieties that usually includes Grenache and increasingly Syrah. Style and quality vary greatly.
• Those with a large Grenache component are full-bodied, with red fruit and spice flavors.
• Majority are inexpensive, straightforward wines.
• Languedoc AC- Minervois AC

Question 29

About IGP wines and main southern IGP?

Answer 29

• Produce large quantities of inexpensive wines from international grape varieties.
• Variety of blend is usually stated on the label.
• When no variety mentioned, generally made from lesser-known, local grape varieties.
• The main southern IGP is Pays d’Oc IGP.

Question 30

About Vin de France:

Answer 30

• Large volumes of inexpensive SB, CB and Chardonnay.

- This designation allows producers to blend wines form throughout France.