France Flashcards
Most widely planted white grape in France
Ugni Blanc (Trebbiano Toscano)
Most widely planted red grape in France
Merlot
Three levels of the French wine “quality pyramid”
AOC/AOP
Vin de Pays (IGP/PGI)
Vin (formerly “table wine”)
Region covered by the Pays d’Oc IGP
The western part of the French Mediterranean Coast, including Languedoc and Roussillon
Region covered by the Val de Loire IGP
The Loire Vally and Chablis
Region covered by the Comtes Rhodaniens IGP
Northern Rhone Valley and Savoie
Region covered by the Mediterranee IGP
Southeast France, including the Rhone Valley and Provence
Region covered by the Comte Tolosan IGP
Southwest France
Region covered by the L’Atlantique IGP
Bordeaux, Dordogne, and Charentais
Region covered by the Terres du Midi IGP
(For certain blended wines in the) Languedoc and Roussillon
Three main rivers of Bordeaux
Garonne
Dordogne
Gironde (Estuary)
Eight AOCs of the Medoc
Medoc AOC Haut Medoc AOC Saint-Estephe AOC Paulliac AOC Saint Julien AOC Listrac-Medoc AOC Moulis-en-Medoc AOC Margaux AOC
Six AOCs of Graves
Graves AOC Graves Superieures AOC Pessac-Leognan AOC Cerons AOC Barsac AOC Sauternes AOC
Main town on Bordeaux’s Right Bank
Libourne
Four satellites of Saint-Emilion
Lussac-St.-Emilion
Montagne-St.-Emilion
Pusseguin-St.-Emilion
St-Georges-St.-Emilion
Five sub-zones of the AOC Cotes du Bordeaux
Blaye-Cotes de Bordeaux Cadillac-Cotes de Bordeaux Castillon-Cotes de Bordeaux Francs-Cotes de Bordeaux Sainte Foy-Cotes de Bordeaux
Commune that is home to Chateau Lafite Rothschild
Pauillac
Commune (and region) that is home to Chateau Haut-Brion
Pessac (Graves)
Area north of the city of Bordeaux, on the Left Bank
The Medoc
Three main white grapes of Bordeaux
Semillon
Sauvignon Blanc
Muscadelle
Area south of the city of Bordeaux, on the Left Bank
Graves
Three main red grapes of Bordeaux
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Cabernet Franc
Three minor red grapes of Bordeaux
Malbec
Petit Verdot
Carmenere
Three regional appellations of Bordeaux
Bordeaux AOC
Bordeaux Superieur AOC
Cremant de Bordeaux AOC
Unique type of “light” red wine produced in Bordeaux
Clairet
“In futures”
En primeur
“Bordeaux Classification of _____”
1855
Five (current) first growths of the 1855 Classification
Chateau Haut-Brion Chateau Lafite Rothschild Chateau Latour Chateau Margaux Chateau Mouton Rothschild
Year of the first classification of Saint-Emilion
1954
Four (current) Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe Category A properties
Chateau Angelus
Chateau Ausone
Chateau Cheval Blanc
Chateau Pavie
Who likely first brought grapes to France?
Greeks and Romans who established colonies along the Mediterranean coast. Later, the Romans spread viticulture farther inland after conquering Gaul and founding cities throughout the area
What did wine in France become associated with in the 5th century after the Roman Empire’s collapse?
Christian monasteries
What did Christian monasteries produce wine for?
Sacramental use and profit
How did monasteries acquire so much vineyard acreage?
Vineyards were donated to the church by rich patrons seeking divine favor
What two areas in France did the monasteries receive significant holdings?
Burgundy
Champagne
What monastery orders were based in Burgundy?
Benedictine
Cistercian
What did the monks do for winemaking?
As some of them took a very scientific approach, the experimented with different kinds of grapes and various arrangements in the vineyards, ultimately fine-tuning high-quality vines and matching them to the ideal growing sites. Also pioneered many innovations that improved winemaking on a large scale.
What led to the bond between Bordeaux and Britain?
In the 12th century, the region came under the English Crown through the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine to Henry II. Viticulture in the British Isles had declined so Bordeaux became the ideal solution for supplying wine to Britain. Even when the ownership was ended after war in the fourteenth and fifteenth century – the bond continued.
What region was the home of French nobility during the Middle Ages?
Loire Valley
Why did the Loire Valley’s production flourish in the Middle Ages?
Concentration of wealth in a highly fertile area, so even when the seat of power went back to Paris in the fifteenth century – wineries continued to prosper
What was Champagne known for in the Middle Ages?
Still wine
What wine was Champagne renowned for in Paris and London in the 1600s?
Still Pinot Noir
When did purposeful sparkling production begin in Champagne?
End of the 17th century, prior to that bottles would occasionally develop a bit of a spritz but it was accidental
What region in France has the country’s longest history of viticulture?
The South of France
What were the wines of the South of France mainly used for?
Local consumption
Blending into other regions’ wines
What did the wines of the South of France provide to the blend with other wines?
Adding weight to what otherwise would have been unpleasantly thin wine in most vintages
Where is Alsace situated?
On the border with Germany
What Germanic traditions did Alsace retain?
Emphasis on Riesling and (to a lesser extent) Gewurztraminer
Use of tall, thin Flute d’Alsace bottles
Three types of Alsace appellations
Alsace AOC
Cremant d’Alsace AOC
Alsace Grand Cru
Department located in the northern area of Alsace
Bas-Rhin
Department located in the southern area of Alsace
Haut-Rhin
Number of Grand Crus in Alsace
51
Mountain range to the west of Alsace
Vosges Mountains
Rule regarding varietal wines of the Alsace AOC
Must be 100% of the named variety
Four “noble grapes” of Alsace
Riesling
Muscat
Pinot Gris
Gewurztraminer
Grape variety also known as Klevener de Heiligenstein
Savagnin Rose
Grape allowed for use in Cremant d’Alsace AOC (but not in Alsace AOC)
Chardonnay
Ten grape varieties approved for use in non-sparkling Alsace AOC wines
Riesling Gewurztraminer Pinot Gris Pinot Noir Pinot Blanc Sylvaner Muscat Chasselas Auxerrois Klevener de Heiligenstein (Savagnin Rose)
Term used in Alsace for blended wines
Edelzwicker
Gentil
Term used in Alsace for late harvest wines
Vendange(s)
Tardive(s)
Term used in Alsace for botrytis-affected wines
Selection de Grains Nobles
Four main regions of the Loire Valley
Pays Nantais
Anjou-Saumur
Touraine
Upper (Eastern) Loire
Grape variety of the Gros Plant du Pays Nantais AOC
Folle Blanche
Regional name for Chenin Blanc (used in the Loire)
Pineau de la Loire
Grape variety of Muscadet
Melon de Bourgogne
Regional name for Cabernet Franc (used in the Loire)
Breton
(2) appellations of Touraine approved for the production of reds and rose based on Cabernet Franc
Bourgueil
St. Nicholas-de-Bourgueil
Loire Valley’s Grand Cru
Quarts de Chaume