France (General Knowledge)

Question 1

When and where did viticulture originate in France?

Answer 1

Marseille during the Classical age by Greek colonists.

Vines were originally planted in the south near the Rhone Valley and Bordeaux through the 1st Century CE

Question 2

Who was responsible for expanding France’s area under vine in the 9th century CE?

Answer 2

Charlemagne, made Holy Roman Emperor in 800 CE.

Question 3

Who was responsible for expanding France’s area under vine in the 11th century CE?

Answer 3

Catholic monasteries

Question 4

Which key wine markets developed during the Middle Ages?

Answer 4

England, Scotland, Flanders, and Holland

Question 5

What was the principal method of transporting wine? Why?

Answer 5

By river due to the difficulties of transporting wine over land at the time

Question 6

Vineyards in what parts of France supplied Paris with wine?

Answer 6

Paris (now abandoned)

Auxerre

Chablis

Loire Valley

Question 7

When did wine exports from France, especially from Bordeaux, expand greatly?

Answer 7

17th-19th Centuries CE

Question 8

What key development allowed Bordeaux to increase its production? When did it occur?

Answer 8

The swamps of Bordeaux were drained in the 17th Century CE, revealing fast-draining, gravel soils.

Question 9

What viticultural challenges did Bordeaux experience in the 19th Century CE?

Answer 9

Powdery Mildew

Downy Mildew

Black Rot

Phylloxera

Question 10

What happened to the area under vine between 1970 and the early 2010s?

Answer 10

It fell for all products - wine grapes, table grapes, and brandy grapes - by roughly one-third due to EU vine pull schemes

Question 11

What latitudes does French wine production inhabit?

Answer 11

42°-49°N

Question 12

What are the dominant vineyard management systems used in France? Where is the exception?

Answer 12

High density planting with the use of trellises. Vine training is generally cane-replacement Guyot with vertical shoot positioning.

Bush training continues to take place in southern France.

Question 13

Which ten varieties are most cultivated in France?

Answer 13

Merlot

Ugni Blanc

Grenache Noir

Syrah

Chardonnay

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Franc

Carignan

Pinot Noir

Sauvignon Blanc

Question 14

Why is Ugni Blanc the second-most planted grape in France?

Answer 14

It is planted extensively in southwest France for use in Cognac and Armagnac

Question 15

Why is Merlot the most planted grape in France?

Answer 15

It is popular in Bordeaux (France’s largest wine producing region) and Languedoc

Question 16

What is France’s largest wine producing region?

Answer 16

Bordeaux

Question 17

Where is Chaptalization used in France? What has been the trend in its use? Why?

Answer 17

Chaptalization is mostly used in cooler climates, though climate change has reduced its use

Question 18

How are French wines typically matured?

Answer 18

In oak barrels provided by a cooperage industry that is highly regarded around the world

Question 19

What is the INAO?

Answer 19

Founded in 1935 as the Institut National des Appellations d’Origine, it oversaw the creation of the AOC system and, from 2009, IGP oversight. It is responsible for appellation requirements in France.

It was renamed the Institut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité.

Question 20

What are some of the rules INAO establishes for denominations?

Answer 20

Acceptable varieties

Planting density

Permitted training systems

Maximum yields

Minimum ABV

Required maturation

Earliest date of sale

Question 21

What are INAO decisions based on?

Answer 21

The concept of Terroir

Question 22

In 2009, France and the EU permitted winemakers to place what on their wine labels?

Answer 22

The name of the grape variety used to produce the wine

Wine without GI may also place the variety and vintage on their label

Question 23

What is the average vineyard holding size in France?

Answer 23

10.5 hectares

Question 24

What percentage of wine is processed by cooperatives in France?

Answer 24

40%

Question 25

What has been the trend for wine consumption in France?

Answer 25

Long term and steep decline. Consumption is less than half that of 100 years ago.

Question 26

Where do volume wine sales in France typically occur? What effect does this have on the market?

Answer 26

Through small- and medium-sized local companies or through private label sales. The sector is highly fragmented.

Question 27

Who are the largest three wine producers in France?

Answer 27

Castel Frères

Carrefour France

ITM Enterprises

Question 28

Describe France’s wine export by volume and value compared to Italy and Spain.

Answer 28

France exports less than Italy and Spain, but French wines are 50% more valuable than Italian wines and 300% more valuable than Spanish wines.

Question 29

Is France a major importer of wine?

Answer 29

Yes, primarily of inexpensive Spanish wine.

Question 30

Which French wine region is the lowest yielding in the country?

Answer 30

Languedoc-Roussillon, which produces half as much wine as Champagne or Alsace