France Flashcards
Starting with Bordeaux moving roughly clockwise name the French wine regions
Bordeaux Loire valley Champagne Alsace Burgundy Beaujolais The Rhône valley Southern France Southwest France
What mountain chain shields northeastern France , particularly Alsace from western storms and allows a warmer drier vineyard than others at the same latitude ?
Vosges Mountains
Voojuhz’
What is the most widely planted white grape in France ?
Ugni blanc (Trebbiano Toscano), used almost exclusively for making brandy (cognac and Armagnac)
Name the major white varieties of France (7)
Ugni blanc Chardonnay Sauvignon Blanc Melon de Bourgogne Sémillon Chenin Blanc Muscat
What is the most widely planted grape variety in France ?
Merlot
What are the major red varieties in France (11)
Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet franc Grenache Syrah Pinot noir Carignan Gamay Cinsault Meunier Mourvèdre
What are the three levels of geographic specificity from broad to most specific of vin de pays?
Regional
Departmental
Zone
Name the seven regional vin de pays categories
Pays d’OC IGP Val de Loire IGP Comtés Rhodaniens IGP Méditerranée IGP Comté Tolosan IGP L’Atlantique IGP Terres du Midi IGP
What is the top of the French wine classification pyramid
AOC appellation d’origine contrôlée
Name of controlled origin
Can also be called AC or AOP appellation d’origine protégée
What is the main city of the left bank?
Bordeaux
What is the main city of the right bank
Libourne
What body or bodies make up frances western border
The Atlantic Ocean bay of biscay
What body makes up frances northwestern border
The English Channel
What body or bodies make up frances northeastern border
Belgium
Luxembourg
Germany
What bodies make up frances eastern border
Switzerland
Italy
Leading red grapes of Bordeaux (6)
Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet franc Malbec Petit Verdot Carmenère
Leading white grapes of Bordeaux (3)
Sémillon
Sauvignon Blanc
Muscadelle
What is crémant?
Less bubbly sparkling wine made by methode champenoise outside of champagne
What are the four satellites of St Émilion?
Lussac
Montagne
Puisseguin
St Georges
What are the 5 subzones of the côte de Bordeaux?
Blaye Cadillac Castillon Francs Sainte Foy
Name the four distinct wine regions of the Loire Valley
The Pays Nantais
Anjou-Saumur
Touraine
The upper Loire aka eastern Loire
Leading red grapes of the Loire valley (7)
Cabernet Franc Gamay Pinot Noir Cabernet Sauvignon Grolleau Pineau d’Aunis Négrette
Leading white grapes of the Loire Valley (6)
Melon de Bourgogne Chenin Blanc Sauvignon Blanc Chardonnay Folle Blanche Pinot Gris
What is the best known grape variety of the pay Nantais?
Melon de Bourgogne locally known as Muscadet
What grape is pouilly-fumé known for
100% Sauvignon Blanc
What grape is pouilly-fuissé known for
100% Chardonnay
Name the five main zones of champagne
Montagne de Reims (muhn tanya) Vallée de la Marne Côte des Blancs Côte de Sézanne Côte des Bar
North to south
Limestone rock soil formed by marine deposits known for excellent water retention, heat retention, and heat reflection
Kimmeridgian marl or soul
What are the main and allowed grape varieties in champagne
Main
Chardonnay
Pinot noir (red)
Meunier (Pinot Meunier) (red)
Allowed Pinot Blanc Pinot gris Petit Meslier Arbane
Marc in wine
In champagne, the traditional measurement for quantity of grapes allowed in the press, 4,000kg or 8800lbs
In champagne, how much juice is allowed to be extracted per Marc ?
25.5 hectoliters or 675 gallons
How is champagne juice categorized
Cuvée: the majority of juice 20.5 hectoliters from free run and first light pressings used for premium champagne
Taille: juice from the next set of pressings lower in sugar and acid used for demi-sec or extra dry sparkling wine, permitted volume 5 hectoliters
Rebêche (think rubbish), juice from a third pressing or leftovers , used for still wine , spirits or vinegar
How long must non vintage champagne spend maturing in the producers cellar ?
15 months with at least 12 months aging on the lees
French for vintage, used in champagne
Millésime
How long must vintage champagne spend aging in the producers cellar?
Minimum of 3 years with at least 12 months on the lees
What is remuage?
Riddling , rotating and tilting champagne bottles to get sediment to the neck for disgorgement eventually leaving champagne clear
Name the sweetness levels of champagne from driest to sweetest
Brut nature or sans dosage (unsweetened) Extra brut Brut Extra sec Sec Demi sec Doux
Brut and sec both mean dry, the latter literally
3 names for top of the line champagne using the finest grapes and most careful production techniques
Prestige cuvée
Tête de cuvée
Cuvée spéciale