France Flashcards
Who is eligible for premier grand cru classe status?
Only producers in the St.-Emilion Grand Cru AOC
Which appellations can market their methode traditionelle sparkling wines under the Fines Bulles trademark?
Anjou Mousseux, Cremant de Loire, Montlouis-sur-Loire, Samur Brut, Touraine Mousseux, and Vouvrey. (Fines Bulles “fine bubbles” are a specialty of the Central Loire)
What appellation covers the entire region of the Loire Valley?
Vin de Pays du Val de Loire (PGI level)
4 AOCs in the Pays Nantais are all called what?
Muscadet. The largest being Muscadet de Sevre-et-Maine
What are 2 regional rose appellations in the Anjou?
Rose d’Anjou (usually mostly Grolleau), Cabernet d’Anjou (restricted to the two cabs, both somewhat sweet)
Where are dry roses likely to come from in the Loire Valley?
Rose de Loire appellation (located in the Anjou and Touraine)
What is the primary sweet wine area of Anjou and what are the two better known subregions?
Coteaux du Layon AOC, subregions being Bonnexaux and Quarts-de-Chaume. All three use 100% Chenin Blanc and produce long-lived dessert wines thanks to botrytis.
What is the Anjou’s premier dry white wine appellation? What type of grapes are used?
Savennieres 100% Chenin Blanc
What is the Saumur AOC known for?
Sparkling Wine
What is the main sparkling wine appellation in the Saumur area?
Saumur Brut (may also be seen as Saumur Mousseux or simply Saumur)
What is Cremant de Loire?
A sparkling wine that can come from anywhere in Anjou or Touraine.
What regions in the Loire Valley are renowned for excellent red wines (usually at least 90% Cab Franc)?
Saumur-Champigny (red only appellation in Anjou), Bourgueil and Chinon (both in Touraine).
What appellation uses 100% Chenin Blanc and makes wines ranging in style from dry to sweet?
Vouvray
Which two appellations make mousseux and petillant (both are sparkling) wines?
Vouvray and Montlouis-sur-Loire
What are two regional appellations for Touraine? What do they produce?
Touraine AOC for red, white, and rose. Touraine Mousseux for sparkling wines.
What are AC Touraine white and red wines typically made from?
Whites are typically 100% Sauvignon Blanc, and the reds are as likely Gamay or Pinot Noir as Cabernet.
What grapes are the wines in the Cheverny AOC primarily made from?
Sauvignon Blanc and Gamay
What are two appellations famous in the Loire Valley for their classic, 100% Sauvignon Blanc wines?
Sancerre on the west bank and Pouilly-Fume across the river on the east bank.
How does Pouilly-Fume differ from Pouilly-Fuisse?
Pouilly-Fume is on the east bank of the Loire Valley and made from 100% Sav Blanc. Pouilly-Fuisse is from the Maconnais area of Burgundy and made from 100% Chardonnay.
What type of wine do Quincy and Reuilly AOCs make?
Sauvignon Blanc and Reuilly also makes some Pinot Noir.
There are 51 grand cru vineyards in Alsace. These vineyards have a separate appellation. What is this appellation called and what grape varieties are they allowed to grow?
Alsace Grand Cru. They are allowed to grow only Gewürztraminer, Muscat, Pinot Gris, and Riesling.
What 3 appellations are in Alsace?
Alsace AOC, Alsace Grand Cru, Cremant d’Alsace
What is the Alsace AOC permitted to make?
Wine from 100% of any of eight grape varieties: Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Auxerrois, Pinot Noir, Sylvaner, Muscat, and Chasselas.
What is Cremant d’Alsace permitted to make?
Sparkling wine made from Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and/or Auxerrois using the traditional method.
What is the “most important” appellation in Burgundy, covering the entire region?
AC Bourgogne, a generic appellation for white, red, or rose wines from anywhere in the area.
What appellation in Burgundy covers the entire region and is only permitted to make white and rose sparkling wines made by the traditional method?
Cremant de Bourgogne
What appellation in Burgundy covers the entire region and is only permitted for wines from the Aligote grape variety?
Bourgogne Aligote