France - French Terms & Translations

Question 1

Cuvée

Answer 1

DescriptionCuvée is a French wine term that derives from cuve, meaning vat or tank.

Question 2

Haut

Answer 2

Upper

Question 3

Côte

Answer 3

Side (of something)
Slopes
Border
Coast
River

Question 4

Tête de cuvée

Answer 4

Tête de cuvée is a French term that can be loosely translated as top batch or top blend. This is the term the Champenois use to describe their very best (and most expensive) bottlings. Outside of Champagne these wines are also called Prestige Cuvées. Some examples of tête de cuvée from Champagne.

Question 5

Récoltant manipulant

Answer 5

Harvester handling (i.e. Grower Champagne)

Question 6

Récoltant

Answer 6

Harvester

Question 7

Vignoble

Answer 7

Vineyard

Question 8

Vineard

Answer 8

Vignoble

Question 9

Harvester

Answer 9

Récoltant

Question 10

Grower Champagne

Answer 10

Récoltant manipulant

Question 11

Top batch or top blend

Answer 11

Tête de cuvée

Question 12

Upper (River, area)

Answer 12

Haut

Question 13

Slope

Answer 13

Côte

Question 14

Coast

Answer 14

Côte

Question 15

Négociant

Answer 15

Merchant

Question 16

Merchant

Answer 16

Négociant

Question 17

Veuve

Answer 17

Widow

Question 18

Mousseux

Answer 18

Implying effervescence

Question 19

Remuage

Answer 19

Remuage, or riddling—a procedure that allows sediment to be easily removed from a bottle during dégorgement which results in a clear wine.

Pioneered by Veuve Clicquot.

Question 20

Riddling

Answer 20

Remuage

Question 21

Dégorgement

Answer 21

Disgorgement)

Question 22

Pupitre

Answer 22

Wooden A-frame wine rack invented by widow Veuve Clicquot out of her dining table for the purpose of remuage (riddling). It holds 60 bottles, which are each turned by hand and takes 8 weeks to complete.

Question 23

Gyropalette

Answer 23

Large machine for remuage (riddling) that holds 504 bottles and takes 8 days to complete.

Question 24

Chaptalization

Answer 24

Chaptalization is the process of adding sugar to unfermented grape must in order to increase the alcohol content after fermentation. The technique is named after its developer, the French chemist Jean-Antoine-Claude Chaptal

Question 25

Muselet

Answer 25

A muselet (myz.le) is a wire cage that fits over the cork of a bottle of champagne. It derives its name from the French museler, to muzzle.

Question 26

Museler

Answer 26

A muselet (myz.le) is a wire cage that fits over the cork of a bottle of champagne. It derives its name from the French museler, to muzzle.

Question 27

What is the definition of a monopole?

Answer 27

The situation of an AOC (or other official wine designation) owned by a single estate is a situation known as a monopole.